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Friday 29 September 2023 Dublin: 11°C

# heritage ireland

All time
A ghostly Famine-era village and a Pirate Queen castle: Put Achill on your 'to-do' list
Archaeologist Neil Jackman explores the historical treasures of Achill Island as part of his new book on the Wild Atlantic Way.
One for the weekend: A trip around the historic Beara peninsula
Exclusive extract from archaeologist Neil Jackman’s new book about the historical treasures of the Wild Atlantic Way.
9 essential tips for surviving this summer with kids
From green fingers to the Lazy Day Rule.
Volunteers are reclaiming this motte and bailey after decades of neglect and bonfires
Several sites around Ireland are being ‘adopted’ by their local communities.
No plans for the long weekend? Here's 16 brilliant Irish things to see
No matter where in the country you are…
Poisoned by a priest or an unknown illness? The mysterious death at Lough Oughter
Plus: the rise of the river Shannon.
The king in 'high spirits' who arrived to Ireland stuffed with goose pie and Irish whiskey
Plus: Being young in the1980s and coveting a football-shaped radio.
The bizarre way this castle protected itself from deadly attackers
Plus: a group of aristocratic playboys who drank, caroused and got up to all manner of blasphemy and badness in Ireland.
Brian Boru's 'Island of Churches' is the perfect place to relax and unwind
Plus: the ancient monastery of Iniscealtra.
The widowed Máire Rua married Cromwell's junior officer to keep her Burren house
Plus: The tomb effigy of Conor O’Brien, King of Munster, who was killed in a battle in 1267.
The doctor who wanted to turn a castle into a mental asylum but blew it up with dynamite
Plus: The castle owner and King’s manin Carlow who married the Pirate Queen’s granddaughter
One of Ireland's best medieval castles was the scene of a bitter showdown between two brothers
Archaeologist Neil Jackman explores Cahir in Tipperary, home to one of Ireland’s best-preserved medieval castles.
One of Ireland's best high crosses is 1,200 years old and hidden in a small Kildare village
Archaeologist Neil Jackman explores a medieval house in Cork and a remarkable high cross in Kildare.
The best medieval statue in Ireland is 8ft tall and in a ruined church in Kilkenny...
Want to explore Ireland’s history? Archaeologist Neil Jackman has two suggestions for you to visit in Kilkenny.
The huge 17th century fort in Cork where a key battle between two English kings was fought
Archaeologist Neil Jackman explores a huge fort in Kinsale and one of the most exquisite romantic gardens in the country.
"A place of sacrifice": Tour the stone circle that freaked out a 1930s psychic
Archaeologist Neil Jackman explores one of the country’s finest stone circles and the quiet final resting place of a remarkable penal times priest.
Ireland's largest Norman castle was built by a womaniser who ended up being decapitated
Archaeologist Neil Jackman explores two of Ireland’s most beautiful castles – Emo Court in Laois and Trim Castle in Meath.
These mysterious caves in a Sligo hillside carry secrets from the Ice Age
Archaeologist Neil Jackman explores two of Ireland’s most intriguing ancient sites – the Caves of Keash and Dun Aonghasa.
Step from Ireland's pre-Famine past to life in the New World in the Sperrins
Fancy stretching the legs over the Easter weekend? Archaeologist Neil Jackman has more suggestions for great historical sites to visit around the island of Ireland.
See the house built by Clonmel schoolmasters to show off their love of history
The Careys had a round tower, a medieval Norman-style hall and Gothic and Romanesque arches in their palatial 19th century pad.
This dramatic Derry clifftop estate was a magnet for high society
Archaeologist Neil Jackman finds medieval magic in Limerick and a splendid demesne in Derry.
Ever heard of Darby's Bed? Diarmuid and Gráinne 'slept' here...
Discover this magical ancient site in Co Limerick, and a monastic complex that saved locals from slaughter in Kilkenny as Neil Jackman’s Heritage Ireland returns.
Heritage Ireland: Deserted medieval towns, the Hellfire Club and Lady Rohesia's gem
Archaeologist Neil Jackman leaves us for the winter with a bumper trip around Ireland.
Heritage Ireland: This may be the most stunning location for a castle
Archaeologist Neil Jackman tours Dunluce Castle in Antrim, the ‘least-understood’ of the Boyne Valley tombs, and the wonderful Drumcliff in Sligo.
Heritage Ireland: A born fighter, bloody battles and the castle at the heart of it
Archaeologist Neil Jackman criss-crosses the country to bring you a massive cairn in Sligo, a castle in Antrim with a bloody past, and a dolmen with an interesting supersition…
Heritage Ireland: The church at the crossroads of Dublin's ancient past
St Audoen’s in Dublin city centre stands by the most ancient road into Dublin. (And learn, too, about where the monks from Skellig Michael fled from their lonely rock in the sea.)
Heritage Ireland: Why you need to see the Copper Coast
Archaeologist Neil Jackman transports us to another batch of wonderful Irish historical gems in Sligo, Dublin – and that incredible southerly Copper Coast.
Heritage Week: Here's how to kick off your weekend
In this special edition of our Heritage Ireland series, Neil Jackman takes his pick of Heritage Week events and fun…
Heritage Ireland: The lonely Kilkenny cave that witnessed a massacre of 1,000 people
Dunmore Cave has a chilling tale to tell visitors.
Heritage Ireland: The oldest lighthouse still in use in the world
Let archaeologist Neil Jackman lead you through the amazing past and present of Hook Lighthouse as well as trips to a major ancient monastery and Georgian splendour.
Heritage Ireland: Who is this man with the frightfully fancy tomb?
Archaeologist Neil Jackman brings us on a round tower with a view and a fantastically flamboyant neo-gothic mansion.
Heritage Ireland: A magnificent doorway into Laois's sacred past
Archaeologist Neil Jackman guides us to an ancient monastery with breathtaking sculpture, a medieval fortress built by an Irish lord – and a manor house fit for a queen…
Digging Tlachtga: Discovering secrets from Ireland's past
Archaeologist Neil Jackman with the final part of his three-part series on the momentous dig on the ancient site of Tlachtga in Meath.
Digging Tlachtga: Getting into the trenches with Ireland's past
Archaeologist Neil Jackman with part two of his three-part series on the momentous dig on the ancient site of Tlachtga in Meath.
Dig this: How we plan to get to heart of one of Ireland's most mysterious sites
The first in a series of three articles which follows the discoveries being made at Tlachtga – one of Ireland’s most enigmatic archaeological sites.
Heritage Ireland: Discovering the ancient Slí Mhór among the bluebells
Archaeologist Neil Jackman guides us through an ancient roadway that traversed Ireland, a fine medieval priory and an intriguing hermit cell hidden in a church.
Heritage Ireland: 3 amazing sites to see this Easter weekend
Lovely Doneraile Park, ancient Derrynaflan and iconic Clonmacnoise – archaeologist Neil Jackman guides you through these magical sites.
Hidden Ireland: Where was St Brigid's firehouse and why did the flame go out?
This week, archaeologist Neil Jackman guides us through a mysterious and massive Bronze Age complex in Tyrone and medieval treasures in Kildare and Kilkenny.
Glorious: See Glendalough in all its autumnal technicolour
This week, Neil Jackman captures the Wicklow site at a point when its beauty is matched only by its archaeological significance.
What’s your favourite heritage site?
Heritage Week begins today. There are many sites to choose from, but what do you think is the best?