ANTRIM LEITRIM ARMAGH LIMERICK CLARE LONGFORD CORK MAYO DONEGAL MEATH DOWN OFFALY DUBLIN ROSCOMMON FERMANAGH SLIGO GALWAY TIPPERARY KERRY WATERFORD KILDARE WESTMEATH KILKENNY WICKLOW

Carrickfergus Castle:
Well preserved 12th century Norman castle sitting on a crag overlooking the harbour. Was in continuous use up to 1928. A museum tells the castle’s history. Life size figures of soldiers are scattered around the ramparts. The castle has an interesting history. It was controlled by Edward Bruce in 1315, the army of James II in the 17^th century until 1688 when it was taken by General Schomberg for William of Orange. William actually stayed in the castle before the Battle of the Boyne in July 1690.

Open April–September, Monday to Saturday 10am to 6pm. From October to March closes at 4pm. Tel: (048 93 366455)

The Argory (Dungannon):
A National Trust 19^th century neo classical house and gardens in a Jane Austen like setting. The house dates from 1824. The house is unchanged since the turn of the century, has no electricity and contains interesting furniture of the period. The house is set in 130 hectares of wooded countryside overlooking the River Blackwater. It has two formal gardens; a charming rose garden with dwarf bush roses in box-edged beds and another larger garden known as the Pleasure Ground with a terrace overlooking the river.

Open 2?pm daily, except Tuesdays, June–August. April-May and September: Saturday, Sunday, Bank Holidays and Easter. Tel: (048 87 784753).

Bunratty Castle and Folk Park:
A medieval 15^th century castle built by the McNamaras but held by the O’Briens until the 17^th century. Completely restored in the 1950s by Lord Gort. It contains furnishings and tapestries, which capture the mood and style of the times. Medieval type banquets are held twice nightly (17.30 and 20.45). In the same grounds is the Bunratty Folk Park, which recreates rural life in Ireland at the turn of the century. Farmhouses, town houses, a village street complete with pub, post office and shops have been reconstructed or built to show life during this period. Can get very crowded in high season but is well worth a visit.

Open daily all year round 9.30am-17.30pm. From June to August the Folk Park remains open until 19.00 (Tel: 061 360788)

 

 

Knappogue Castle (near Quin):
A 15^th century castle built by the McNamaras in 1467 and apart from a short spell of ten years during the Cromwellian campaigns it remained in their hands until 1815. The castle is currently owned by Texans.

Medieval style banquets accompanied by music, singing and story telling are held twice nightly from May to October (17.30 and 20.45) (Tel: 061 360788)

Bantry Houseand gardens:
This 18^th century house is in a magnificent location overlooking Bantry Bay. It has been the home of the White family (formerly Earls of Bantry) since 1739. The house has an interesting mix of art and furnishings from all over Europe including wonderful French and Flemish tapestries. There is an air of decayed and faded elegance about the place. The gardens are beautifully maintained and feature an Italian Garden inspired by the Boboli Gardens in Florence, an English rose garden and the "Staircase to the sky" which leads to terraces offering a great view across the bay.

Open daily late March to late October: 9am?pm. (Tel: 027 50047). In the grounds is the 1796 French Armada Centre which records the story of the ill fated attempted French landing in 1796 including artefacts rescued from the French frigate ‘La Surveillante? Open April-September, 10am-6pm. (Tel: 021 451796)

Blarney Castle:
Ruins of a 15^th century tower house built on solid limestone by Dermot McCarthy. Famous throughout the world for the legendary ‘Blarney Stone? Those who kiss the stone are conferred with the gift of eloquence or the ability to talk ‘blarney? which is the ability to use language to charm and manipulate without ever giving a definite ‘yes?or ‘no?answer. The stone is set into the wall below the castle’s battlements. In order to kiss the stone visitors are suspended backwards over the parapet while being held by the legs. Can become very crowded in high season. The grounds are rarely too crowded and are ideal for a picnic.

Open Monday to Saturday all year round except 24/25 December. Open from 9am-7pm, 5pm in winter. Sundays 9.30am-5.30, 5pm in winter. Tel: 021 4385252

Donegal Castle (Donegal Town):
The original castle overlooking the River Eske was rebuilt in 1505 by Red Hugh O’Donnell. It became the O’Donnell stronghold. It is thought that it may have been burned down by Hugh Roe O’Donnell to prevent it from falling into the hands of the English in the 16rh century. In 1607 it was granted to an Englishman, Sir Basil Brook, who rebuilt if in Jacobean style around 1623. It is now completely restored and worthy of a visit.

Open June to October 9.30am-6.30pm. (Tel: 073 22405)

Glenveagh Castle and Glenveagh national Park:
A 19^th century castle surrounded by the Glenveagh Gardens. This castle was built by John George Adair in 1870 along the lines of Balmoral. Adair was notorious for evicting 244 of his tenants in 1861. The tenants were forced to emigrate or ended up in the workhouse. In 1929 the estate was bought by Arthur Kingsley Porter, a Harvard professor, who disappeared mysteriously on Inishbofin Island in 1933. The last individual owner was Henry McIlhenny who transformed the castle into a comfortable gentleman’s home in 1937. A very interesting guided tour takes in a tartan-draped music room, a guest room for female visitors and a drawing room with a 300 year old Adams fireplace. The National Park is a preserved wilderness, containing 10,000 hectares of mountain, moorland, lakes and woods and is home to a large herd of red deer. Suitable for walking, hill walking and picnicing.

Guided nature walks are held weekly in July and August. Open Easter to October daily 10am-18.30pm. (Tel: 074 37090)

Castle Ward (West of Strangford):
National Trust estate with 18^th century house in classical and gothic styles. Built in 1860s by Lord and Lady Bangor whose tastes differed greatly hence the wildly differing architectural styles. The most interesting room is Lady Bangor’s boudoir, which is based on Henry VIII’s chapel in Westminster Abbey. The farmyard has a fortified tower house, a sawmill and a working cornmill. The Strangford Lough Wildlife Centre is also in the farmyard and offers information on conservation work on the lough by means of audio-visual presentations, leaflets and exhibitions. In the extensive estate are landscaped gardens and walking trails.

Grounds: open daily dawn to dusk all year round. House: May-August: Friday-Wednesday 1pm-6pm. April, September October: Saturday, Sunday & public holidays 1pm-6pm. (Tel: 048 44 881204).

Dublin Castle and State Apartments (Dame Street):
Only the Record Tower and parts of the foundations remain of this 13^th century castle which was the seat of British power in Ireland for over seven hundred years. The present buildings are 18^th century Georgian buildings designed by Sir William Robinson. The State Apartments are situated in the Upper Yard and served as the residence of British Viceroys in Ireland. The State Apartments are currently used for official state occasions,

such as the inauguration of the President or functions when there are visiting EU dignitaries. The guided tour tells of the history of Dublin Castle and takes in the Battle-Axe Landing, the State Drawing Room, the Wedgewood Room, St. Patrick’s Hall and the Undercroft, which contains remnants of an earlier Viking fort and the 13^th century Powder Tower and city wall.

Guided Tours are held, provided there is no official state function on. Monday to Friday 10am-5pm Saturday, Sunday and public holidays 2-5pm. (Tel: 01 6777129)

Malahide Castle and Demesne (Near Malahide village):
This castle was home to the Talbot family from 1174 to 1976 apart from a short period during Cromwell’s campaigns. It is set in 100 hectares (250 acres) of grounds. The oldest part of the castle is a 12th century tower house but there were other additions over the centuries. The decorative carvings in the Oak Room and the oak beamed Great Hall are the highlights of the guided tour , which includes stories of the resident ghost called Puck and the fourteen members of the Talbot family who went off to fight in the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 and never returned. Of interest too is the history of the Boswell papers, which were found in a chest in the castle some years ago.

Open April-October: 10am-5.30pm Monday –Friday. Saturday and Sunday: 11am-5.30. November-March: 10am-1pm and 2-5pm. (Tel: 01 8462184)

The Talbot Botanic Gardens were the creation of Lord Milo Talbot who collected rare and exotic plants and trees during his travels around the world. A comprehensive leaflet enables visitors to do a self-guided tour of the gardens.

A guided tour takes place every Wednesday afternoon from May to September at 2pm. Open May-September 1pm-5pm

Number Twenty-nine (Lower Fitzwilliam Street):
A beautifully restored Georgian middle-class home dating from the late 18^th century and furnished according to the taste of that period. Number twenty-nine consists of a basement and four floors. The guided tour gives details of the owners of Number 29 and tells of the way of life of the middle classes, in Dublin at the height of the Age of Elegance.

Open Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 2pm-5pm. Closed Mondays and two weeks before Christmas. Tel: 7026165.

Castle Coole (Southeast of Enniskillen):
A National Trust house. This was the family home of the Earls of Belmore. The 1st Earl of Belmore, who had the mansion built, became bankrupt and died in debt in 1802. His son had the task of decorating and furnishing it. It’s neo-classical in style and was designed by James Wyatt. Of interest are the fake doors, hollowed columns and keyhole covers on doors that have no keyholes, all designed for the purpose of symmetry.

Open: daily Easter-September except Thursdays, 1-6pm. (Tel: 048 66322690).

Florence Court (Southwest of Enniskillen):
A Palladian mansion named after the wife of John Cole who first built a house on the site early in the 18^th century. Acquired by the National Trust in the 1950s, it was rebuilt after a fire in 1955. The Rococo plasterwork, said to be the work of Dublin stuccodore, Robert West , was painstakingly recreated from photographs. Family pictures and historic items owned by the 6^th Earl of Enniskillen have been returned to Florence Court and are on display in the house. The are enjoyable walks and nature trails in the grounds around the house.

Open May-August daily except Tuesday 1pm-6pm. April, May & September Saturday, Sunday & public holidays 1pm-6pm. Grounds open daily dawn to dusk. (Tel: 048 66 348249)