All Heritage Sites

Set in the Connemara mountains is Kylemore Abbey, a beautiful neo-Gothic Castle. Built by the English industrialist Mitchell Henry in 1868, visitors to the three reception rooms in the Abbey are touched by its history steeped in romance and tragedy. Kylemore Castle was sold to Benedictine nuns fleeing war-torn Belgium in 1920 and the Castle became an Abbey. The Community Read more…

This stone fort was probably the property of a local chieftain in the early Christian period around the 9th century AD. Although called a fort, this monument was really a defended farmstead which would originally have contained houses and farm buildings. It has a circular drystone enclosing wall, the inner face of which has steps which criss-cross leading up to Read more…

This is one of the largest and finest stone forts in Ireland and was probably built in th early centuries AD before Christianity came to Ireland. It must have been in the home of a very wealthy landowner or chieftain who had a great need for security. A wall up to six metres high and four metres thick – built Read more…

The Navan Centre interprets one of Ireland’s most important ancient monuments, Navan Fort. The Ancient capital and seat of the Kings of Ulster. From the ‘Real World’ of archaeology travel to the ‘Other World’ to hear legends of the Ulster Cycle. Visit the unique Iron Age/Early Christian period dwelling and, through Living History interpretation, learn about a past life. Finally, Read more…

This late-medieval and 17th-century castle is dramatically sited, on a headland dropping sheer into the sea on the north Antrim Coast. It creates an exciting image of danger and adventure backed up by its history. It was first documented in McQuillan hands, in 1513, and later became the stronghold of the McDonnells, Earls of Antrim and Lords of the Isles. Read more…