Mullagh
	St. Kilian's Heritage Centre
	Lakeview Gardens
	Kells
	Kells Heritage Centre
	Headfort House
	St Columb's House
	Round Tower of Kells
	St. Columba's Church & High Crosses
	Tower of Lloyd
	Oldcastle
	Loughcrew House & Historic Gardens
	Fore Abbey & Dovecote
	St. Feichin's Church
	Anchorite's Church
	More Local Attractions
	Newgrange, Knowth, and Dowth (Brú na Bóinne)
	The Battle of the Boyne
	Trim Castle
	The Hill of Tara

St. Kilian's Heritage Centre, located in Mullagh, celebrates the life and times of Kilian, a seventh-century saint who was born in the area. During his mission to modern-day Germany, Kilian was martyred, and is now one of the patron saints of Wurzburg in Germany. His life and death are represented through artefacts and an audio-visual presentation in St Kilian's heritage centre.

One of the few Ogham stones in Cavan can also be seen at the centre. An audio-visual room with seating for 53 people with a 15-minute film illustrates the life and times of St Kilians, his Martyrdom in Wurxburg, his substantial cult and the German/ Mullagh connection. There is also a well-stocked exhibition room which brings to life a glorious era in Ireland's church history and the work of the Irish missionaries in Europe in the 6th and 7th centuries through maps, photographs, statuettes, manuscript facsimiles and art reproduction.

The centre also houses a craft shop where the visitor may select artistic items of interest from a range of locally produced work. Adjoining the craft shop is a comfortable dining room where one may relax over lunch or coffee.

Lakeview Gardens, have recently being restored to their original old world charm and atmosphere.

Grey stone walls enclose an acre of sloping garden intersected by gravel paths and terraces. Each area is filled with rare and unusual plants, many originating from the famous Shackleton plant collection, and has a distinct planting theme: flower-filled borders with specific colour schemes: sunbaked terraces with planted walls overflowing with colour: a patch planted in the cottage garden style; a woodland shrub walk and artistically grown fruit and vegetables.

Through the traditional whitewashed farmyard and overlooking an old orchard with ancient rose covered apple trees is a small nursery selling plants seen in the garden and often unavailable elsewhere.

The garden and farm, with its flower filled meadows and naturalised bulbs, is worked to organic standards (IOFGA). A converted loft, overlooking the garden, is used for day courses, exhibitions and is available for use by garden visitors.

Kells Heritage Centre is a new and vibrant visitor attraction located in the Heritage Town of Kells. Housed in the beautifully restored Courthouse are a multi-media exhibition, a gift shop, and Kells Tourism Information Centre.

The exhibition, entitled "The Splendour of Ireland" gives an insight into the crafts and culture of monastic Ireland and entices the visitor to explore the various sites of interest throughout Kells.

A facsimile copy of the Book of Kells, the single most important artefact associated with the town, is on display in the Heritage Centre. Depicting the stories form the four Gospels the book is acclaimed due to the profusion of the decoration, and the complexity with which this decoration is integrated with the text.

Most scholars agree that is was created by Columban monks on the remote island of Iona off the west coast of Scotland in a monastery founded by St. Columba (or Coulmcille) in the 1560's. It is not known exactly when the book was transferred to Kells.

Headfort House was built roughly two hundred years ago for the Earl of Bective, Thomas Taylour. It is built of Ardbraccan limestone and the house itself was designed by the Irish architect George Semple. The interiors were designed by the Scottish architect Robert Adam. His designs were somewhat simplified for various reasons. Much of the interior remains in very good condition, thanks mainly to the school's occupancy. It remains the only intact Adam interior in Ireland.

Much of the original furniture, which would have been designed by Adam to complement his lofty interiors, is still in place. Some items were recently bought by the state, with a view to their being displayed in the house eventually.

These items, including pier glasses and tables, are undergoing restoration in Kilkenny Castle, as part of an ongoing exhibition of Irish Furniture. The furnishings from the magnificent Chinese Drawing Room have long since gone.

This is an ancient oratory with steep stone roof. The present entrance is modern; the vaulted room it leads to was originally divided into two levels, the present ground floor acting as a basement, and the original church proper was entered by a door (now blocked up) in the west wall, and was about 6 or 7 feet above present floor level. Above the vault is a small chamber (reachable by a ladder) which also served the purpose of preventing the roof from collapsing. The oldest part of the building may have been constructed in the early 9th century, perhaps to house the relics of St. Colmcille, but the roof may have been built some centuries later.

In the churchyard on the top of the hill in Kells are found the Round Tower and a number of High Crosses. The round Tower is about 100 feet high, and has five windows at the top, though the original conical cap is missing. The doorway had heads carved on it, but these have almost entirely weathered away. The tower must date from before 1076, for in that year Murchadh Mac Flainn, who was claiming the High Kingship of Ireland, was murdered in the tower. Near the round Tower is the South Cross dedicated to Saints Patrick and Columba, which was possibly erected in the 9th century.

St Columba's Church of Ireland Church, stands on the site of an earlier Mediaeval church, which lay in partial ruins and was restored in 1578. The sole remnant of that church is the Bell Tower. The Mediaeval church continued to be used, in whole or part, until the present church was built in 1778, altered in 1811 and altered again in 1858. The exterior is plain; not so the interior, which is rich Victorian Gothic. The stained glass is particularly noteworthy. In the old baptistry stands a facsimile of the Book of Kells.

In the grounds of the Church stand the remains of four Celtic Crosses, probably 11th century. One of the crosses was destroyed by English soldiers under the command of Oliver Cromwell at the time of the English Civil War Only two are complete. They represent various scenes from the Gospels.

The Tower of Lloyd is an impressive landmark. The area round the tower has been developed as a community park (The People's Park). There are good facilities for children to play, have picnics and generally run about.

On the outskirts of the town and clearly visible when approaching from the North stands the "Tower of Loyd ". The tower is roughly 100 feet high and has a lantern round the top, rather like a lighthouse. It was built in the late 18th century by the lst Earl of Bective in memory of his father Sir Thomas Taylor. Why such a thing exists is not so clear (inland lighthouse). There are those who say that the tower was built so that the Headfort family could sit in it and watch various country pursuits taking place. Others say it was built to provide employment at a time of economic hardship or is no more than a "folly".

The tower was used to view horse racing and the hunt in the nineteenth century.

The plaque reads: 'This pillar was designed by Henry Aaron Baker Esq. architect was executed by Mr. Joseph Beck stone cutter Mr. Owen Mc Cabe head mason Mr. Bartle Reilly overseer Anno 1791'.

Loughcrew is rich in historical, archaeological, religious and natural interest. One of ancient Ireland's major roads passes through Loughcrew, crossing the great Road of the Chariots nearby. The lakes abound with cranógs and the drumlins are topped with innumerable motte and bailey forts. The Loughcrew Cairns (prehistoric passage graves), some 5,000 years old, are perhaps the oldest calendar known, and may even be the world's oldest existing dwellings.

For lovers of gardens, nature and history, for families of all ages - the spectacular Loughcrew Gardens hold more questions than answers. Take an extended walk to Charles Cockerel's vast portico, restored as a ruined "Temple of the Rains," and through a rockery and woodland pleasure walks to Lough Creeve with its legendary cranóg.

Generations of the Naper family have been creating Loughcrew Gardens since 1660. The result is a stunning garden comprising water, trees, vistas and archaeology rather than flowerbeds. A host of enchanting features are displayed in a setting steeped in atmosphere and history: the prehistoric Loughcrew Cairns crown nearby hills; and within the gardens stand a mediæval moote and St. Oliver Plunkett's family church and Tower House.

Loughcrew is also home to the increasingly popular annual Garden Opera Festival which was founded in 2000 to exploit Loughcrew's magnificent Garden location in promoting Opera in the Provinces.

The ancient Christian ruins of Fore which lie in a valley between two ranges of hills are associated with St. Fechin who founded a monastery here around 630 A.D. Approx. 300 monks were living at the Abbey by the time St. Fechin died of the yellow plague in 665 A.D. Between 771 and 1169 A.D. Fore was burnt 12 times.

In the 13th century the de Lacys who were Norman landlords built a Bendictine priory in the valley nearby. Some of the buildings that remain are from the 15th century and have been restored throughout this century, making Fore Abbey the largest group of Benedictine remains in Ireland. Its 13th century church still has some docorations and graceful arcaded cloisters. Attached to the church are the broken walls of two towers, where the monks once lived.

The 'Dovecote' is raised up above abbey offering some splendid views. Several rows of little holes form most of a circular building all made out of rough stone slabs. What remains here is, just the bottom of what would have been a 6-8 foot tall, roofed building.

Raised up above the road and visitors car park this lovely ruin is very worth taking a look at. As you approach the church up the steps you first see the doorway in the west end with its huge lintel stone, said to weigh seven tons. This lintel is one of the Seven Wonders of Fore because St. Feichin is said to have raised it up by the "power of prayer". It has a Maltese cross carved on the outside face.

Moving inside the 10th century part of the building there is a stone font just inside the door. In the centre of the room there is a modern plinth with a layout of the church and a legend describing the ages of each section. The east end was extended in the 12th century and later, in the 15th century, the east window was replaced.

On the arch between the two sections there is a carving of a sitting man (monk?).

The graveyard contains a restored uncarved cross to the east with a headless statue standing next to it.

SEVEN WONDERS OF FORE
1. The water the flows uphill
2. The monastery in a bog
3. The mill without a race
4. The water that won't boil
5. The tree that has three branches or the tree that won't burn
6. The anchorite in a stone
7. The stone raised by St. Fechin's prayers

In the hillside above the old church of St. Fechin is a tiny chapel, the Anchorite's Church, an extension to a cell once occupied by hermits until the 17th century. Tradition states that the last hermit in Ireland was Patrick Beglan stayed here and is commemorated on a stone tablet in the cell.

The chapel is kept locked and the key can be obtained from the Seven Wonders Pub nearby.

At a bend in the River Boyne, Brú na Bóinne comprises the spectacular passage tombs of Knowth, Dowth and Newgrange.

These cairns were built around 3200BC and so they are older than Stonehenge in England and the Pyramids of Egypt. Built by Neolithic communities about 5000 years ago, the passage graves have clear astronomical alignments such as the Winter Solstice Sunrise at Newgrange and the Equinox Sunrise at Loughcrew. Large stones outside these monuments are decorated with Megalithic Art, with spirals, concentric circles, triangles, images and zigzags.

On the morning of the Winter Solstice, the sunlight enters the tiny opening in the passage grave of Newgrange, and gradually illuminates the central chamber of the grave. Presently there is a lottery system as to who might experience this phenomenon on the Winter Solstice each year. However, the guided tour of Newgrange on other days of the year is a fascinating, informative and spine-tingling experience.

Were these monuments burial tombs?, sacred temples?, astrological observatories? No one knows for sure.

The Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre is located at Donore and is the starting point for all tours to Newgrange and Knowth. Visitors then cross the pedestrian bridge across the Boyne to the shuttle bus pick-up point from where they are brought to the heritage sites. Admission to both Newgrange and Knowth is through the Visitor Centre, as there is no direct access to the monuments. Dowth is not accessible from the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre, but can be driven to directly.

Located six miles from the east of the village of Slane is the site of the famous Battle of the Boyne. The Battle was fought in 1690 but over 300 years later the defeat of James II at the hands of William of Orange still comes up for discussion. It's not so much the battle as what is stands for - continuing differences between Catholic and Protestants - and the difficulty of overcoming memories of the past in search of a common future.

Trim Castle is the largest and one of the most important Norman military constructions in Ireland. Work began on Trim Castle around 1172 and the building was completed with the central tower in the 1220s. The three acre enclosure is dominated by a 25 metre high stone keep and is mounted on a Norman motte.

There are three levels inside, the lowest one divided in two by a central wall. The principal outer wall is around 500 meters long and remains largely standing today. It dates from around 1250 and includes eight towers and the gatehouse. Just outside the central keep are the remains of an earlier wall. The site was protected by a ditch, a curtain wall and a moat. The curtain wall was protected by five D-shaped towers and entry to the castle was only through two of the gates. Within the castle was the great hall, a chapel and living quarters.

A draw-bridge was operated through the Dublingate while the Towngate had a porticullis to protect it as well as a 'murder hole'. Extensive conservation work has been done on the castle.

The Hill of Tara, known as Temair in gaeilge, was once the ancient seat of power in Ireland - 142 kings are said to have reigned there in prehistoric and historic times. In ancient Irish religion and mythology Temair was the sacred place of dwelling for the gods, and was the entrance to the otherworld. Saint Patrick is said to have come to Tara to confront the ancient religion of the pagans at its most powerful site.

On a clear day it is claimed that features in half the counties of Ireland can be seen from atop Tara. In the distance to the northwest can be seen the brilliant white quartz front of Newgrange and further north lies the Hill of Slane, where according to legend St. Patrick lit his Pascal fire prior to his visit to Tara in 433 AD.

There are a large number of monuments and earthen structures on the Hill of Tara. The earliest settlement at the site was in the Neolithic, and the Mound of the Hostages was constructed in or around 2500BC. There are over thirty monuments which are visible, and probably as many again which have no visible remains on the surface but which have been detected using special non-intrusive archaeological techniques and aerial photography.