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)

Such a cool place to visit in Ennis! We came on a Sunday and this was one of the few places open…read more Our guide was very knowledgeable about the site and was able to answer many questions for us. Pro tip - if you purchase the Irish Heritage Card you can visit a wide variety of sites around Ireland for free!

Lovely little friary with an interesting history. The docent gave a fascinating tour. It's…read morecertainly well worth a visit. It's within walking distance of the center of town. Or if you take the Ennis Walking Tour with Jane, she ends her tour across the street and you could just stroll to the friary afterwards.

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.

A tribute to one of Limerick's best known artistic figures. The statue is just beside King John's…read moreCastle and across the way from the Bishop's Palace, so you can't miss it. Great to see such a well-kn own figure finally acknowledged. For the record, I don't like his poetry much and he sounded like a dick, but hey. Local hero and all.

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.

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.

Loved my visit to the museum! Angela's Ashes is one of my favorite books, and I'll always recommend…read moreit to everyone. Visiting the museum was something I've always wanted to do, so my very first visit to Ireland had to include Limerick. The museum shows two rooms upstairs (a kitchen and bedroom). Downstairs has a classroom which is really wonderful. It displays some of Frank's personal items. Volunteers working there were amazing, such nice people. I highly recommend visiting the museum. The visit costs 4 euros per person.

This is a must see! If you are flying into Shannon, take a detour into Limerick to see this place…read more The owner Una Heaton, built the Museum from the ground up. She has spent many years collecting artifacts and stories about Frank McCourt. Even if you did not read his books or are not a fan of his work, the Museum provides a glimpse to what life was like in Limerick during the World Depression in the 1930's. It shows the harsh reality of growing up poor in Ireland and motives the soul as you see him and his school mates become great successes after such a rough childhood. Plus, the owner is very knowable and has designed the entire museum herself. She has a great hand made art work and has utilized her skills to create authentic scenes from Mr. McCourt's life. Afterwards you can go to South's Pub for a pint.

There are actually 2 castle's, an old and a new (or newer, its still very old obviously). The herd…read moreof white deer are worth the walk alone, they're beautiful. Don't expect throngs of tourists being herded on and off coaches here, it's not on the tourist trail at all. That's part of its appeal though I think. Recently purchased by Cork County Council that could all change relatively soon. Recommend you see it while you can still have the place all to yourself.