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.

We drove up and entered right around opening. We had to pay for parking. The only bathrooms were…read morelocated here as an FYI. The walk up was not difficult for us just at an incline. With our Heritage Card we gained free admission and did the self tour. Unfortunately the guided tour of the chapel wasn't until late morning so we could not see it due to our schedule. The chapel undergoes UV radiation as a means to conserve the remaining 12th century wall paintings. Only a limited number of people can visit per day. The original St Patrick's cross had been moved indoors for preservation but that room was under renovation so wasn't accessible. We settled for the panoramic views of the countryside which was beautiful on the sunny, clear day. The cavernous ruins were quite nice to walk around and we came across some very faint wall paintings on the wall behind the chapel. A taste of what we missed inside the chapel.

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)

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.

My mother and I stopped by Cahir castle on our way back to Dublin after taking a roadtrip all…read morearound Ireland and it was a really nice visit. We didn't go inside as it was closed, but we parked and walked around the castle, enjoying the river and the beautiful landscaping around the castle. It was a really nice area to just take a walk and take in the sight. The castle is amazing, as everyone has already pointed out. The swans that were around were fun too. I would definitely go back to this castle if I'm in the area again.

This was a great stop - really enjoyed the guided tour that highlighted just how fortified this…read moreplace was, as well as separating which parts of the building were more and less aged. Go if you can!

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

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.

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!