Gardens, Parks, Castles, Fortresses, Bridges, Monastic & Heritage Sites and other places of interest.
Belfast Castle
Location
Belfast Castle is situated on the slopes of Cavehill Country Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland. in a prominent position 400 feet above sea level. Its location provides unobstructed views of the city of Belfast and Belfast Lough.
History
A castle has existed on this site since the late 12th century which was built by the Normans. On the same site a wooden castle was built in 1611. Originally this was the home of Sir Arthur Chichester, baron of Belfast but was burned down in 1708, leaving only street names to mark the site. The castle which stands today was completed in 1870 by the 2nd Marquess of Donegall, and was designed by Charles Lanyon and his son in the Scottish baronial style. Following Donegall’s death and the family’s financial demise, the 8th Earl of Shaftesbury completed the house.
It was his son, the 9th Earl of Shaftesbury, who presented the castle to the City of Belfast in 1934. In 1978 Belfast City Council began a huge refurbishment over a period of ten years at a cost of over two million pounds. The architect was the Hewitt and Haslam Partnership. The building officially re-opened to the public on 11 November 1988.
The castle hosts magnificent gardens, an antiques shop, a restaurant and visitors centre and it is a popular property for conferences, private dining and wedding receptions. Look out for the spectaular views of Belfast Lough. The castle is overlooked by “MacArt’s Fort”, a rock where the United Irishmen planned the rebellion of 1795.
Opening Times
Opening times not available
Visit Length
2hr
Belfast City Hall
Perhaps the best known building in Belfast, the city hall was once again a symbol of the vision Belfast’s city fathers had of themselves and their city.
After Belfast received its city charter from Queen Victoria in 1888, plans were begun a new City hall to replace the existing Townhall 1869-1871 (situated between Chichester Street and May Street.)
Work began in 1896 under the supervision of the Surrey born architect (Sir Arthur Brumwell Thomas) and was completed after numerous alterations to the original plan and long overdue in 1906 at a cost of BP369,000. (This sum today would probably buy an average three bedroom semi in Stranmillis) though at the time the sum was considered extravagant and a vast overspend.
A statue of George Best to be erected in the grounds of City Hall is estimated at BP200,000.
As the home of Belfast City council The city hall was the venue for the signing of the Ulster Covenant in 1912 and as the home of the government of Northern Ireland between 1922 and 1935.
Carrick a Rede Rope Bridge
Location
Ballintoy, Co Antrim
History
The Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, swings high above the waves, linking the tiny island of Carrick-a-Rede along the dramatic Giant’s Causeway coast.
Not for those scarred of heights, the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge hangs some 30 metres above steep cliffs and crashing waves, spanning some 20 metres to the stack cliff of Carrick-a-Rede. This name translates to “the rock in the road”, the road being the sea route by which salmon migrate back to their home waters.
For 350 years, the locals have fished the salmon in these waters traversing this chasm with the rope bridge to get to the island, though the bridge does get replaced each year, you’ll be pleased to know.
The bridge is just 16km away from Northern Ireland ‘s famous World Heritage Site the Giant’s Causeway and the fabulous stretch of coastline running along this part of North Antrim boasts tall chalk cliffs, spectacular sandy beaches and rewarding walks with views across to Scotland in a beautifully scenic Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI).
The Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge itself is an exciting photo opportunity not to be missed and just if you think the bridge is scary now, think it was when it would have only one hand rope!
Opening Times
No opening times available
Visit Length
1hr 30mins
Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery
Location
Co. Sligo
History
Carrowmore, situated at the centre of the Cuil Irra peninsula in County Sligo, is the second largest cemetery of megalithic tombs in Europe and is among Ireland’s oldest. In such a fantastic location, visitors to Carrowmore can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the area as well as the magnificent archaeological finds. Archaeologists have found over 65 tombs, stone circles, passage graves and standing stones. The site is thought to be over 700 years older than the spectacular Newgrange, which was built in 3200BC. Most of the monuments are clustered about the large central cairn of Listoghil, with a number of sites trailing off to a dolmen to the north of Carrowmore. This monument has an intact stone circle and is considered to be the best preserved dolmen. Much of the destruction that has taken place at Carrowmore in the past has been due to clearance and road building. As a result, only twenty five monuments remain today. These are boulder circles, some with a central structure, some with a simple chamber and, in a few, the remains of a passage. Some researchers believe that the dolmen circles are a unique class of monument – early prototypes for the larger cairns such as Cairns Hill and Knocknarea.
Opening Times
Easter (30 March) – October Daily 10:00-17:15 Last admission 45 mins. before closing.
Visit Length
1hr
Castle Coole
Location
Enniskillen , Co. Fermanagh
History
Castle Coole is the impressive 18th Century home of the Earl of Belmore, a neoclassical manor situated in stunning landscaped parkland outside Enniskillen and one of the National Trust’s key properties in Northern Ireland .
Built between 1789 and 1795, Castle Coole was designed by James Wyatt, the principal architect of his day, for the first Earl of Belmore. Castle Coole was clearly built to impress and represents one of the best examples of Palladian architecture in Ireland. The white Portland stone it is built from was brought at great expense from southern England. The building work cost GBP70,000 and nearly bankrupted the 1st Earl of Belmore. The 2nd Earl spent a further GBP35,000 on lavish interiors created by some of the leading craftsmen of the 18th and 19th Centuries. The great halls are filled with marble chimney pieces, ornate plasterwork, scaglioli columns and elegant Regency furnishings, presented as they would be centuries earlier
The highlight of the tour of the house is the state bedroom, flamboyantly decorated, draped in deep red silk and prepared by the 2nd Earl for a visit by King George IV in 1821. However the Earl was stood up, the King instead stayed at Slane Castle cavorting with his mistress. The etchings that decorate the room were added later, and are the Earl’s response to being snubbed, titled “The Rake’s Progress”.
In Castle Coole’s surrounding estate, there are many extensive parkland and woodland walks taking you through graceful landscaped scenery and around Lough Coole and the outbuildings such as the Grand Yard which housed US officers during World War Two.
Opening Times
No opening times available
Visit Length
1hr
Devenish Island
Location
Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland
History
Devenish Island is situated in the scenic Lower Lough Erne in County Fermanagh. It is a magnificent and picturesque island and the largest of some 200 islands found in the lake.
St. Molaise founded a monastery there in the 6th century which taught some 1,500 novices. Many interesting monastic ruins remain despite the Viking attacks on the island during the 9th and 12th centuries. There is a perfectly preserved 25 foot high round tower, all five storeys of which can be climbed using internal ladders. There is also an Augustinian abbey and the house of St. Molaise who founded the monastic settlement in the 4th century. In the thirteenth century, St. Molaise’s church was built and beside the ruined abbey is an elaborately carved high cross.
The island is accessible by ferry from Trory or the MV Kestrel waterbus from Enniskillen town. This beautiful and historic island is open to the public between April and September from Tuesday to Saturday and on Sunday afternoon.
Opening Times
Opening times not available
Visit Length
2hr
Donegal Castle
Location
Donegal , Co Donegal
History
The 17th Century ruins of Donegal Castle dominate the town of Donegal and as the seat of the power of the O’Donnell Chieftains, it is entwined with the history of the county and the province of Ulster. Standing on a rocky outcrop in the centre of Donegal Town, the 17th Century castle is linked to the powerful dynasties of Ulster and a fine surviving example of a Scots Planter fortified home. Donegal Castle was once the principle residence of the O’Donnells one of the leading Gaelic Clans who trace their ancestry back to Niall of the Nine Hostages of the 5th Century. With this as their centre of power the O’Donnells ruled the area of Tir Connell, much of Donegal and were renowned mariners and fishermen. However following their defeat in the Battle of Kinsale by the English in the early 17th Century, the O’Donnells left Ireland along with the O’Neills and other Gaelic chiefs, in what is known as “the Flight of the Earls”.
Donegal Castle was then granted to an English Captain, Basil Brooke, who rebuilt the previous medieval castle into a more comfortable residence in the 17th Century style with a fortified tower, Jacobean Manor house and curtain wall. However the Brookes weren’t to stay for long and after Cromwell’s rout of Ireland the castle was left to fall into ruin. The Tower House of the castle has been carefully restored to its former glory. Excellent guided tours take you around the rooms of the castle, which have been presented to outline the different styles and times of its two sets of previous owners.
Details
Opening Times
Mid March – End October Daily 10:00-18:00
Last admission 45 mins. before closing.
Groups must be pre-booked.
Visit Length
1hr
Dunluce Castle
Location
Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland
History
Dunluce Castle, in Dunluce, Co. Antrim, is thought by some to be the most picturesque of all Irish castles . Situated in the most north-easterly tip of Ireland and first built by Richard de Burgh, Earl of Ulster in the 13th century, the ruins of the castle are a huge tourist attraction . The castle is surrounded by terrifyingly steep drops at either side, which would have been essential features to the Vikings and early Christians who were drawn to this magnificent place where an early Irish ring-fort once stood. It is situated on a 100 foot high basalt stack with a sea cave underneath. The earliest features of the castle, the two large drum towers, about nine metres in diameter, can still be seen on the eastern side.
The MacQuillan clan became lords of the area in the late fourteenth century. The castle often came under siege and in 1584, Sorley Boy McDonnell captured it. Sorley Boy came into some booty (some of which can be seen in the Ulster Museum in Belfast ) in 1588 when the Spanish Armada treasure ship Girona was wrecked off the Giants Causeway . The money was used to modernise the castle but local folklore says that in 1639, the kitchen fell into the sea and that the cooks and kitchen servants were carried away with it. Not long after this, the MacDonnell clan abandoned it.
Opening Times
Opening times not available
Visit Length
2hr
Enniskillen Castle
Location
Enniskillen , Co Fermanagh
History
Built some 600 years ago Enniskillen Castle was once the stronghold of the Maguire clan, guarding the waters of Lough Erne and inside, the castle houses the Fermanagh County Museum and the Museum of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. For centuries the Maguire chieftains who ruled the county of Fermanagh resided here at Enniskillen Castle, built on a bluff on an island in Lough Erne, guarding one of the main inland routes of the North of Ireland . Throughout the centuries the Maguires fought attacks from neighbouring chieftains, the O’Neills and the O’Donnells and the castle was captured and retaken many times. But in the early 17th Century it was taken by the English who secured the castle and the area became a staging post for the Plantation of Ulster.
During this period the castle was much rebuilt by Captain William Cole, who was responsible for the castle’s distinctive turreted tower, the Watergate. Later he founded the Plantation town of Enniskillen, which took its name from the Maguire castle. Today, within the castle’s walls is the Fermanagh County Museum with award-winning displays on the county’s history , archaeology and wildlife and the Museum of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers spanning the long history of the regiment from its formation in 1689
Details
Opening Times
Visit Length
1hr
Glebe House and Gallery
Location
Churchill Letterkenny , Co Donegal
History
Glebe House is a preRegency House, 1828, set in woodland gardens, decorated with William Morris textiles, Islamic and Japanese art etc. The art collection includes 300 works by leading 20th century artists – Picasso, Kokoshka as well as Irish and Italian artists. Exhibitions are shown in the adjoining gallery. Access to ground floor of the Gallery for people with disabilities.
Opening Times
Mid May – End September Sat – Thurs (closed Friday) 11:00-18:30
Last tour 1 hour before closing.
Visit Length
1hr 30mins
Glenveagh Castle
Location
Churchill Letterkenny, Co Donegal
History
Glenveagh National Park covers some 16,540 hectares (40,873 acres) of mountains, lakes, glens and woods, with a herd of red deer. At the centre of this is Glenveagh Castle, a Scottish style castle surrounded by one of the finest gardens in Ireland, which contrast with the rugged surroundings.
Built in the years 1870 – 1873, the castle consists of a four storey rectangular keep. Access to the interior is by tour only. The Visitor Centre has displays outlining the park along with an audio-visual show and is accessible for visitors with disabilities. Morning and afternoon teas are served in the Castle tearooms. Ground floor of Castle is partially accessible for people with disabilities.
Details
Opening Times
Mid March – Early November Daily 10:00-18:30 Last admission 5pm
Visit Length
3hrs
Glenveagh National Park
Location
Letterkenny , Co. Donegal
History
Situated in Donegal, Glenveagh National Park covers almost 10,000 hectares of mountains, lakes, glens and woods. The park was opened in 1986 and boasts beautiful lakes amidst breathtaking mountain scenery. It consists of Glenveagh National Park, Glenveagh Castle and Glenveagh Gardens.
The Park includes two of Donegal’s highest peaks – Slieve Snacht and Errigal. Few buildings in Ireland have as fine a setting as Glenveagh castle which was built in 1870 by John George Adair. The castle itself consists of a four storey rectangular keep with walls five feet thick and a round tower. The gardens around the castle are a complete contrast to the mountains which surround them. The gardens boast a huge variety of exotic plants which have been carefully nurtured over many years. The gardens are also known for their abundance of rhodendron which shelter the more fragile plants from the wind and rain.
At the south-west end of the Park are the cliffs of the Poisoned Glen and Bingorm while the north-east end boasts a gentle array of hills, peat bogs and the valley of the Owencarrow River. In the scenic valley that divides the Park there are natural birch and oak woodlands which are home to considerable populations of stoats, badgers and foxes as well as an impressive selection of birdlife. The Park also has a large herd of Red Deer but these are not native. These deer spend most of their time on the high ground but tend to return to more sheltered areas during prolonged bad weather.
The sense of remoteness and solitude that it conveys to the visitor is possibly the most amazing feature of the Park.
Opening Times
Mid March – Early November Daily 10:00-18:30 Last admission 5pm
Visit Length
3hr 30mins
Harland and Wolff
Harland and Wolff was formed in 1861 by Edward James Harland (1831-1895) and Hamburg-born Gustav Wilhelm Wolff (1834-1913).
When Harland died in 1894, William james Pirrie became the chairman of the company until his death in 1924. It was during this period that the company built the RMS Titanic and her sister-ships RMS Olympic and HMHS Britannic between 1909 and 1914. These were three of over 70 ships constructed for the White Star Line.
During WW1 H&W built numerous warships and throughout WW1 built 140 ships for the RN including 6 aircraft carriers, cruisers and an assortment of other ships. It was at this time the workforce of the yard peaked at 35,000.
In April and May 1941 Belfast and in particular H&W were heavily bombed by the Luftwaffe.
During the 1950’s and 60’s with the rise of air travel and in face of competition from the far east, British shipbuilding went into decline, surviving on Government subsidies untill by 1989 the H&W workforce had fallen to less than 3000.
Situated in East Belfast the workforce of the yard was overwhelmingly protestant.
Belfast’s skyline is still dominated today by Harland and Wolff’s famous twin cranes Samson and Goliath, built in 1974 and 1969 respectively.
During its heyday Belfast Ship yard was an industiral giant, building the largest and most powerful ships in the world. One can only imagine the sense of overwhelming pride and confidence of the people of the time. Perhaps this self image and associated confidence explains why this small city had plans to errect government buildings on a scale to match those of Washington DC and to build a cathedral larger than St Pauls in London.
Malin Head
Location
Inishowen Peninsula, Co. Donegal
History
Ireland’s most northerly point, Malin Head is the dramatic rocky headland at the tip of the rugged Inishowen Peninsula in Donegal.
Stretching between Lough Swilly and Lough Foyle, the Inishowen Peninsula is typical of Donegal, a landscape of astoundingly rugged and desolate beauty dotted with rustic old cottages and tiny villages. Weaving through many of these, hugging the coastline is the fabulous and well sign posted, scenic drive, the Inis Eoghain 100.
At the most northern point is Malin Head, which like its southerly counter part Mizen Head, is an emotive landscape of dramatic cliff faces and jagged rocks climbing out off the crashing ocean. The very northerly point is known as Banba’s Crown, where a tower stands overlooking the cliffs, this was built by the British in 1805 and later used as a Lloyds signal station. From here, on a rare, clear day you can see Tory Island to the west and the Scottish islands of Islay and the mountains on Jura, while on the flat plain just below the tower is the word EIRE, marked in stone. This was an important navigational marker for pilots in World War Two.
From the Tower is a short path along the headland to a chasm in the cliff face that fills with the crashing sea called Hell’s Hole and further on is the Wee House of Malin, a hermit’s cave in the cliff face. And if you have the time, Mizen Head is just 385 miles away to the south.
Visit Length
1hrs
Marble Arch Caves
Location
Wheathill, Co Fermanagh
History
One of the finest show caves in Europe, Marble Arch Caves in County Fermanagh allow visitors to explore this fascinating underworld cave system, first explored by caving pioneer Edouard Martel.
The limestone plateau to the west of Lough Erne in Fermanagh and the Cuilcagh Mountain Park on the borders of County Cavan is punctuated with caves. The Marble Arch Caves are the most extensive and were first explored in 1895 by French speleologist Martel, though they were not open to the public until 1985
Tours around the caves last about 75 minutes and take you deep into a strange world of underwater rivers, waterfalls, winding passages and lofty chambers filled with stalactites and stalagmites of otherworldly beauty. The tour covers the history and formation of the caves as you travel the depths by boat along the underground rivers Cladagh and Owenbrean and on foot – so sensible footwear is necessary.
In the visitor centre there is an interesting exhibition and audio-visual display on the formation and early exploration of the caves and the history of caving. Caves may close in heavy rain and booking is advised during peak times, but the Marble Arch Caves are a real must for any budding spelunker
Opening Times
No opening times available
Visit Length
2hrs
Museum of Free Derry
Location
Derry City
History
The Museum of Free Derry, also known as The National Civil Rights Archive, gives the most important information about the history of Derry and focuses on the civil rights era of the 1960s and 1970s when the early troubles took place.
The museum covers the history of Free Derry which consists of the Bogside, the Brandywell, the Creggan, Bishop Street and the Foyle Road. It also gives information about Stormont, the Corporation and the South Ward, 1920s -– 1960s and the revitalisation of local community spirit and self-help in the mid-1960s. In addition you can also learn about the Onto the Street phase as well as the battle of the Bogside, Bloody Sunday and the invasion of Free Derry.
The history is told from the people’s point of view that lived through this time and not the “official” version from the perspective of the government.
Opening Times
Mon-Fri 9.30am – 4.30pm (All year),
Sat 1.00pm – 4.00pm (April – Sept),
Sun 1.00pm – 4.00pm (July – Sept)
Newmills Corn Flax Mills
Location
Churchill Road Letterkenny, Co Donegal
History
The oldest surviving building here is said to be 400 years old. Indeed, the whole complex is an interesting reminder of a stage in the industrial development of this country which has now given way to a more sophisticated, but usually far less fascinating, technology. The visitor to Newmills can experience the pleasure of seeing one of the largest waterwheels in Ireland in action as it drives the machinery of the corn mill.
Opening Times
Mid June – 24 September Daily 10:00-18:30 Last admission 45 minutes before closing.
Visit Length
1hr 30min
Parkes Castle
Location
Fivemile Bourne, Co Leitrim
History
A restored plantation castle of the early 17th century, picturesquely situated on the shores of Lough Gill, once the home of Robert Parke and his family. The Courtyard grounds contain evidence of an earlier 16th century Tower House structure once owned by Sir Brian O’Rourke who subsequently was executed at Tyburn, London in 1591. The Castle has been restored using Irish oak and traditional craftsmanship. Access for visitors with disabilities to ground floor.
Details
Opening Times
Mid March – End October Daily 10:00-18:00 Last admission 45 mins. before closing.
Visit Length
1hr
Queens University
First devised in 1845 Queens College Belfast as a campus of the Queens University of Ireland alongside the Queen Colleges of Cork and Galway, was intended to provide higher education for Catholics and Presbyterians as a counterpart of the Trinity College, Dublin, then an Anglican institution.
The main building of Queens was designed by the famous Belfast Architect of the period, Sir Charles Lanyon, who also designed Belfast Prison and court house, Belfast Castle and the palm house at Botanic gardens.
With the disolution of the Royal University of Ireland Queens College became a University in its own right and has grown considerably ever since.
Queen’s first opened its doors in 1849 with 195 students, today there are more than 25,000 postgraduate and undergraduate students. It has more than 3,500 employees, including nearly 1,600 teaching and research staff, making Queen’s one of the largest universities in the United Kingdom.
While the best known image of Queen’s is the dignified facade of the Lanyon Building, the university currently occupies more than 250 buildings including 120 listed buildings and such prominent centres of research and learning as the medical teaching facilities at Belfasts Royal Victoria and City Hospitals along with the Marine Biology Station in Portaferry.
Saint Patrick Centre
Location
Downpatrick, Co Down
History
The legends of St Patrick play a huge role within Irish folklore and Christianity. The Saint Patrick Centre, close to St Patrick’s final resting place, in the historic town of Downpatrick, illustrates the story of Ireland’s Patron Saint.
St Patrick first came to Ireland , so the legend goes, as a captive slave, and later returned as a Bishop to convert the Irish to Christianity some time around the 5th Century. St Patrick established both the first church in Ireland and created the country’s first holy wells close to Downpatrick here in County Down, before converting the nation and according to the legend, ridding it of snakes.
When St Patrick died, the Book of Armagh tells how his body was carried by oxen back to the part of Ireland he loved best, to be interred on a hill in Downpatrick where Down Cathedral was later built. In the 12th Century John de Courcy, a Norman Knight, is said to have brought the relics of St Colmcille and St Briged here, full-filling an ancient prophecy that three saints would share this most hallowed ground, making it the most important pilgrimage site in Ireland.
The Saint Patrick Centre is a multi-million pound interpretation centre attracting some 120,000 visitors a year from all over the world. The excellent interactive exhibition “Ego Patricius” provides visitors with an in depth and accurate presentation of the life of St Patrick following the Saint’s own accounts in his Confession. Here in the cradle of Irish Christianity, you can walk in the very footsteps of St Patrick and no visit to Ireland is really complete without paying respects to its Patron Saint.
Details
Visit Length
2hrs
Slieve League
Location
South West County Donegal.
History
The Slieve League (Grey Mountain) cliffs, situated on the West coast of Donegal, are said to be the highest and one of the finest marine cliffs in Europe with a three hundred metre drop straight down into the wild, Atlantic waves below. This creates a breathtaking but extremely scary view.
However, there is much more to see besides the cliffs. One is advised to leave one’s car and walk the 2-3 km to the cliffs
so as not to miss the exciting scenery of the area. There are terrific views of the sea and the Sligo Mountains to be seen. Donegal Bay can be clearly seen as you walk towards the terrifyingly high top of Slieve League and there is a small lake at eye level. A short walk will take you to the right of the amazing cliff face of Bunglas (which literally means end of the cliff) which rises over 306m above the raging ocean. One Man’s Path will take you to the summit of Slieve League but the climb must be approached with extreme caution as it is very dangerous.
The ruins of a church with some early Christian hermitages lie near the pass. Returning from the summit by foot, one will pass the ruin of a watchtower at the end of Carrigan Head. This watchtower was constructed to defend the north-west coast during the early 19th century when there was the threat of Napoleonic attack. Walking on the eastern side of Slieve League there is a magnificent wilderness of rocks, streams and a deep rugged valley to your left.
At the end of the walk you will be left feeling refreshed and relaxed and glad you didn’t miss the awesome cliffs of Slieve League.
Opening Times
No opening times
Visit Length
2hrs
Sligo Abbey
Location
Abbey Street, Sligo
History
Known locally as the Abbey, this Dominican Friary was founded in the mid-13th century by Maurice FitzGerald. The site contains a great wealth of carvings including Gothic and Renaissance tomb sculpture, well preserved cloisters and the only sculptured 15th century high altar to survive in any Irish monastic church. This enigmatic Friary will inspire and enlighten its visitors. Access to site is by stone stairway
Opening Times
April – October Daily 10:00-18:00
Last admission 45 mins. before closing. Site may open weekends November – March.
Visit Length
1hr
St Annes Cathedral
Belfast Cathedral stands on the site of the Parish Church of St Anne. There has been worship on the site since 1776.
Erected on the site of the second Linen Hall which was gifted to the Anglican church by the fifth Earl of Donegal and named after both his wife and St Anne, the mother of the virgin Mary.
St. Annes Church was the main place of worship for Belfast Anglicans for over 100 years until after the royal charter which made Belfast a city in 1888 and it was felt a new cathedral capable of holding 3-4000 people was required. (The current building capable of holding 1000 is much more realistic and practical) and which reflected the grand view of Belfast and its citizens of the time.
The foundation stone for the cathedral was set in 1899 and building commenced around the existing church which was only demolished in 1903, one year before the consecration of the new nave in June 1904.
The Cathedral has been developing in stages throught the 20th Centuary with the new front and Baptistry added in the 1920’s and the North and south Transepts added in the 1970’s and 80’s respectively. The new futuristic spire was added in 2007 and is still a talking point among Belfast locals.
Lord Edward Carson the Founder of Northern Ireland is buried in the south aisle of St Annes where soil from each of the six countries of Northern Ireland was scattered on to his coffin.
The Black Santa tradition began in 1976 when Dean Sammy Crooks began sitting outside the cathedral over the Christmas period collecting money for charity. Dressed in his black cape he became known as the Black Santa. Successive Deans have kept the tradition with Dean Crooks being succeeded by Dean Jack Shearer and currfent Dean Houstan McKelvey. Over the years Black Santa has collected around BP3 million.
St Peters Cathedral
Built in Derby Street of Belfast Albert Street, St Peters was built in response to the growing Catholic population of Belfast throughout the 19th Centuary.
Following Catholic emancipation in 1800, St. Marys of Chapel lane as Belfast only catholic church was unable to cope with the growth in numbers of worshiperas and so a building programme (which brought the Italian tradesmen mentioned above) began with the erection of St Peters which began in 1860.
On land obtained and donated by the Belfast baker Bernard hughes St Peters opened in 1866 and at a dedication ceremony in October of that year a large number of Belfasts protestant community attended, many of whom had subscribed generously to the building fund.
St Peters is the seat of the Catholic Bishops of Down and Connor.
Stormont Building
Following partition the newly formed Northern Ireland parliament which was first opened by George V on June 21st 1921, met at two venues, Belfast City hall and the Presbyterian assembly college at 108 Botanic Avenue.
The site of the new parliament buildings to the East of Belfast was obtained in 1922. Originally the plans for the building were a replica of the US Capitol building in Washington and would have been much larger and grander than the present building, however these plans were scrapped in 1929 (post Wall Street crash and subsequent austerity) in favour of the current Greek classical building designed by Sir Arthur Thornley which was completed and opened by Edward Price of Wales (later King Edward the VIII and Duke of Windsor) on November 16 1932.
The building has two chambers originally for the house of commons of Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland senate, in effect a devolved version of the upper and lower houses of the UK parliament and of course the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
In the main hallway of the building hangs a chandelier which was a gift from King George the V which as a gift from Kaiser Wilhelm II had hung in Windsor castle until the beginning of WW1 (perhaps considered inappropriate for royal residences after the war.
The statue in the driveway is that of Edward Carson, the founder of Ulster Unionism and architect of the Northern Ireland state, this was erected in 1932 and unveiled by Lord Carson himself.
Stormont is presently used by the Northern Ireland Assembly which meets in the Commons chamber. The Senate chamber is now used as a committee room by the assembly.
Stormont Castle
Began in the 1830’s and built in Barionial style “Storm Mount” Castle was the home of the Cleland family descendants of the Rev John Cleland rector of Newtownards from 1789-1809.
In the 1921 the castle and grounds became vacant and were acquired for the erection of the new parliament buidlings.
The castle itself has been used as the cabinet rooms of the Northern Ireland government and as the residence of the Secretary of state between 1972 and 1999.
The Giants Causeway
Northern Ireland’s wonder, The Giants Causeway
The Giant’s Causeway is Northern Ireland’s most famous landmark and has been an official Unesco World Heritage Site since 1986. Formed between 50 and 60 million years ago, the ’causeway’ takes its name from the legends of Finn MacCool and draws people from far and wide to this corner of north Antrim. Whether you are just researching about Ireland or planning an Ireland vacation, The Giants Causeway is a must see!.
The north Antrim coastline in renowned for it scenic beauty and the Giant’s Causeway is its unique jewel in the crown, known to the Irish as the 8th Wonder of the World. A jagged promontory of neatly packed columns of hexagonal basalt rocks created some 6 million years ago by a flow of basaltic lava. As the lava cooled it formed these distinctive hexagonal shapes just as the bottom of a dried riverbed would crack into shapes.
It is easy to see how these almost perfectly symmetrical formations would be viewed as otherworldly by our earlier ancestors and how the Giant’s Causeway would give rise to colourful legend. The story goes that mythical Irish giant Finn MacCool built the causeway to get to Scotland and battle with a rival giant called Benandonner. When he got there he found that the Scottish giant was asleep but also far bigger than himself, so Finn returned back across the causeway. When Benandonner woke up he came across the causeway intent on fighting Finn. Finn’s wife dressed up her husband as a baby and when Benandonner arrived she said Finn wasn’t home and to be quiet not to wake up the baby. When Benandonner saw the baby he decided that if the baby was that big, Finn must be massive. So he turned tail and fled back across the causeway ripping it up as he went. All that remains are the ends, here at the Giant’s Causeway and on the island of Staffa in Scotland where similar formations are found.
In 1986 a Visitor centre was opened at the Giant’s Causeway to coincide with the addition by Unesco’s world heritage centre to its coveted list of world heritage sites
Location
County Antrim, Northern Ireland (approx 2 miles North of the town of Bushmills)
Nearby Airports: Belfast City, Belfast International, City of Derry
Nearby Ferry Port: Larne
Opening Times
Always Open.
Visit Length
approximately 2hrs to gain the full experience
The Titanic Experience
Location
Queen’s Road, Titanic Quarter, Belfast
Titanic Belfast Experience is made up of nine galleries, with multiple dimensions to the exhibition, drawing together special effects, dark rides, full-scale reconstructions and innovative interactive features to explore the Titanic story in a fresh and insightful way; from her conception in Belfast in the early 1900s, through her construction and launch, to her infamous maiden voyage and catastrophic demise. The journey goes beyond the sinking of this titanic ship, to the discovery of the wreck and continues into the present day with a live undersea exploration centre.
Opening Times:
April – September
Monday – Saturday: 9am-7pm
Sunday: 10am – 7pm
October – March
10am – 5pm every day
Please note last admission is 1h 40m before closing time
AVERAGE VISIT LENGTH:
From 1.5hrs
The Tower Museum
Location
Union Hall, Derry City
The Tower Museum is well located in Union Hall within the city’s historic walls.
History
The exhibitions are about the Story of Derry and the Armada Shipwreck – La Trinidad Valencera. The Tower Museum also hosts a wide range of interesting, temporary exhibitions.
The Story of Derry exhibition gives information about the history of Derry up to the 21st century and entertains its visitors with display cases, audiovisuals and artifacts. The museum covers everything from monastic times over the Civil Rights Movement to a glimpse of where the city is today.
An Armada shipwreck – La Trinidad Valencera tells the story about La Trinidad Valencera which was one of the largest ships in the Armada Fleet. The ship foundered in Kinnagoe Bay, Co. Donegal in 1588 during a violent storm and was found nearly 400 years later by divers. The exhibition offers a wealth of information via audio-visual and interactive displays and shows exciting artifacts such as textiles, pottery, wooden bowls, shoes and coins recovered from the ship.
Opening Times
Tues – Sat 10 am to 5pm
July – August – Mon – Sat 10 am to 5pm and Sunday 11 am to 3pm
Sept – Mon – Sat 10 am to 5pm
The Ulster American Folk Park
Location
Mountjoy, Co Tyrone
History
The Ulster American Folk Park is a fascinating open-air museum reconstructing the story mass emigration from Ulster to North America in the 18th and 19th Centuries and tracing the roots of those who left for the New World.
The Ulster American Folk Park is one of Ireland’s best museums outlining the lives of those 2 million people who left Ulster to conquer the American frontier between the 17th and 19th Centuries. These people of Ulster, commonly known as Scotch Irish established themselves in all strata of American society. Several of the signatories of the American Declaration of Independence were Ulstermen, and a number of America’s first Presidents were descended from Ulster.
The Folk Park provides a living history experience with historic buildings transported from all over Ulster, expertly reconstructed and authentically furnished, while demonstrators in period costumes go about their everyday tasks, illustrating what life was like in Ulster centuries ago. There are around 30 exhibits in total, recreating the old world of Ulster and the new world of the US in the 18th and 19th Centuries from rustic Weaver’s Cottages, homesteads and a typical Ulster Street to a Pennsylvania Log House brought from Greene County and an American Street based on 19th Century Boston with a replica First Mellon Bank.
Linking the two worlds is the excellent Ship and Dockside Gallery, using reconstructed buildings from Derry and Belfast and the Brig Union a replica of an early 19th century sailing ship, which would transport emigrants to new lives across the Atlantic.
Opening Times
No opening times available
Visit Length
3hr
Tory Island
Location
off the coast of Co. Donegal
History
Tory Island has become very well known for many reasons – one being the native art of the Tory Island artists. Well established as a style of painting, examples of the work are found in the local community hall and exhibitions are often held on the mainland. A Gaeltacht island, Tory is small and yet retains its own distinctive dialect. Only 11 kms from the mainland it is served by ferries from 4 ports during the summer – Downings, Dunbeg, Magheraroarty and Portnablagh. Arriving at the pier on Tory, visitors can see the island’s symbol – a T-shaped cross. It is believed that St. Colmcille may have founded a monastery on Tory in the 6th century – a round tower and the ruins of two churches are all that remain. The Tory Island Lighthouse was completed in 1832 and was automated in 1990. Bird-watchers are treated to puffins and, due to its location on the north-west coast, Tory is often visited by interesting migrant birds.
Ferries run from June to September (weather permitting).
Opening Times
No opening times
Visit Length
2hrs
Yeats Country
Location
Co. Sligo
History
County Sligo has breathtaking mountain scenery, lakes, waterfalls and beautiful beaches. It is known as Yeats Country as it inspired many of the great works of the Nobel Prize winning Irish writer, W.B. Yeats.
There are many sites of archaelogical interest in the area and one of the greatest concentrations of megalithic tombs in all of Europe. This is known as Carrowmore. It is one of the largest and oldest Stone-Age burial sites in Europe with almost two hundred tombs, a variety of passage graves, dolmens and stone circles still remaining.
Overlooking Carrowmore cemetery on the summit of Knocknarea Mountain is a huge flat-topped cairn called Maeve’s Cairn (Miosgan Meadhbha). The cairn is 55m in diameter and is 10m high. It was supposed to have been built for Queen Maeve, the Iron Age Queen of Connaught.
Lissadell House is a fine example of Greek Revival Architecture and much of the house has not been changed since one hundred years ago. The Gore Booths have lived near Drumcliffe since the time of Elizabeth I and the present house built by Sir Robert Gore Booth is still their home.
Like many Norman towns, Sligo had its castle and abbey. The castle has now disappeared but the abbey still remains and attracts thousands of tourists each year. As well as the vast history and magnificent scenery there is also a wealth of local legend. One legend describes how St. Patrick visited the area and wanted food. He was told that the river yield was poor in winter but nevertheless the fishermen tried and caught a large fish. St. Patrick blessed them and stated that the river would always have fish.
Opening Times
No opening times
Visit Length
4hrs
