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)

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

So this castle was fully rebuilt and restored but the owner died and left it to his children. They…read moredon't use it so it sits abandoned once again. Locals say there have been rumors of it becoming and Airbnb, or a museum, but as of now, this tower sits empty. It's a beautiful view if you hike from Doolin to the Cliffs of Moher, or you can drive right next to it as well. You just can't go on the property until someone buys it from the current owners.

As Maggi R. mentioned, this castle is not open to the public. However, you can drive all around it…read moreand take scenic photos for social media - don't ask me why I do this. Regardless, it is quite a sight to behold. It's VERY scenic and picturesque if you drive above it to get photos with the ocean in the background. You will have to park on one of the few shoulder spaces on the roads surrounding it to take pix of it. You won't be able to get very close to it. It's a beautiful site to see, but unless you have other business in Doolin, don't go out of your way just to view this 16th century castle. It's just not worth it. I wasted half a day to check out this castle that I could only drive around. Other than that, I don't know a whole lot more about this 16th century Irish castle. Take a pass on this one and just enjoy the photos I have uploaded here. Not much else to do in Doolin...

Wow! What a pretty…read morecastle!! It's stunning! In person it is such an amazing site. You see the castle on the mountain, and it's really pretty. I didn't have time to go close up to it. I wish we did. But we got to see it still. It's just picturesque with the backdrop. The complete package you could say.

While on a road trip in Ireland, this castle was on our list and on the way to one of our…read moredestinations. It was closed at the time of year when we saw it, but we parked and walked around the castle and really enjoyed it. It's on a beautiful lake and the weather was perfect. If we return to the area, I would definitely stop at this castle again and see the inside.

By far our favorite Neolithic structure seen during our drive through Ireland…read more The path from parking lot was gravel but to get close we had to walk over some weathered and rutted limestone. Tread carefully. The enigmatic portal has been standing for many thousands of years. Maybe a marker, a tomb or something else. A must see for those driving through the Burren.

Some 22 years, I first encountered Poulnabrone Dolmen, prior to the Cliff of Moher. I was very…read moreeager to revisit. The Poulnabrone Dolmen in the Burren, County Clare, is surely one of the most photogenic ancient sites in Ireland, with its thin limestone slabs lying elegantly atop one another. It's also the OLDEST dated megalithic monument on the island, dating back 5,800 years! But the accolades don't stop there. After the Cliffs of Moher, it's the second most visited site in the Burren.

Directions to the treaty stone are wrong. Check several different sources or you will end up…read moreblocks from the actual location. Historic monument. Worth the walk.

Kilmacduagh Monastery is found 5 km from Gort, Co Galway. It was the birthplace of the Diocese of…read moreKilmacduagh, whose name means "church of Duagh's son". The 7th century Saint Colman, son of Duagh, established a monastery on land given him by his cousin King Guaire Aidne mac Colmáin (died 663 in Ireland) of Connacht. The monastery contains a round tower, notable as both fine example of this particularly Irish feature but also because of its noticeable lean, over half a metre from the vertical. The tower is over 30 metres tall, with the only doorway some 7 metres above ground level. This site was of such importance that it became the centre of a new diocese, the Diocese of Kilmacduagh, in the 12th century; it is now incorporated into the Diocese of Galway. The monastery, because of its wealth and importance, was plundered several times in the 13th century. There are no words to describe this place - if you like history or architecture, this place is a MUST see.

Birr Castle was built in 1620 and replaced an earlier one built in 1170. Unlike many other Irish…read morecastles, Birr Castle is still used as a residence, by the family of the seventh earl of Rosse. While the castle isn't open to the public, the grounds include extensive gardens and the Historic Science Centre, a museum of Ireland's historic scientists and their contributions to both astronomy and botany. The walled gardens include box hedges that are more than 300 years old. They are also noted in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's tallest hedge.

What can I say - a fabulous experience! The grounds are…read moregorgeous. I went for a fabulous walk, and now that the plants can grow freely, the place is a wildlife wonderland! I saw small, red butterflies in abundance, ones I'd never seen before! They were everywhere! The gift shop is also lovely, with some perfect souvenirs! I recommend the playground to all parents as it is such a fun experience for the little ones! The telescope and science museum were amazing also, I learned so much! I particularly enjoyed the part where one of the Earl's wife was talking about photography and her dark room. It was an amazing display! I recommend this trip highly, as it is so cheap to come in and such a wonderful experience!

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 great place to learn about Limerick history, which might be representative of Ireland…read morehistory. While the castle itself has not been preserved in an excellent condition, but exhibition itself is good if you are interested in history, I learned a lot from the exhibition, Limerick has deep historical ties to both the Vikings and the Normans since 9th century. Also I enjoyed the panoramic views of King's Island and the River Shannon from castle towers.