Overview:
Dublin Castle
Once the centre of British rule in Ireland from 1204 to 1922, Dublin Castle is now the setting for some of Ireland's most important state ceremonies.
There is very little left of the original castle that was developed as a medieval fortress under the orders of King John of England in 1204. By the time it was finally completed in 1230, it had four corner towers linked by high curtain walls and was built around a large central enclosure. Dublin Castle was constructed on an elevated ground once occupied by vikings. The original Castle stood approximately on the site of the present Upper Castle Yard, and it remained intact until 1684 when a major fire caused severe damage.
Image credit: Walter Delorie
Image credit: Walter Delorie
Following the devastating fire, Dublin Castle was rebuilt in the late-seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and was transformed from a medieval castle into a Georgian palace. This new structure would play host to various dignitaries, including regal ceremonies for members of aristocracy. There's various rooms throughout the castle, such as: the State Apartment located south of Upper yard; Saint Patrick’s Hall, known as the grandest room that contains the most important decorative interiors in Ireland and where the most elaborate functions are held; the throne room; State Drawing room; State Dining Room; State bedrooms; and the State Corridor. There's a lot!
The castle is surrounded by Dubh Linn Garden located at the 'Black Pool', which was the name the Vikings gave this location, hence the name 'Dublin'. Dublin Castle remains one of the architectural highlights of Georgian Dublin today.
Trinity College
Trinity College in Dublin, formally named the 'College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth', was founded in 1320 by Queen Elizabeth I and under Pope Clement V. It maintained its intermitted existance over centuries, but did not thrive and flourish. It was not until 1592 that a small group of locals received an official document from Queen Elizabeth I giving them permission to establish the college using the grounds of the disbanded Augustinian Monastery, located just southeast of the city wall – this process helped shape Trinity College into the institution it is today.
Image credit: Stephen Bergin/Unsplash
In the first 50 years after its founding, several estates were acquired to support the college. The books which form the foundation of the great library began to be collected during this time, as well as a curriculum devised and rules established to guide the college's operations.
The main college grounds cover approximately 47 acres and there are a number of buildings in the grounds, including a chapel, examination hall, memorial building, museum building, the Douglas Hyde gallery, Samuel, Samual Beckett Theatre, science building – all of which are lined in a row. The current Chapel was completed in 1798, the interior adorned with stained glass windows and is also now used daily in celebration of mass for the colleges Roman Catholic members.
Fun fact: one of Trinity’s famous graduates is Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula.
The Library
One of the most famous parts of Trinity college is the library, with thousands of rare and old books, including the well-known book of Kells. It's Ireland largest research library, and is a legal deposit library for the United Kingdom and Ireland, so therefore is entitled a copy of every book published in Great Britain and Ireland. It receives over 100 thousand new items every year, and the library has about 5 million books held in its depository.
The library makes up several buildings in the college, yet the old library is the most impressive section, ornate in beautiful timber and arch ceilings – Thomas Burgh’s masterpiece of architecture. The library host's around 600,000 visitors per year, making it Dublin’s third most visited site.
All images credited to: Walter Delorie
Cliffs of Moher
Located on the rugged southwestern edge of the Burren region in County Clare, the beautiful Cliffs of Moher strecth over 8 kilometres and is around 200 metres tall above the Atlantic Ocean. The Cliffs of Moher is situated in the UNESCO-listed Global Geopark and it's one of Irelands most visited (and breathtaking!) sites. According to Irish folklore, the cliffs are said to be home to otherworldly beings and mystical creatures. They host many colonies of nesting birds, and are also some of the country's most important bird-breeding sites.
While here, don't forget to see the magnificent O'Brien's Tower. The view from the top is incredible, and allows you to see south toward Hags Head, and north toward Doolin. It was built in 1835 by Cornelius O'Brien, the tower's namesake, and a descendent of the first king of Ireland Brien Boru.
Image credit: Jeremy van Heerde
Kilkenny Castle
Kilkenny Castle stands dramatically on a strategic height overlooking the River Nore and has a strong presence over the town of Kilkenny. Many additions have been added to the beautiful castle over eight centuries, making today's castle a complex structure of varying styles.
The original stone castle was built as an Anglo-Norman castle by William Marshal in 1146-1219, during the 13th century. Later becoming the residence of the Butler family, it was purchased by James the Earl of Ormond in 1391 and lasted in the family until 1967 when it was presented to the people of Kilkenny for a return payment of €50 Euro. The family's collections and possessions were sold at an auction, and the building is now in the hands of the Office of Public Works.
Image credit: Jeremy van Heerde
There's a huge variety of rooms to explore, including: the Chinese withdrawing room, State Dining room, entrance hall, tapestry room, the blue corridor, a library and an impressive picture gallery wing. All the rooms are unique, and are painted in bright, vivid colours.
The Chinese withdrawing room features walls covered in original hand-painted Chinese wallpaper. The room was designed for the women to withdraw to after dinner, while the men indulged in their cigars and drinks. The blue corridor is where the family held their array of over 500 paintings, which was the largest collection in Ireland, and the tapestry room is where you can find beautiful large tapestries on the wall designed by Peter Paul Ruben and woven by Decus Mus in 1616.
Kilkenny Castle is also home to a magnificent garden that is sprawled over many acres. It is well manicured and free to wonder through the area!
Image credit: Jeremy van Heerde
Image credit: Walter Delorie
Jerpoint Abbey
Located around 2.5km southwest of Thomastown in the county of Kilkenny, Jerpoint Abbey is a 12th century Cistercian located beside the little Arrigal River. Despite being founded in 1160, Jerpoint Abbey was only formally affiliated to the Cistercian order in 1180.
In 1228, there were thirty-six monks and fifty laybrothers who held twenty-thousand acres of land at the location of the Abbey. It was a large complex surrounded by 2 walls and the outer wall contained industrial workshops, mills and fishponds. Between the monastery and the inner wall was the brew house, bake house, infirmaries, gardens, orchads, guest houses and the monks graveyard.
Image credit: Jeremy van Heerde
The 'Cloister' is located in the centre of the Abbey, and it's here where the monks had access to various rooms. The monks would walk and pray in the sheltered walkway. Cloister garth means enclosed garden, which contained herbs for medicinal purposes. The outstanding feature is the 15th century cloister arcade that hosts an array of carved images unique to Cistercian architecture. The series of standing figures and symbols includes saints, mythical animal’s, clerics, and secular figures of passion.
Jerpoint Abbey was dissolved in 1540 by the order of King Henry VIII as a part of the dissolutions of the monasteries. Oliver Grace was the last abbot and he left the abbey without any possessions, while the land was leased to the Butler family. Despite the fact that there is not much that remains of Jerpoint Abbey, the site has been declared as a national monument for its incredible history.
Image credit: Jeremy van Heerde
Image credit: Jeremy van Heerde
