A History Tour of Ireland

Take a trip around Ireland from the Cliffs of Moher to the Dublin City Zoo and back down to Temple Bar to see the rich history behind the Emerald Isle.

Dingle Peninsula A remote area of Ireland, the Dingle Peninsula is the place to see traditional Irish heritage. Ancient traditions have survived in this Gaelic-speaking area far more than anywhere else in the country. The 30-mile-long peninsula on Ireland's west coast also has more than 2,000 archaeological sites.

Christ Church Cathedral Sitting on what used to be the heart of medieval Dublin, the Christ Church Cathedral is the official seat of the Church of Ireland. Founded in 1028 by a Viking king, this cathedral still captivates visitors of all backgrounds with its beauty and history.

Fort Dunree Built in 1798, Fort Dunree sits on a rocky cliff in Northern Ireland. Irish forces were stationed here during WWII to prevent the nations at war from violating Ireland's neutrality. The fort is now a museum with its bunkers full of Irish military history.

The Battle of the Boyne "11th Night" is a celebration widely observed by Protestant groups in Northern Ireland with costumed reenactments of William of Orange's 1690 defeat of King James, a Catholic, in the Battle of the Boyne. Bonfires are lit all over Ireland to commemorate the event.

Blarney Castle Visitors to this historic castle can bend over backwards (literally) to kiss the Blarney Stone, known for its ability to "deceive without offending." If kissing historic artifacts isn't your thing, a garden of rock formations on the castle's grounds, called Rock Close, offers visitors a chance to climb the "Wishing Steps."

Temple bar Temple Bar, in Dublin, has retained a medieval street pattern, with cobbled streets. Home to the Irish Photography Centre, the Irish Film Archive, as well as various nightclubs and bars, Ireland's cultural district saw the first performance of Handel's "Messiah" in 1742.

Dublin City Zoo The spelling of Dublin was originally "Dubh Linn," which means "Black Pool" in Gaelic, referring to an ancient treacle lake in the city. The lake is now part of the penguin enclosure at the Dublin City Zoo.

The Cliffs of Moher With its highest point towering 700 feet, the Cliffs of Moher offer amazing views of the Aran Islands, Galway Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. You'll also find a nature preserve; the area is one of the major nesting areas for seabirds in Ireland. The cliffs have been a tourist destination for centuries -- O'Brien's Tower, which stands at the highest point of the cliffs, was built in 1835 as an observation tower.

Trinity College Trinity College in Dublin is Ireland's oldest university. Established in 1592, it was once the stomping grounds of Oscar Wilde and Dracula’s Bram Stoker. A star athlete, Stoker graduated in 1870, and Wilde followed in 1874, with many academic awards under his belt.

Irish Houses of Parliament Although it's now the Bank of Ireland, visitors can still tour the former Irish Houses of Parliament. Built in 1739, it was the world's first parliamentary house built for the sole purpose of housing a government. It served as the seat of parliament for the Kingdom of Ireland until Ireland became part of the United Kingdom in 1800.

Navan Fort Not so much a fort as a pagan ceremonial ground, Navan Fort is full of ancient Irish history. While the site is not much more than a giant grass covered mound, it’s the setting for many Irish myths. Actors help bring the fort to life through reenactments of cooking, weaving, and farming during the Iron Age.

Newgrange Megalithic Passage Tomb Built around 3200 B.C., Newgrange is 600 years older than the Giza Pyramids and 1,000 years older than Stonehenge. According to legend, Newgrange was the home of Oenghus, the god of love. At dawn on the winter solstice, a shaft of sunlight shines through the roof over the entrance and penetrates the passage to light up the chamber for 17 minutes.

Garden of Remembrance This memorial garden in Dublin commemorates the many Irish revolutionaries who fought for freedom in various rebellions. The garden sits where the Irish Volunteers formed their organization in 1913 to secure rights for all of Ireland.

The Shelbourne Hotel The Shelbourne, now a newly renovated and upscale hotel in Dublin, was where the first Irish Constitution was drafted and signed in 1922. The hotel overlooks St. Stephen’s Green, Europe's largest garden square.

Rock of Cashel Supposedly the site of the king of Munster's conversion by St. Patrick in the 5th century A.D., Rock of Cashel is a great place to see medieval architecture. The buildings, still standing since the 12th and 13th centuries, include Cormac’s Chapel, which holds the sarcophagus of King Cormac, a former king of Munster.