Trinity College Dublin is the oldest University in Ireland. Founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I, the College is in an enviable position in the heart of Irelands capital. Its forty-acre site retains most of its cobbled squares and other world seclusion including beautiful 18^th and 19^th century granite buildings.

Trinity College is home to one of the most fascinating books in history, The Book of Kells, a magnificent example of early Christian art. Following many raids by the Vikings in the 9^th Century the Book of Kells was brought to Ireland by the followers of St. Colomba from Iona in Scotland, without its magnificent jewelled cover, which the Vikings plundered. The intricate artwork and attention to detail in the book depicting the four gospels, has fascinated many throughout the world and is always a popular exhibit at Trinity. You may find other treasures at The Old Library in Trinity, which is also fascinating, being 213 ft long and home to over 200,000 volumes of the Trinity collection. These include the Book of Armagh and the Book of Durrow. There is also an audio- visual presentation, which relates the history of the city and is very interesting. The Book of Kells and Trinity College should not be missed if you are in Dublin City at all, we are sure you will enjoy it.

Opening Hours: June-Sept: Mon-Sat 9.30-5, Sun 9.30-4.3  - Oct-May: Mon-Sat 9.30-5 Sunday: 12 noon – 4.30*  Admission Charge: £4.50 adult /£5 including Audio-visual May- Oct 10-5 pm Telephone 01 6082308  

The Guinness Hop Store cannot be excluded on your visit to Dublin, situated in a beautiful 19^th century building on James Street just beside the Guinness Brewery. Here you can experience The Guinness Zone, which takes you through the history of Guinness, and how it all started, including old advertising campaigns and the world famous “Guinness is Good for you” posters. You will also see a model Cooperage and Transport Museum and a lively traditional bar where you can sample a complimentary glass of Dublin’s finest brew (or more if you acquire a taste for it!!) Do not forget your memorabilia from the excellent souvenir shop.

Opening Hours: Apr-Sept: Mon-Sat 9.30-5, Sun 10.30-4.30 -Oct-Mar: Mon-Sat 9.30-4, Sun 12 -4pm Admission Charge: £5  Telephone: 01 453 3645

Just outside the city centre to the North is the Phoenix Park, Europe’s largest public park at approximately 5 km. It is here you will find wild deer roaming if you are lucky, and also quite a few sports in action including hockey and Gaelic (Irish football) not to mention lots of people jogging or family picnics. It is a popular destination for many city dwellers to escape from it all.

Located in the Park you will find Dublin's Zoological Gardens. Established in 1830, it is the world's third oldest public zoo. Set in 30 acres of attractive and colourful gardens, the Zoo has a large collection of wild animals as well as hundreds of tropical birds from around the world. There are many rare and endangered species on view with comprehensive information panels to explain all as you go along. Dublin Zoo offers a unique opportunity to meet its group of Gorillas, Rodriguez fruit bats, Snow Leopards and the many other endangered species that are part of the international breeding programmes. Currently there is an extensive redevelopment programme in operation, which will see many improvements for all the animals at the Zoo.

Opening Hours: Apr-Oct: Mon-Sat 9.30-6, Sun 10.30-6 - Nov-Mar: Mon-Sat 9.30-4, Sun: 10.30-5PM -Admission Charge: £6 Telephone: 01 6771425

This fascinating example of a Megalithic burial tomb has been the wonder of many cultures, historians and experts from all over the world throughout the centuries. Dating back to the 4th Millennium, Newgrange is older than the Pyramids and Stonehenge in Britain. The feat of construction alone is a wonder to all as the closest location for the 250,000 tonnes of White Quartz rock used in it’s construction, is found 80km away in the Wicklow mountains!! How these people transported such a volume of material is still a mystery. Another fascinating feature is the burial chamber itself. During the Winter Solstice a ray of sun, shines directly along the long passageway through a slit above the entrance, illuminating the small burial chamber for several minutes. This amazing work of art has been the study of many throughout the years but one theory is that this civilisation studied the stars and skies and based their lives around them.  Newgrange should definitely be included on your itinerary as it is fascinating. Access is through the Visitor Centre at Bru Ná Boinne only where you will find an excellent, Audio-Visual presentation and exhibition, (interpretive centre) coffee shop and restaurant and souvenir shop. It is from here that you will be bussed to Newgrange. You may also include Knowth and Dowth, which are similar pre-historic sites and are still under construction. There is an admission charge, which will include all three sites and return bus fare. This is the only way to visit the sites.   Note below the opening hours are varied to capitalise on daylight hours, an all-day early visit is recommended**

**Opening Hours: Mar-Apr: 9.30-5.30 May: 9.00-6.30 June-Mid-Sept: 9.00-7.00 Mid Sept- End Sept: 9.00-6.30 Oct: 9.30-5.30 Nov-Feb: 9.30-5.00   Admission Charge: Up to approximately £5 depending on how many sites you want to visit and if you want to visit the interpretive centre.  Telephone: 041 982448/ 041 9880300 

The small town of Killarney nestles in some of the most beautiful landscape in Ireland. Dominating the skyline are the rugged Macgillacuddy Reeks Mountains the highest mountains in Ireland. The three main lakes of Killarney lie below to form a broad lush valley stretching south between the mountains from the town. The area is preserved as Killarney National Park, and is a popular destination for many visitors to explore and appreciate our beautiful landscape. The Gap of Dunloe is an amazing glacial formation which passes through the “Reeks” for 4 miles and is a thrill to cycle down - just don’t stop!! Wheeeeeee!!  There is plenty to do and see in the area, Muckross House is just outside the town. A 19^th century manor set in impressive grounds with beautiful gardens and sub tropical specimens. You may hire a pony and cart for the long trip into the house and grounds at the gate as cars are not allowed through the estate. Well worth the experience!

Opening Hours: Sept-June 9-5.30 July-Aug 9-7pm

Just north of Lahinch, on the coast of West Clare, are the Cliffs of Moher. Natural ramparts against the might of the Atlantic, they rise in places to over 215m and stretch for almost 8km. It is here that the visitor can most easily get a feel for the wildness of the terrain over which the Celts wandered. O'Brien's Tower, constructed in the early 19th century as a viewing point for Victorian tourists, is located on the highest cliff. From its vantage point you can view the Clare coastline, the Aran Islands and mountains as far apart as Kerry and Connemara. The Cliffs can be visited daily, all year round and admission is free. There is ample free parking and also a visitor centre with coffee shop and gifts be sure to bring rain gear if the weather is bad and don’t go too near the edge!!

One of the world’s great gardens, Powerscourt is situated 16 miles south of Dublin in the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains. Powerscourt was given to Mr. Richard Wingfield in the early 1600’s by King James I and stretches out over 45 acres. It is a sublime blend of formal gardens, sweeping terraces, statuary and ornamental lakes together with secret hollows, rambling walks, walled gardens and over 200 variations of trees and shrubs. The 18th Century Palladian House, designed by the German born architect Richard Castle, now incorporates an innovative shopping experience, terrace cafe and house exhibition. The exhibition is the actual evolution of Powerscourt House, from the original owners, its buildings, from a castle and then into a Country House. 

Opening Hours: Mar –Oct 9.30-5.30 Admission £5  Nov-Feb 9.30- dusk Admission £3.50  

Blarney Castle is one of Ireland's oldest and most historic castles. Located just outside Cork City it provides impressive views for miles around. An ancient stronghold of the MacCarthys, Lords of Blarney and one of the strongest fortresses in Munster, its walls are eighteen feet thick in places. The famous Blarney Stone is embedded in the Battlements. Kiss it (in a very precarious manner) and you will be guaranteed the “Gift of the Gab”  

Hours of Opening: May & Sept: Mon – Sat 9-6.30, Sun 9-5.30 - June- Aug: Mon-Sat 9-7, Sun 9-5.30 - Oct – Apr: Mon – Sat 9 – dusk Sun 9-5.30 Admission Charge: £3.50 Telephone: 021 4385252

The Blasket Islands are red sandstone rocks sprawled in the Atlantic, two miles beyond the westernmost tip of the Dingle Peninsula. There are four big islands, Inismore the Great Blasket, Inishvickillane, Inistuisceart and Inis ná Bro and three smaller ones: Beginish, Young’s Island and Illaunboy. There is also a great sea rock, the Tearaght, 19 hectares long and 602 feet high, and a multitude of lesser rocks and reefs. Ruined hermitages and forts, which exist on several of the islands, show that they were occupied in early historic times. The marauding Vikings were undoubtedly familiar with the Blaskets’ and may even have had bases in the area in the 9th and 10th centuries. The largest island seen from Slea Head on the peninsula is the Great Blasket, which was inhabited until 1953 and where the islanders led a very hard life indeed. The Blasket Centre at Dunquin recounts the lives of the islanders and the stories from a time long since past.

Opening Hours: May-Sept: 10-6pm July – Aug: 10-7pm  Admission Charge: £2.50

Covering approximately 5,000 acres of Connemara countryside, this beautiful area is one of Ireland's five national parks. The visitor centre is located at Letterfrack where you can discover everything about the history of the peat bogs and the people of the area.

Opening Hours:  Apr, May, Sept: 10-5.30 - June: 10-6.30 Jul- Aug: 9.30-6.30 Admission: Free Parking Visitor Centre £2

A good place to find out more about Irish History : Heritage Ireland Web Site