Ask About This ArticleIreland's Fascinating Heritage
Ireland has an amazing heritage, due to the fact that it has been inhabited for at least 6000 years. From the mysteries of the ancient Celts, to the turbulent politics of later times, Ireland's long history means that visitors with an interest in times gone by will find many fascinating sites to visit. Several of Ireland's well-preserved historic monuments have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Neolithic Wonders
Travel to Ireland if you'd like to see Europe's most important group of megalithic structures, the Brú na Bóinne Complex, located near Drogheda. The whole collection of structures is a World Heritage Site, due to the importance of the tombs, standing stones, henges and other prehistoric ruins of the complex, some dating from as far back as 3500 BC. The amazing monuments here had social, economic and religious purposes and reveal a great deal about the prehistoric inhabitants of Ireland.
Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth are the the three main sites of the Boyne complex, all renowned for their amazing passage tombs. Newgrange and Nowth can be accessed through the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre which also interprets the fascinating Neolithic monuments for visitors. The Newgrange mound is probably the most significant of all the monuments, and stretches 76m across and 12m high, covering an entire acre. Although built between 3300 – 2900 BC, the roof of the massive burial chamber is still largely intact, and is an amazing achievement of prehistoric architecture. Newgrange was also carefully designed so that at dawn on the winter solstice, a narrow beam of sunlight would light up the floor of the chamber at the end of the tomb's long passageway.
You also shouldn't miss the Hill of Tara, in the same area, a long limestone ridge that encompasses several prehistoric monuments and is famous as the ancient seat of the the High Kings of Ireland.
MONASTERIES AND GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS
A really incredible Irish heritage site is Skellig Michael, a remote island off the coast of Portmagee. The island was home to a monastery from the 7th or 8th century and was a centre of monastic life for Irish monks. It eventually closed around the 10th century when changes in the climate made the sea journey from the mainland difficult. The monastery, perched on the top of a 230m high rock, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is extremely well-preserved. You can see the monks' stone 'beehive' huts, two churches and the original ancient wall and steps leading up the monastery. A visit to Skellig Michael will provide you with a real sense of the peaceful life of devotion lived by this early Christian brotherhood.
An Irish World Heritage Site recognised more for its geological significance, rather than its historical value, is the Giants Causeway. This is an area on the north-east coast of Northern Ireland which is covered in about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns. These incredible rock formations were the result of an ancient volcanic volcanic eruptions, and the they are some of the world's most amazing natural wonders. The columns descend from the bottom of the sea cliffs and then disappear under the sea. The Giant's Causeway is also a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and you can appreciate the coastline's fascinating geological formations and wonderful scenery by taking a stroll along a 17km coastal path.
INSIGHT INTO IRELAND'S HERITAGE
A number of exciting attractions and heritage centres in Ireland recreate the past so you can gain a vivid understanding of how Irish people lived in ages past.
Visit Bunratty Folk Park, a reconstruction of a 19th century village, complete with farmhouses, village streets and residences that range from a one-roomed home a stately Georgian mansion, Bunratty House. Characters, complete with authentic costumes, recreate everyday life in the 1800s and allow visitors to meet villagers such as a miller, blacksmith, baker and schoolteacher, who demonstrate their various trades. The folk park is overlooked by the magnificent Bunratty Castle, the most well-preserved medieval fortress in Ireland, which is furnished with superb 15th and 16th century furnishings.
A captivating reconstruction of times gone by can be seen at 'Craggaunowen – The Living Past Experience', Ireland's prehistoric park outside Limerick. The park interprets Ireland's prehistoric and early Christian eras, and features replicas of the types of homesteads, animals and artefacts that would have existed in Ireland over 1000 years ago. You can explore the Crannog – a lake island dwelling that was home to Bronze Age Chieftains, and see a replica of a Ringfort, a typical residence of Iron Age Celtic farmers.
The park is towered over by Craggaunowen Castle, which is not a replica, but an actual medieval castle built around 1550. To add to the historical interest, the park also has rare animal breeds that would have been around in the prehistoric era, such as Wild Boar. Don't miss the 'Brendan boat' a leather hulled boat that was used in the 1970's re-enactment of the journey taken by St. Brendan and the early Christian monks from Ireland to America. They were said to have discovered America centuries before Columbus, and the authentically recreated boat allowed intrepid adventurers to prove that this was possible.
About the author:
Toureagle is an online travel company which enables travellers to have the security and great organisation of a professionally prepared trip but with the privacy of going with your own group. Many activities are available on the trips such as heritage in Ireland.
Tags: unesco world heritage, world heritage site, world heritage sites, dublin ireland, unesco world heritage sites
