Ireland’s most populous province and home to its capital. With 12 counties and therefore 48 land marks to visit, this is going to take some leg work. Sporting the warmest climate it shouldn’t be all hardship though as you discover the mountains of the ‘Garden of Ireland’, monuments of super cyclists, homes to witches along with musical walls and echoing gates.
Built in 1853, considered a wonder of its time. Designed by the Irish civil engineer Sir John Benjamin Macneill using new mathematical stress analysis developed just a few years before.
So disgusted after being presented with her husbands meagre land, the story goes that Lorcan’s bride, Cauthleen died of a shock. Also known as the ‘Hiding place of Ireland’, the windy gap is a nice climb with great views of Carlingford Lough.
Apparently Ireland’s tallest cross, standing at over 6 metres tall. It depicts the Old Testament figures of Adam & Eve, David & Goliath, Moses, Samson and Elijah along with graphic scenes from the Baptism and the Crucifixion.
Constructed approximately 200 years ago, the aquaduct and nearby viaduct carrying the railway over the Boyne river are considered architectural masterpieces.
The main Avenue is lit by gas lamps at night. Bicycle polo started in Ireland in 1891 has its own grounds here. Also a very popular venue for bicycle road racing on a Tuesday night.
Parts of this cross were found buried in 1835 and the rest in 1893. A lot of religious artifacts were possibly buried around the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1536 (Henry VIII) or Oliver Cromwell 1649.
Built after the 1740 famine as a famine relief scheme to give local employment and grain storage against another famine. The 1740-1741 famine killed 13% of the population.
Regarded as one of the better examples of 1800’s engineering in Ireland. The Viaduct rises to 60ft high and spans the Borris and Mountain River Valley.
2,500 acres of reclaimed land is the winter home of ~1200 Greenland White Fronted geese. Also where in 1952, managing directory of Guinness, Sir Hugh Beaver, had the idea for the Guinness Book of Records.
The Penfold Hexagonal post box in New Ross was an early ornate design for a pillar box . There are not many of these left. New Ross is one of the oldest towns in the county.
A Tudor Gothic village inspired by a village in Switzerland. Ardagh house, (now a rural science colllege) was the former home of the Featherston family. The Featherston’s were local landlords and responsible for building the present village in circa 1863.
Old worked peatlands that had mostly been left undisturbed naturally rewilded itself. Bord na Mona assisted this and built access trails across the old boglands. A success story for many plants and ground nesting birds.
One of the older trees in Ireland located in the grounds of Charleville castle. The tree is a Pedunculate Oak and estimated to be around 400 to 800 years old.
A very large portal tomb known locally as ‘Leac an Scail’, which means ‘stone of the warrior’. It may also be called ‘Kilmogue’ Dolmen. It is hidden behind bushes at the end of a lane.
