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Ireland the Ancient Emerald Isle
PAGE UNDER RECONSTRUCTION AS WE ARE TO VISIT A DIFFERENT PART OF IRELAND IN 2010
After arriving on the Dublin ferry from Holyhead our tour of the Emerald Isle will begin with a visit to a f
Carrowmore in the county of Sligo, which holds the best collection of megalithic sites in Ireland. On the way we will call off at a Sheilanagig hiding on an abandoned church wall.
From here we will head for the Celtic home of the 'Book of Kells', the historic town of Kells, were we will stay for the next three days, have some free time and will be treated to an expert guided tour of the town and its historic and Celtic mysteries. Our family owned hotel is of the very highest quality and we will enjoy a farewell dinner in the award winning restaurant on the final evening.
The Meath town of Kells is ideally situated to explore the famous Boyne valley and from here we will spend time at the Hill of Tara, the Loughcrewe chambered Cairn, an ancient church and Round Tower and a relatively unknown, peaceful old town with a whole collection of the most amazing early Christian buildings including a Benedictine Priory, a Hermits Cell, the site of the first church of St Mary, a later St Mary's Church, an old Gaol, an ancient Holy Well and the most friendly, welcoming local coffee shop and information office. This 'Town of the Seven Wonders' is a real highlight of the tour and a treat which must not be missed!!
Of course we will visit the famous Newgrange and Knowth Chambered Tombs and if time permits the Castle of Trimm and the Fourknocks Tomb site. All this and much more. As usual for a Megalithic Tour, unusual and interesting situations and events will inevitably present themselves and it is these that can make the difference for our small groups.
Day 1.
We will leave from Preston for Holyhead and the fast ferry over to Dublin arriving around 10am. We will then head west across Ireland to the beautiful Galway Bay on the West Coast, which will be our base for the next four nights in a comfortable hotel with a view over Galway Bay at Salthill, to the Burren beyond. On the way we will call at the historic town of Athlone on the banks of the river Shannon and Lough Ree, the second largest lake in Ireland. Not far from Athlone we will visit the town of Shannonbridge the location of the Monastic site of Clonmacnoise, an Early Christian site founded by St. Ciarán in the mid-6th century on the eastern bank of the River Shannon. The site includes the ruins of a cathedral, seven churches (10th -13th century), two round towers, three high crosses and the largest collection of Early Christian graveslabs in Western Europe. The original high crosses and a selection of graveslabs are on display in the visitor centre.
monastic site of Clonmacnoise - The Hotel - View over Galway Bay at Salthill
Day 2.
The Ancient Sites of the Burren etc
Day 3.
A free day to explore Galway City and Galway Bay
Day 4.
Carrowmore Ancient Cemetry
'Carrowmore Ancient Cemetry' is the second largest cemetery of megalithic
tombs in Europe. Over 60 tombs have been located by archaeologists, the
oldest pre - dates Newgrange by 700 years. We will have a day exploring
this amazing centre of ancient activity, where most of the monuments are
clustered about the large central cairn; the magnificent 'Listoghil',
with a number of sites trailing off to a dolmen to the north of Carrowmore.
This monument has an intact stone circle and is considered to be the best
preserved dolmen. For Meglithic fans, this is a one off treat.
Ancient Monument in Carrowmore
Day 5.
Today we head through the pituresque Irish countyrside to the Celtic town of Kells, where the fine 'Headfort Arms Hotel' will be our base for the remainder of our Irish adventure. The Headfort is a recently reovated, family owned hotel and it is of the highest standered (see the pictures below).
Sheila-na-gig - The Headford Arms Hotel - Page from the 'Book of Kells'
Day 6.
Day 7.
Navan Church & Round Tower - Fore Abbey - friendly staff in Fore Abbey Coffee Shop
From our base in the 'Headfort Arms Hotel' in the historic town of Kells, we will spend the next two days exploring the magnificent Boyne Valley, famous for its vast wealth of history going back through the times of the ancient Celtic Lords to some of the most important Neolithic sites in the World.
The Town of Fore - Arriving in the small town of Fore, hiding away in a small valley between green hills and gray cliffs, is an unexpected surprise, its amazing collection of ancient buildings, peculiar myths and its welcoming inhabitants great you in that quiet unassuming way, you have come to expect. Bronze age burials on a nearby hilltop indicate human activity over three thousand years and traces of a much older mesolithic civilization have been found in the next valley. This was once a major fortified town and, before that, a great ecclesiastical university. Although its ancient prestige may have fallen, the valley retains an extraordinary air of sanctity and continues to demand attention. An Early Christian monastery was founded here around 630 by St. Feichin who died of the plague in 664-5. At one time there were 300 monks in the monastery. It was burned in 771, 830 and again in 870, and a number of times in the course of the 11th and 12th centuries. From this old monastery one church - St. Feichin's - survives, standing in a graveyard above the road. Originally it was a simple rectangular building with antae, and with a Greek corss in relief over the flat-headed doorway. A chancel was added around 1200. There is the small carved head of a monk on the north side of the chancel arch. The two east windows were inserted in the 15th century.
Not to be missed, is the Fore Abbey Coffee Shop, an excellent place to take a break, providing light meals, lodes of local books and pamphlets, an outstanding video on the valley and its history and a selection of local craftwork for sale. Not to forget a really great welcome from the staff (above).
The Hill of Tara - The Hill of Tara, known as Temair in gaeilge, was once the ancient seat of power in Ireland and 142 kings are said to have reigned there in prehistoric and historic times. In ancient Irish religion and mythology Temair was the sacred place of dwelling for the gods, and was the entrance to the otherworld. Saint Patrick is said to have come to Tara to confront the ancient religion of the pagans at its most powerful site.
In the distance to the northwest
can be seen the brilliant white quartz front of Newgrange and further
north lies the Hill of Slane, where according to legend St. Patrick lit
his Pascal fire prior to his visit to Tara in 433 AD.
Sitting on top of the King's Seat (Forradh) of Temair is the most famous
of Tara's monuments - Ireland's ancient coronation stone - the Lia Fail
or "Stone of Destiny", which was brought here according to mythology
by the godlike people, the Tuatha Dé Danann, as one of their sacred
objects. It was said to roar when touched by the rightful king of Tara.
The nearby "Mound of the Hostages" is a megalithic 'passage
tomb' and is the oldest monument on the hill of Tara, dating to about
2,500BC. The name "Mound of the Hostages" derives from the custom
of overkings like those at Tara retaining important personages from subject
kingdoms to ensure their submission.
Loughcrewe - Loughcrew Cairns form the largest complex of Passage Graves in Ireland. The Cairns are megalithic structures containing symbolic engravings and like other passage graves in Ireland, they have clear astrological alignments. There is evidence of many uses during the millennia, but it is generally agreed that they were originally built about 4000 BC. Archaeological scholars have left Loughcrew relatively undeveloped leaving it the best kept secret in archaeological Ireland.
In a landscape of inspiring beauty and intriguing history, Loughcrew is rich in historical and archaeological, religious and natural interest. One of ancient Ireland's major roads passes through Loughcrew, crossing the great Road of the Chariots nearby. The lakes abound with cranógs, and the drumlins are topped with innumerable motte and bailey forts. The Cairns, set on the highest hills in this part of Ireland, dominate the area now as they have done for all time. They may be the oldest calendar known, and may even be the world's oldest existing dwellings.
Enduring features of the Loughcrew Cairns are the atmosphere, the solitude and serenity, the extraordinary views (of seventeen counties, reputedly). In the foreseeable future, the need to divert visitors from the over-popular Newgrange to Loughcrew may deny us the privilege of experiencing the extraordinary ancient site in solitude.
Navan Church and Round Tower - The 'Church and Round Tower', is a feature of Southern Ireland and the site at Navan is a fine example. This is the site of a very early Christian settlement, reputed to have been founded by Saint Patrick, who placed his disciple, Cassan, in charge. The settlement included the church and a fine round tower which was probably built sometime in the 10th century and is still in good condition. The doorway, about four metres above ground level, has inclined jambs and a decorated semi-circular head. Unusually for such structures is a sculpture, in high relief on the key stone of the arch, of a figure of a crucifiction and on each side of the architrave, a human head.
Day 8.
Newgrange, Knowth - Fourknocks (time permitting). Check-in to the ferry ay 17.00 and back in Preston for around 23.00
Pick-ups from Preston and on route to Holyhead
Price £725 including all transport from pick-up to drop off, ferry from Holyhead to Dublin, B&B in Dingle & kells and Dinner on the final evening. Single Supplement £100
Headfort Arms Hotel