Discover Ireland's past – historical walks on the Emerald Isle

Almost 16,500 tons of stone were needed to build the Cahercommaun Ring Fort in the Bronze or Iron Ages. Research has shown that there were several buildings inside the ring when it was in use. Forts were built to protect the people and to have defenses.

Wikipedia (Newtown Castle, 2023-02-23):
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newtown_Castle
de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newtown_Castle

Newtown Castle (2023-02-23):
newtowncastle.com
FACEBOOK (Newtown Castle, 2023-02-23):
facebook.com/newtowncastle

The Hill of Tara is the coronation site of the ancient Irish High Kings. You have a great view over 9 Irish counties

The Old Barracks

The Old Barracks serves as a Heritage Centre for the Iveragh Peninsula. It is home to various exhibitions that relate to the local area, including The Great Southern and Western Railway, The Life and Times of Daniel O’Connell, The Fenin Rising of 1867, The 1916 Rising and Monsignor Hugh O’ Flaherty (The Scarlet Pimpernel).

The History of The Old Barracks

The history of the Heritage Centre or Old Barracks is fascinating. The building was constructed between the years of 1870 and 1875 as a police station for the Royal Irish Constabulary.
The authorities wanted an imposing building to protect the Irish end of the transatlantic telegraph cable which entered the sea at Valentia Island. The Old World and New World were connected at last and the authorities did not want the humiliating situation of an uprising cutting that link. In fact only one year after the cable had been laid in 1866 there was an ill fated uprising in Cahersiveen by the Fenians.

The British authorities were so anxious to get the barracks built that the plans were mixed up in the haste to get the building constructed that we have a building that was originally designed for the Punjab in India! Somewhere in the Punjab there is a town with a barracks or police station that was designed for Cahersiveen. Unfortunately this story is probably incorrect. The British commissioned the architect Enoch Trevor-Owen to design the building and the Schloss style of architecture was popular with Trevor-Owen.
cahersiveen.ie/the-old-barracks
theoldbarrackscahersiveen.com

Meter-high, sturdy stone walls were once supposed to protect a clan head or some other powerful person here. The facility dates from the Iron Age, before Christianity came to Ireland. You get in through a narrow and low opening in the wall. Once inside, you can let your imagination run wild: there were probably several houses and other buildings as well as tents standing close together in the limited, safe space.

9,000 years of Irish history: in this spacious open-air museum you will discover how people once lived here. The focus is on prehistoric settlements, early Christianity and the era when first the Vikings and then the Normans stormed the island. Reconstructions bring these epochs back to life. You can see, among other things, a castle and a monastery, Viking houses and ring forts.

If you want to delve even deeper into history, you can take a guided tour, take a class and even spend a night like a Viking.

Trim Castle is located in County Meath's picturesque Boyne Valley. It dates back to the 12th century and is the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland. That alone is impressive. In the center is the Keep, a residential and defense tower with a cross-shaped floor plan. Some may recognize the castle from the film Braveheart, some of which was filmed here.

The bridge that spans the River Boyne next to the castle is also worth a look. It dates back to 1303. Then you can take a tour of the pretty town of Trim. A themed path starts at the visitor center and takes you through the medieval streets and to other historical sights.

Kylemore Abbey is beautifully situated on the banks of a lake surrounded by wooded hills. The monastery is housed in an imposing 19th century castle. Behind the walls, splendidly furnished rooms and halls as well as an exhibition on the history of the place await you. A church in neo-Gothic style also belongs to the property.

After the visit, you can enjoy the beautiful surroundings with a stroll along the lake shore and through the gardens. The tea house offers meals and baked goods based on the nuns' recipes, as well as herbal teas straight from the garden.