Trim Castle is the oldest and most well preserved Norman-Anglo castle in Ireland. Built in 1172 by…read moreHugh de Lacy. The tour was given by Jimmy who was very captivating and he described the history of the buildings. There were models inside of the changes that took place in the castle. We followed thru very narrow circular stairs that take you to the top. We saw spectacular views of the buildings and the countryside. This was where they did filming of the 1995 movie Braveheart. Which was about Scotland but filmed in Ireland.

Trim Castle, located in County Meath, Ireland, is Ireland's largest and best-preserved Anglo-Norman…read morecastle. It was constructed over a 30-year period starting in 1172 by Hugh de Lacy. Trim Castle was strategically built to guard the inland passage from Dublin to the northwest. Also....Trim Castle served as a prominent filming location for the 1995 film "Braveheart," directed by and starring Mel Gibson.

It's so lovely having this on my doorstep…read more I've never actually been inside the house itself but I love a good wander up around the grounds, especially on days where there's a market happening, or other event. (Check their website for their calendar of events, there's always something going on at the weekends) Even if there's not, there are horses in the fields, donkeys, a gorgeous walled garden, and lovely pathways to walk your dog, kid, BFF or granny. There's also a really cute little gallery which is currently exhibiting illustrated books; again, definitely worth a glance in. If you're going on a market day, make sure you haven't eaten first, cos there's some goooood eatin' to be had.

Located in the Phoenix Park, Farmleigh is the official Irish State Guest House, where visiting…read moredignitaries enjoy a fry-up every morning and get tucked in by Brian Cowen at night. When there is nobody booked in, it is open to the public, so you too can enjoy its extravangant interior, dating from 1752, which includes crystal chandeliers and a ballroom, and its beautiful landscaped grounds.

The Hill of Tara has been important since the late Stone Age, when a passage tomb was built there…read more However, the site became truly significant in the Iron Age (600 BC to 400 AD) and into the Early Christian Period when it rose to supreme prominence - as the seat of the high kings of Ireland. All old Irish roads lead to this critical site. St Patrick himself went there in the fifth century. As Christianity achieved dominance over the following centuries, Tara's importance became symbolic. Its halls and palaces have now disappeared and only earthworks remain. On sight to see is the Lia Fáil - the great coronation stone. Gayle and I came here on a bus tour and spent maybe an hour or so on site. Our tour guide (Mary Gibbons) was superb, with lots of information and dry humor provided. Judging by the Irish Goddess calendar made and sold here, this area remains a place of spiritual opportunity.

We visited Hill of Tara with Mary Gibbons tour and it was spectacular on a clear day. Views for…read moremiles. Amazing history. A just a very powerful experience overall. Highly recommend.

What a fabulous tour of a castle still going through renovations. Most of the grounds have been…read morerestored and most rooms of the castle are restored and open to tour. There are additional outbuildings they will restore over the upcoming years. The gardens are beautiful with medicinal and culinary herbs, plus apple trees on the property. We didn't get to do the guided tour, but we got plenty of details from the owner on the history and some of the details. This was so much better than the Dublin Castle and it is the only functional moat around a castle anywhere in Ireland.

Had a guided tour here for €4.50. Excellent value. The castle has plenty of history and is well…read moreworth a visit. It is the only moated castle in Ireland. A duck named George lives in the moat. The gardens are beautiful and the tour guide was really really good. A number of movies used the castle as a location, such as Ella Enchanted and the Tudors. You can rent the main hall for occasions such as weddings and I'd imagine they would be spectacular. Really worth a visit.

Interesting place. We saw this on a trip out to the Boyne and the hill of Tara…read more Founded in 1142 by St Malachy of Amagh the abbey is on the banks of the river Mattock (near Drogheda- pronounced like drow-eh-da- stress on the drow, at least the way our tour guide said it) There's not much left, but it's lovely and makes for a great photography opportunity. It's haunting. The octagonal lavabo (1200) for washing (purification) is unusual- the monks washed their hands here before eating. The visitor center has an interesting exhibit on the work of masons.

Mellifont was the first Cistercian abbey to be built in Ireland, founded in 1142 on the orders of…read moreSaint Malachy, the Archbishop of Armagh. Sadly, little of the original Abbey remains, save a octagonal 13th-century lavabo, where the monks washed their hands before dinner - and this in a time when hygiene was not a top priority, even for men of God. There is a visitor's centre, and guided tours on request, but the abbey is only open to the public from May to September.

The OPW Heritage Card is an excellent way to see the historical buildings and castles of Ireland…read more We used it constantly over our sixteen days in Ireland and was a big money saver for us. Whether it's Dublin Castle, Trim Castle (film location of Braveheart), Kilkenny Castle, Brú na Bóinne It constantly came in handy and allowed us to bypass the ticket lines. From their website: http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/Info/HeritageCards/ - The Heritage Card guarantees free admission to all our fee-paying State managed OPW Heritage Sites located throughout the country for one year from the date of first use (with the exception of Muckross Traditional Farms, Killarney). At certain locations, parking facilities and ancillary services are provided by other bodies or agencies. There may be a charge for the use of such services. Any such charges are separate to and are not covered by the Heritage Card. The cards cost as follows: Adult €25.00. Senior (60 years and over) €20.00. Student (valid student ID required) / Child (6 - 18 years) €10.00 Family €60.00 (Max. 2 adults & a reasonable number of children under 18 years) Heritage Cards are non-transferable and not replaceable if lost or stolen. - For information on location, opening times etc. of sites that can be visited with an OPW Heritage Card please browse the sites by selecting a region from the main menu. Alternatively use the search or sitemap. - The quickest and most convenient way to purchase an OPW Heritage Card is to buy it at the first OPW fee-paying site you visit. - If you are looking for the ideal gift why not choose a Heritage Card which is available in a Gift Wallet. Heritage Card Officer, Visitor Services (FREEPOST) The Office of Public Works (OPW), Unit 20, Lakeside Retail Park, Claremorris, Co. Mayo. Telephone: + 353 1 647 6592 Fax: + 353 94 937 3395 E-mail: heritagecard@opw.ie

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.

This is a the landmark that you can see from quite some way as you enter Trim…read more Unfortunately once you get closer you can see it is surrounded by litter and has a strong aroma of urine. Shame really. When we were there there was also a lot of broken glass, one piece which stuck firmly into my husbands shoe, so be aware if you are walking dogs here. It's a shame, as there is a lovely walk around the castle and down by the river. As the rest of Ireland seems to be remarkably quite litter free, this was a sad sight.

The Yellow Steeple is an obvious landmark - tall, gracefully pointing, it is aptly named because of…read morethe colour in the evening sunlight. Originally the steeple was the belfry tower of the Augustinian Abbey of St Mary.