St Kevin, patron Saint of Dublin and.......blackbirds. Love it! St Kevin had his monastery here in…read morethe 6th century and it's still beautiful today, 15 centuries later. We decided to go here towards the end of our Christmas Dublin trip and I'm so glad we did. My wife and I took a very early chartered tour bus out of Dublin. Glendalough is about 90 minutes away. The scenic drive to this historic site was well worth the 30-40 bucks we spent on the bus ride. I couldn't wait to explore this area. I only wish we had more time. The weather was perfect to tour the ruins. Cold, damp and dreary. The ruins and abbot cemetery were epic. We took a beautiful trail to the upper lake and back. Definitely an incredibly memorable experience. I want to go back and spend more time here for sure.

Inside the Park, is the Glendalough Monastery. Founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century, this…read moremonastic settlement flourished for centuries and remains a place of spiritual and historical significance. You can walk amongst the settlement and cemetery. The Upper and Lower Lakes, are here in this glacial valley. The hike around these lakes is an enchanting experience. We hiked both lakes. The water's surface acts like a giant mirror, reflecting the surrounding mountains. Awesome. Come get your calmness and peace from nature here. Again, this is very close to Dublin so easy for a 1/2 day or day trip.

Amazing place, beautiful bucolic views and peaceful atmosphere. It is nestled in a quaint Irish…read moretown with 2 pubs, takeaway place, a convenience shop, and Michelin restaurant. Whether you are just visiting the tea room and gardens/castle tour, or staying in the castle Airbnb rooms- it's a wonderful experience. The gardens and grounds are more extensive than you realize, and can find many hidden pathways that lead to somewhere seemingly magical. I have been a guest at Huntington for a collective 3 months now, and would highly recommend. If you come in the Spring, don't miss out on seeing the lambs!

We had a lovely stay in the castle. Claire and Alex are excellent hosts! They made sure we were…read morecomfortable. The castle is beautiful and full of history. We had to miss their award winning breakfast due to an early flight, but we heard it was amazing. I highly recommend staying here!

The house and gardens are so pretty. Each room has its own feel to it, along with different…read moreceilings in each room. In the tearoom, they served us scones and tea, which were both delicious. It was a nice way to spend time after the tour of the house. We also went to the falconry and were able to see the birds of prey. They gave us the opportunity to be able to hold an owl and have a falcon fly from a tree and land on our arm (with a protective glove, of course).

My friend from New Orleans has come to visit so we wandered out here. The last time I was here was…read morefor a school tour but I always remember being impressed. Things have not changed. The tour of the house is a must, they have everything exactly to that period, with the decadent furnishing and priceless paintings. There is also a maze! We went for a jog on the circular strip that takes you all around the house grounds back to it's very own farm, it was just so beautiful, the view of the lakes to the left and the impressive period house to the right. We got lunch in the cafe there which was good if on the pricier side, but my coffee was only 1.80 euro, now that is good!

Cool museum, super informative and interactive. Most definitely definitely haunted tho, I don't…read moreeven believe in ghosts but this place obv had so much suffering that the people left the feeling behind.

Ive been in planning a trip to Wicklow Gaol for years and finally decided to get my act together…read moreand go yesterday. The tour is a self guided audio tour with plenty to see and plenty to read as you move around. There are interactive exhibits within the cells so don't be afraid to go in and have a poke around. As one of Ireland's "most haunted " places, there are parts that might scare little ones such as the basement area but as its self guided you can move on easily. It's good value for money too as its only 5.90 and you get a ticket for the car park with your admission. This is an important thing to note as I was on my way to the pay and display when I saw this on the door. There is a small coffee shop within the gaol which serves hot and cold food and you get a 10% discount if you keep your Gaol receipt. We didn't visit it while we were there, preferring to head back to Avoca on the road home to Dublin for some posh food!

It's really cool place to visit. The place is a Cistercian abbey on the River Boyne in Bective,…read moreCounty Meath, Ireland. The abbey was founded around 1147. Is in ruins but some areas are really well preserved. It is very quiet, the 5 times I've been there I think I've seen 10 people and That was too many haha! So it's very relaxing and inspiring. I always take my dog, so he can run all over the place. It is good that is very clean and well cared. It's great location for photographs.

Ever wonder what that big spherical sculpture at the start of the Naas by-pass was called? (a good…read morequestion for a maddeningly obscure table quiz) Well, Perpetual Motion is what it is called. There ya go now. When I was a kid, I used to think that it was a big inflatable rubber ball on the way to my Granny's house, and I imagined that it was part of some advertisement or something. No, it's a sculpture, commissioned by the Government to waste your money and mine. Still, you have to say that it's... different. Not much if a compliment that, really.

People may not like it but it's a definite landscape marker that people always associate with Naas…read moreso it's also handy for giving people directions, it's kinda hard to miss! The sculptor is Rachel Joynt by the way if anyone's interested. She also has work out in UCD, "Noah's Egg"

Not where baby Goths go to stand trial, but a beautiful mansion designed by James Gandon of Four…read moreCourts fame in 1790. The playground of various earls until the 1930s, it was taken over by the Jesuits and eventually handed over to the State a few years ago. One of the most impressive features of Emo is its wonderful gardens, which have been rejuvenated in recent times; they include formal areas, woodland walks, a rake of rare trees, an impressive lake and an abundance of statues. Some of these statues were actually pulled from the lake when the State took over the estate, and it is suspected that they somehow made their way their during the time that the Jesuits were running the place. "Brother, there seems to be an effigy of a naked faun down by the old stables." "I think I know the perfect spot for it. Grab a shovel." The house itself is open to the public from Easter to September, but you are free to roam the gardens all year round.

A lovely house worthy of a visit in the Midlands of Ireland. The house has a history stretching…read moreback to the 18th century, and had an interesting variety of owners- rich English and American gentlement, and the Jesuit Order, before being passed to the Office of Public Works of the state. As with most OPW properties, visiting prices are very reasonable, and the tour guides are interesting and informative. They clearly are passionate about what they do, which is excellent. Something that sticks out for me from the tour was that the Jesuits removed many artworks which were sexual in nature, left behind by previous owners, to avoid tempting the members of the order. I found this quite funny. However, they were good at keeping the art safely stored away to be recovered again in later years. The gardens at Emo Court are also beautiful, and extensive. You can freely roam around in them all year. I particularly like the lake, with many different water birds living there, and a lot of fish. Well worth a visit.

Fore Abbey is a 7th century abbey spread across the valley of ancient structures. The abbey complex…read moreincludes several notable features, such as the remains of the Benedictine monastery, St. Feichin's church, and the famous Fore Crosses. There are several ruins to explore on this stop.

For a ruin, this place was really in good shape. Most here are a pile of rocks that vaguely…read moreresembles a building. This one had rooms and working stairs. If you go, there is a big parking lot on the main road. You don't have to park on the street.