Our visit started with a very informative 15 minute film about this castle and a few others in…read moreIreland. I would suggest watching this before you explore the grounds as it helped me understand what I was looking at. You can do a guided tour or explore on your own. We didn't do the guided tour. There were many areas to see. You just need to mind your head on the stairs in some of the areas especially the ones going up to the tower. There were also two different rooms with exhibits. We took quite awhile trying to read everything as the history is very interesting. I would plan to spend 2 hours for this castle if you plan to take in all it has to offer.

I think the most interesting thing about Ireland are the ancient relics that are still standing:…read moreeither alone off the beaten path, or alongside more contemporary structures. The Grange Stone Circle in Lough Gur, located in a field off of R512, is the former, and it is definitely worth visiting if you are near Limerick. It is the largest ancient stone circle in Ireland and dates to the late Neolithic/Bronze Age. It had a ritualistic purpose and the center aligns to the sun during the summer solstice. To consider that some of the stones were brought from 3 miles away is just astounding, as is the understanding that this site dates to 2,200 BCE. To think of the ancient peoples that walked here so long ago is certainly astounding! The stone circle is definitely an impressive site to behold! More information can be found here: http://loughgur.com/destination/the-stone-circle/

Bigger around than Stonehenge The diameter of the upright…read morestones is 45 meters (148 feet) The diameter of the capped stones at Stonehenge is 33 meters (108 feet)

Stopped by this place after Cahir Castle. It's a nice quaint cottage in the woods with a thatched…read moreroof and nice little rooms. Especially good if you have the Heritage Pass.

Free admittance with a free guided tour through the castle - and in my opinion although smaller,…read moreBarryscourt is way better than Blarney. Our tour guide was excellent and very informative. The castle has been (and continues to be) restored so you get to see each floor as it might have been not just stone rooms without floors like at Blarney. There's a lovely small garden and an orchard within the walls. Close to Fota House and Gardens this is an excellent stop while you're in the area and you can make a full day out of it by also visiting Fota. Fota Gardens and Arboretum are also free.

BARRYSCOURT CASTLE Paid my first visit in decades to…read moreBarryscourt Castle, an impressive relic of the 16th century court of the Barry family. Impressive enough as a stark ruin in the 80s but now it's much improved and well worth a visit, particularly since there is no charge at all, and that includes the guided tour of the interior. Time was short yesterday so we contented ourselves with a walk around the outside of the castle itself, through the herb garden and a large orchard. There are records of an orchard there since the 13th century and this one, with dozens of apple varieties, is laid out according to the 16th century manner. There are smaller plantings of pears and quinces. There is an information office with very helpful and friendly staff, toilets and a cafe and it is just off the main national road (N25). It is a very pleasant visit indeed and I'll be back for a longer stay, perhaps during Heritage Week which takes place in venues across the country from August 21st. Most events are free to enter, some have reduced charges. This is one of many available. See the Heritage Ireland site http://www.heritageireland.com or pick up the comprehensive National Heritage Week brochure at your local library. http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/South-West/BarryscourtCastle/ Tel: +353 21 488 3864

What a great find in Limerick. We had no idea where we're gonna be able to run wild in an old Irish…read morecastle! We were able to go up into all the towers and look down from the murder room. We learned a lot, and we loved every minute of this impromptu visit While we were in Limerick for just one night after visiting the cliffs of Mohre

The first castle I've ever toured!…read more We paid €10.50 (student pricing) to get in. We gave ourselves about an hour but I definitely wish we came earlier for more time. There is so much to learn, watch, and interact with in the castle. It was super neat learning the history & even neater taking in the views. I could have easily spent 2+ hours just exploring every nook and cranny. There is a car park across the street that is free if you are going to the castle. The only downside is that the castle does close quite early, but I noticed everything in the city does. The hours for when we were there on a Saturday was 0930-1700. The car park closes when the castle closes. If you're into history & castles, I'd definitely recommend at least 2 hours to give a good visit here.

This is a must-see in Ireland. It's beautiful and the history dates back to the 1100s. I enjoyed…read morethe views and the stunning interior architecture. There's a video that explains the history as you walk in to the right. Additionally, there are group tours provided by the castle after you pay to get in. I didn't do the tour. I missed it- it was at the top of the hour. I highly recommend seeing this on your way to the Blarney Stone from Dublin.

The Rock of Cashel is a historic site in County Tipperary that was the seat of the Kings of Munster…read morebefore becoming a religious site. It is a complex of medieval buildings on a limestone outcrop, including a 13th-century cathedral, a round tower, and a 12th-century Romanesque chapel called Cormac's Chapel. Legend states that Saint Patrick converted the King of Munster here in the 5th century, and the site is also known as St. Patrick's Rock. This description just scratches the historical surface as centuries of church, government, and colonial generations have come and gone here. As our tour bus pulled into Cashel, you really can't miss this place as it dominates the skyline. We hiked up the hill and it was damn cold and windy up there! And as we wandered through the Cathedral and around other buildings, a historical timeline unfolded with the help of our guide. It's really a spectacular sight of which my posted pictures don't really get to the heart of this place or which only shells remain.

It is very humbling to walk into a structure that is unfathomably old, especially one in such great…read moreshape of preservation. To imagine Quinn Abbey was built even centuries before the Bronze Age of Greece is awe inspiring. The walls still stand but no roof covers the area. There are graves surrounding the Abbey that also carry lots of history. In the pasture you'll find idyllic cows. The surrounding town is very cute and friendly. It's a picture perfect location for someone visiting County Clare.

built for the Friars of the Franciscan order, Roofless ruins built between 1403-1422.read more

We decided to tour the Kilkenny castle grounds on the last day that we spent in the city. It is…read morequite a lovely spot! The tour was self guided and took about an hour. You get to tour a good number of the rooms throughout the castle, and here/read about the history of the place. It's amazing how many of these places have been around in some form for 1000 years or so! Perhaps the most impressive thing here was the giant set of an ancient moose antlers that were absolutely massive! Don't forget to check out the dungeon where there was a nice movie playing explaining some more of the history of the place. This is a must do if you're in the area!

What a cool castle with lots of history. The self guided tour is super affordable and interesting…read morewith lots of stuff to read and you can see many rooms. I love walking around and seeing the old history. The grounds are also beautiful. It's right downtown so easy to get to and worth a stop!

There are actually 2 castle's, an old and a new (or newer, its still very old obviously). The herd…read moreof white deer are worth the walk alone, they're beautiful. Don't expect throngs of tourists being herded on and off coaches here, it's not on the tourist trail at all. That's part of its appeal though I think. Recently purchased by Cork County Council that could all change relatively soon. Recommend you see it while you can still have the place all to yourself.

06/2018 Historic…read morebeauty, Hore Abbey, is worth seeing in Cashel, Ireland. Original plans to tour Rock of Cashel, were swapped for a walk down to these stunning, peaceful ruins surrounded by lush scenery. Free to explore & wonderful to photograph with its haunting beauty. Lovely view of Rock of Cashel on the return. Be well advised, part of the walk is through cow pasture where cows & patties are potential hazards to keep in mind as are areas of uneven terrain.

If you are visiting the Rock of Cashel, take a look down the hill and you'll see a magnificent…read moreruins of the Hore Abbey. Hore Abbey was founded by Cistercians in 1266. It was once a Benedictine abbey but was given to the Cistercians by Archbishop David MacCearbhaill, who later entered the monastery. What remains now is just a couple buildings, but it is more than worth the twenty minute walk down the steep hill from the Rock.