East & Dublin

One of the most important sites in the history of Ireland, this spot marks the place where the Battle of the Boyne was fought in July 1690 between King William III and his father-in-law, King James II. The area also contains the three exceptional passage tombs of Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth. This UNESCO World Heritage Site dates back to 3200BC and was built by the people of the New Stone Age.

This 1885 cut-stone railway station is now home to a visitor center. The center houses a fascinating archive of memorabilia including original tickets, timetables and special railway artifacts, and is an ideal spot for railway enthusiasts and children.

This exceptional cathedral dates back to around 1030. The crypt, which dates back to 1171/2, is one of the largest medieval crypts in Ireland and the UK, and is a haunting and atmospheric spot.

Amazingly, an Iron Age bog road that was built in 148BC close to the River Shannon was uncovered at this spot. It’s one of the largest oak roads to have been discovered in Europe, and this centre tells its story.

One of Ireland’s most famous monastic sites founded by St Ciaran in the sixth century, Clonmacmoise is situated on the water meadows of the River Shannon.

Located close to Portlaoise, Emo Court was designed by the architect James Gandon in 1790 for the first Earl of Portarlington, and is a magnificent example of neo-classical style.

The Hill of Tara, located 48km northwest of Dublin, dates back more than 5,000 years to the Neolithic age. Tara is known in both myth and history as the traditional seat of the High Kings of Ireland.

Killruddery is the most successful, and most beautiful, Elizabethan Revival mansion in Ireland. The gardens are the oldest in the country, and are amongst the most important in these islands.

Old Mellifont is the first Cistercian monastery in Ireland, founded in 1142 by St Malachy of Armagh. Its most unusual feature is the octagonal Lavobo, which dates back to around 1200.

A must for anyone interested in the poet’s life and work, this centre houses exhibitions on local history, has a 60-seat audio-visual theatre, and a special research library.

Located in a stunning natural setting at Enniskerry, this is a magnificent period home dating from mid-18th century, overlooking wonderful terraced gardens and an ornamental lake.

Born in 640AD in Mullagh, County Cavan, Saint Killian became a missionary to Wurzburg in Germany and was later martyred there in 689AD. This exhibition details his life and times, as well as the work of Irish missionaries in Germany in the sixth and seventh centuries.

The Bog of Allen is an important part of Ireland’s natural heritage. It began to form 12,000 years ago after the last ice age, when open lakes were gradually filled with peat to form fens.

One of the most important exhibits on show at the Cavan County Museum, the Killycluggin Stone is believed to have religious significance associated with fertility. Discovered on a farm in 1921, it’s thought to be Bronze Age in origin.

Carrickmacross Lace is a delicate Irish craft dating back to 1816. The tradition was kept alive by the St Louis sisters for 100 years and is internationally renowned for its beauty and skill. The sleeves of Princess Diana’s wedding dress were trimmed with Carrickmacross Lace.

The River Liffey is one of the main features of the city and has undergone considerable regeneration in recent years. It rises in the Sally Gap near Kippure in County Wicklow, travels 125km through the centre of Dublin, into Dublin Bay and finally the Irish Sea.

This museum relates the stories of the families who lived and died in the workhouse after the Great Famine and land war.