Ireland - A Virtual Tour

Posted on 03/03/2021 | About Ireland

The Book of Kells at Trinity College

The Book of Kells is an illuminated manuscript (a handwritten book decorated with gold or silver, brilliant colors, elaborate designs and miniature pictures) of the four gospels of the Christian New Testament. The work is the most famous of the medieval illuminated manuscripts due to the intricacy, detail, and majesty of the illustrations. It is difficult to truly appreciate its beauty in pictures. Created in the year 800AD by three artists and four scribes, researchers believe that it was originally produced in a monastery on the island of Iona, off the coast of Scotland. When the island was attacked by Vikings, the surviving monks moved to a sister monastery in Kells, County Meath. There it is believed the Book of Kells was finished.

The Book of Kells remained in the town of Kells until 1653. It was moved to Dublin after the town suffered serious damage during military occupation in the wars of the 17th century. The Bishop of Meath presented the Book of Kells to Trinity College Dublin (Ireland’s oldest University, founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth) for safe keeping between 1661-82. Today, the Book of Kells is housed in Trinity’s 18th century Old Library, opened in 1732. This building is also home to the Long Room - a 65-metre long chamber considered to be one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. The Long Room continues to be a working library where students and researchers from Ireland and around the world continue to consult the volumes of books it houses.

Blarney Castle and the Blarney Stone

No visit to Ireland would be complete without a visit to Blarney Castle. Did you know that as it is seen today, it is the third to have been erected on this site? The first was a wooden structure built in the 10th century. In 1210 A.D. this was replaced by a stone structure with the entrance twenty feet above the ground on the north face. This building was demolished and used for foundations. In 1446 the third castle was built by Dermot McCarthy, King of Munster. Today, as you can see, only The Keep (a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility) still remains standing.

The castle has had a rather long and dramatic history of ownership. After the McCarthys of Muskerry, it was occupied by Cormac McCarthy, King of Munster. Fun fact - he is said to have supplied four thousand men from Munster to supplement the forces of Robert the Bruce at the battle of Bannockburn in 1314. Legend has it that the latter king gave half of the Stone of Scone to McCarthy in gratitude. This, now known as the Blarney Stone, was incorporated in the battlements. Ever wonder why are things referred to as such ‘Blarney’?

Fun story……..the ultimate procrastination…..and distraction…….The Earl of Leicester was commanded by Queen Elizabeth I to take possession of the castle. Whenever he tried to negotiate the matter, McCarthy always suggested a banquet or some other form of adventure. When the queen asked for progress reports, a long missive was sent, at the end of which the castle still remained untaken. The queen was said to be so irritated that she remarked that the earl's reports were all 'Blarney'! This is also why kissing the Blarney Stone, also known as the Stone of Eloquence, is said to impart the ’gift of the gab’ to those that do. Visitors to Blarney Castle may hang upside-down over a sheer drop to kiss the stone, which is said to give the gift of eloquence – just like McCarthy. Dare to try it? Have a look!

In later years, Cromwell's General, Lord Broghill, planted a gun on Card Hill and attacked, breaking the tower walls. When his men entered the keep they found everyone had fled by the underground caves (the Badgers Caves). Legend had it they took all the gold plate (coins) and tossed much of it in the lake during the escape. The next owner, Donogh McCarthy, 4th Earl of Clancarthy , became obsessed with draining the lake to find the gold and a fortune was spent in vain. The estate was forfeited by him and the property passed to the Hollow Sword Blade Company, who sold it to Sir James St. John Jefferyes, Governor of Cork in 1688. His son by same name took possession and at the beginning of the eighteenth century, during the reign of Queen Anne, built a Georgian gothic house up against the keep of the castle. The family also laid out a landscape garden known as the Rock Close with a remarkable collection of massive boulders and rocks, arranged around druid remains from pre-historic times. In 1820 the house was accidently destroyed by fire. The wings now form a picturesque adjunct to the keep and in the 1980s they were rearranged to give a better view of the keep.

The castle is now a partial ruin with some accessible rooms and battlements. Surrounding the castle are extensive gardens with paths touring the grounds and signs pointing out various attractions such as rock formations known as Druid's Circle, Witch's Cave and the Wishing Steps. Another fun fact (well, maybe fun isn’t quite the right word…) - the grounds include a Poison Garden with numerous poisonous plants, including wolfsbane, mandrake, ricin and opium, as well as cannabis. Sounds like the beginning of a great novel………

The Ring of Kerry

To holiday in Kerry and not explore The Ring of Kerry is like visiting Ireland and not trying a pint of Guinness: there’s just something missing. But what is the Ring of Kerry? Well, it’s a route….a trail…..a road. Yet this is no ordinary road. Let’s find out why…….

The Ring of Kerry is a road that takes you through 10,000 years of dramatic history - from deep forests to the crashing waters of the wild Atlantic - through rugged, majestic landscapes where wild stag roam – where tumbling waterfalls crash into crystal streams teeming with wild salmon. It’s a road that takes you to some of the most historic and breathtaking places in Ireland. Many visitors take a self-driving vacation along the route. It is also extremely popular with coach tours. Either way, be sure to make time for the “Top Five” sites to see along the way.

Skellig Michael - Skellig Michael is the site of an old Irish monastery. It is one of the most famous and impressive sites from the ancient Christian world that can still be seen today in its original, true form. It is a monastic site sitting on the top of a rock in the middle of the wild Atlantic Ocean. The site represents an Irish expression of the Christian search for solitude - a solitude they believed would bring them closer to God.

Muckross House - Regarded by many as the focal point of the National Park, Muckross House looks out on beautiful Muckross Lake. The house was designed by William Burns, a Scottish architect, for Henry Arthur Herbert and his wife Mary Balfour. With a total of sixty-five rooms, it was built in Tudor style and typified the elegant lifestyle of the 19th century land owning class. Muckross House itself was built over a period of years from 1839 to 1843 with further work carried out during the 1850’s in preparation for Queen Victoria’s visit. Also of interest at Muckross is a Traditional Farm, a Craft Shop (incorporating weaving, pottery and bookbinding workshops) and a Garden Restaurant. Muckross House & Muckross Traditional Farms are fully accredited Museums

Innisfallen Island - Innisfallen Island sits just offshore from Ross Castle. It is home to the ruins of Innisfallen Abbey. An island of approx 21 acres (8.5 hectares) it is the largest of the islands on the lake and can be accessed via motor boats which run from Ross castle during the summer months. Some of the most impressive early Christian archaeological remains in the Killarney region are to be found in the ruined monastery on Innisfallen Island. The monastery was founded in the 6th/7th century by St.Finian the Leper. In the 6th/7th century the island would have been a bleak and desolate place (and still is on a winters day in the 21st century!) ideally suited to a life of solitude, prayer and reflection sought after by the monks of those times. The monastery flourished over the following centuries and writing and education became synonymous with the island and the monastery.

Derrynane Beach – Beaches in Ireland? Indeed! Derrynane Beach is a very beautiful, extensive sandy beach in Derrynane Bay. It is close to Derrynane House, the ancestral home of Daniel O'Connell (1775 – 1847), known as ‘The Liberator’. Derrynane House is now a museum to the life and times of the Liberator and his family, and, along with some 300 acres of surrounding lands, that makes up Derrynane National Historic Park.

Kenmare Town - Originally a plantation colony, Kenmare is a small and attractive town set on a deep bay between the Macgillycuddy Reeks to the north and the Caha Mountains to the east. The Irish name for the town is "Neidin" which translates as "little nest" a reference many believe to the "nesting" location of the town between the two mountains. From Kenmare Pier, you can see the beautiful Kenmare Bay stretch for as far as the eye can see - a spectacular sight on a fine day. One of the most striking features of the town of Kenmare is its colorfully painted houses and shops. The town library is one of the "Carnegie Libraries" funded by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.

Cliffs of Moher

Situated on the Wild Atlantic Way on Irelands west coast, the Cliffs of Moher boast some of the most breathtaking scenery in Ireland. The name Moher comes from Gaelic meaning “ruined fort”. The Cliffs of Moher actually means the cliffs of the ruined fort. Rising slowly from Doolin, they ascend to over 700 feet (213 metres) stretching south for nearly five miles (8km) to Hags Head. Not only are the Cliffs of Moher Ireland's most-visited natural attraction, Harry Potter fans will be excited to know that they are also the filming location for a scene in Harry Potter & The Half-Blood Prince. The cliffs are featured in a scene where Harry and Dumbledore apparate (appear magically by teleport to or from a place) on the shore of some sea cliffs and enter a cave to find a horcrux (you have to Google this one!). See if you can spot them the next time you watch.

One way to experience the Cliffs is by visiting the Cliffs of Moher Vistor Experience. Built in 2007 at a cost of 30 million Euro and occupying a small section of the Cliffs, it now attracts over 1.5 million visitors a year. Unfortunately the site and the local road network have struggled to cope with this volume resulting in long lines and traffic delays during the summer months. If you want to by-pass the Vistor Experience, you can experience the Cliffs by exploring the hiking trails. The Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk is a trail that links the villages of Doolin and Liscannor. On clear day, you can see the Aran Islands and Galway Bay, as well as the Twelve Pins and the Maum Turk mountains in Connemara, Loop Head to the south and the Dingle Peninsula and Blasket Islands in Kerry. O’Brien’s Tower stands near the highest point and has served as a viewing point for visitors for hundreds of years.

The walk takes approximately 3 hours along a gravel path and finishes at the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre where public transport is available for your return to Doolin. You can either start in Doolin, walk the 8 km to the Visitor Center, and then take the shuttle bus back to Doolin or you can walk the entire 14 km along the Cliffs.

The Aran Islands

Known as the Islands of Saints and Scholars, the Aran Islands are located just off Galway and Doolin. Here another true Irish experience awaits you. Because of their Celtic and Christian heritage, The Aran Islands have many ruins and sacred sites. Known as Holy Ireland, these islands have centered around Celtic and Christian pilgrimage. Locals speaking Irish and English will greet you as you explore a stunning setting of historically significant Celtic churches.

One of the most breath-taking is the World Heritage site Dun Aonghasa, set on a dramatic 300 ft cliff edge. The Aran Island’s have a strong spiritual appeal expressed in many ways for a diverse range of people. It is said that just by being on the Aran Islands, you are on a path to connecting with your spiritual inner self and blessed. Many say they have been healed here, have attended spiritual ceremonies such as the Summer Solstice and increasing numbers are getting married here.

The Giant’s Causeway

The Giant's Causeway is an amazing sight. It lies at the foot of basalt cliffs along the sea coast on the edge of the Antrim plateau in Northern Ireland. It is made up of some 40,000 massive black basalt columns rising out of the sea. The dramatic sight has inspired many legends of giants striding over the sea to Scotland. Geological studies of these formations over the last 300 years have greatly contributed to the development of the earth sciences, and show that this striking landscape was caused by volcanic activity during the Tertiary, some 50–60 million years ago. The Giant’s Causeway is the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Northern Ireland.

Thank you for taking the time to explore Ireland further with us. When you are ready, we are here to help you make your travel dreams a reality. We will leave you with this drone video of the Giant’s Causeway. It will inspire you to visit!