Sights in Ireland
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Brigit's Garden
Can you feel the power of the crystal? Halfway between the villages of Moycullen and Oughterard is Brigit's Garden, a New Age place with lots of lovely plants, yoga classes, Celtic festivals, mythology and a vegetarian cafe.
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Ballyholme Bay
To the east of the town centre, Ballyholme Bay has a long sandy beach and wide green spaces for the kids to run around in.
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West Clare Railway
A 2km vestige of this historic line survives near Moyasta on the Kilkee Rd (N67) 6km northwest of Kilrush. Run by volunteers, the beautifully restored steam-powered trains shuttle back and forth over the open land.
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Wellington Column
The local burghers dedicated this column to Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, in recognition of his impressive career: after defeating Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo, the Iron Duke went on to become prime minister of Great Britain and in 1829 passed the Catholic Emancipation Act, repealing the last of the repressive penal laws.
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Visual Centre for Contemporary Art
Opened in 2009, this glowing opaque-white cubelike space on the grounds of St Patrick's College is the county's cultural hub. British architect Terry Pawson scooped the international competition for the purpose-built centre with his factory-inspired industrial design of concrete, steel and glass. Known simply as Visual, its five separate galleries include the 'cathedral', the largest single exhibition space in Ireland. Rotating exhibits highlight local artists. It also houses the George Bernard Shaw Theatre.
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Vinegar Hill
To visit the scene of the 1798 events, get a map from the tourist office and look for signs. It's a 2km drive or about a 45-minute walk from Templeshannon on the eastern side of the river. At the summit there's a memorial to the uprising, explanatory signs and views across the county.
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Traditional Irish Night
Traditional Irish nights are held in a corn barn in the folk park. Lots of red-haired (real or fake, it's clearly a big help in securing employment) servers dish up trad music, dancing, Irish stew, apple pie and soda bread. There's nontraditional wine as well, which may put you in the mood for the singalong. Book online or by phone.
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Thomond Park Stadium
From 1995 until 2007, the Munster rugby team was undefeated in this legendary stadium, which was massively rebuilt in 2008, the year they won the Heineken European Cup for the second time. Tours of the hallowed ground include its memorabilia-filled museum. It's an easy 1km walk northwest of the centre along High St.
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Talbot Castle & St Mary's Abbey
Across the River Boyne from the castle are the ruins of the 12th-century Augustinian St Mary's Abbey, rebuilt after a fire in 1368 and once home to a wooden statue of Our Lady of Trim, which was revered by the faithful for its miraculous powers.
In 1415 part of the abbey was converted into a fine manor house by Sir John Talbot, then viceroy of Ireland; it came to be known as Talbot Castle. The Talbot coat of arms can be seen on the northern wall. Talbot went to war in France where, in 1429, he was defeated at Orleans by Joan of Arc. He was taken prisoner, released and went on fighting the French until 1453. He became known as 'the scourge of France' and even got a mention…
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St Patrick's Cathedral Church
That huge steeple you see belongs to St Patrick's Cathedral Church, parts of which date to the 15th century. Bishops were enthroned here from 1536 but it wasn't given cathedral status until 1955.
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St Multose Church
This is one of Ireland's oldest Church of Ireland churches, built around 1190 by the Normans on the site of a 6th-century church. Not much of the interior is original but the exterior is preserved beautifully. The graveyard has some interesting large family tombs, and several victims of the Lusitania sinking are also buried there. Inside, a flat stone carved with a round-handed figure was traditionally rubbed by fishermen's wives to bring their husbands home safe from the sea.
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St Mary's Abbey
One of the largest medieval churches in Ireland, St Mary's was founded by Isabella of Leinster and her husband William in the 13th century. Ask at the tourist office for access.
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St John's Theatre & Arts Centre
Located in a former church and now hosting art exhibitions as well as drama, music and dance events.
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St George's Heritage Centre
Set in a restored church, this heritage centre looks at the history and landscape of Leitrim from old Gaelic traditions through to Planter times. A tour of the centre also takes in a short walk through the town describing the history of its heritage buildings and a visit to the old Famine workhouse, which remains a bleak memorial to harder times.
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St Declan's Well
Pilgrims once washed in these waters, which are located in front of the ruins of Dysert Church, behind the hotel development above Ardmore Pottery.
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St Declan's Stone
Different geologically from other rocks in the area, this stone steeped in lore is at the southern end of the beach. It was perhaps brought by glacier from the Comeragh Mountains but, according to legend, St Declan's bell, which he is often pictured with in his hand, drifted across the sea from Wales on the stone after his servant forgot to pack it. He decreed that wherever the stone came to rest would be the place of his resurrection.
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St Declan's Church
In a striking position on a hill above town, the ruins of St Declan's Church stand on the site of St Declan's original monastery alongside an impressive cone-roofed, 29m-high, 12th-century round tower, one of the best examples of these structures in Ireland.
On the outer western gable wall of the 13th-century church, weathered 9th- century carvings set in unusual arched panels show the Archangel Michael weighing souls, the adoration of the Magi, Adam and Eve, and a clear depiction of the judgement of Solomon. Inside the church are two Ogham stones featuring the earliest form of writing in Ireland, one with the longest such inscription in the country. Local lore claims St…
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St Carthage's Cathedral
'One of the neatest and prettiest edifices I have seen', commented William Thackeray in 1842 about the striking 1679 cathedral. And that was before the addition of the Edward Burne-Jones stained-glass window, which features all the Pre-Raphaelite hallmarks: an effeminate knight and a pensive maiden against a sensuous background of deep-blue velvet and intertwining flowers. Justice, with sword and scales, and Humility, holding a lamb, honour Francis Currey, who helped to relieve the suffering of the poor during the Famine. Among the cathedral's oddities and wonders are some noteworthy tombs, including the elaborately carved MacGrath family crypt dating from 1557 and…
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St Brendan's Well
Out in the boggy west, with its lonely vistas worthy of some lost world, look for signs for this ancient religious site that still attracts a smattering of pilgrims. Legend has it that St Brendan sailed here from Dingle, scaled the cliffs (in the 5th century), found a couple of dying pagans and anointed them.
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St Augustine's Church
On the east side of the bridge overlooking Dungarvan Harbour, this solitary church was built in 1832 and once had a thatched roof. There are features incorporated from the original 13th-century abbey, including a well-preserved tower and nave. The abbey was destroyed during the Cromwellian occupation of the town, but the church remains in use today.
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Station House Museum
Located in an old train shed in the upscale hotel development, this small museum is devoted to the story of local ponies and various historic events.
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St Aidan's Cathedral
Restored to its original glory (check out the star-spangled roof), the dazzling Roman Catholic cathedral (1846) was designed by Augustus Pugin, the architect behind the Houses of Parliament in London. It's near the castle.
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Small Skellig
While Skellig Michael looks like two triangles linked by a spur, Small Skellig is longer, lower and much craggier. From a distance it looks as if someone battered it with a feather pillow that burst. Close up you realise you're looking at a colony of over 20,000 pairs of breeding gannets, the second-largest breeding colony in the world. Most boats circle the island so you can see the gannets and you may see basking seals as well. Small Skellig is a bird sanctuary; no landing is permitted.
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Slemish
The skyline to the east of Ballymena is dominated by the distinctive craggy peak of Slemish (438m). The hill is one of many sites in the North associated with Ireland's patron saint – the young St Patrick is said to have tended goats on its slopes. On St Patrick's Day, thousands of people make a pilgrimage to its summit; the rest of the year it's a pleasant climb, though steep and slippery in wet weather, rewarded with a fine view (allow one hour return from the parking area).
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Sky Road
This 12km route traces a spectacular loop out to the township of Kingston and back to Clifden, taking in some rugged, stunningly beautiful coastal scenery en route. The round trip of about 12km can be easily walked or cycled, but, if you're short on time, you can also drive. Head directly west from Clifden's Market Sq.
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