Aran Inspired
On the outskirts of Roscommon Town sits this large and sprawling Norman castle ruin, originally built in 1269. Situated on a slope overlooking the town, it is easy to see how this castle would have dominated its surroundings in medieval times.
St Anne's Cathedral, also known as Belfast Cathedral, was erected at the turn of the 20th century upon the site of the original of St Anne's Parish Church. Outside, the Cathedral is attractive without being overly ornate, while the interior is definitely worth a visit.
This area of Galway city, once a fishing village, is renowned as the origin of the traditional Claddagh ring. Its design, two hands together upon a heart with a crown on top, signifies love, loyalty, and friendship.
The building that houses the Crawford Municipal Art Gallery dates back to 1724. It is located on Emmet's Place, next to the Cork Opera house. Admission to Crawford Municipal Art Gallery is FREE.
Outside of salmon season, this 200 year old bridge offers nothing more than mildly pleasant views of Galway Cathedral and the River Corrib. Between April and July however, you can peer over the bridge edge into the fast-moving water and watch the silvery salmon fight their way upstream, back to their traditional spawning grounds on Lough Corrib. At the height of the season, crowds gather on the bridge and watch the salmon stream past.
Salthill is a popular, old-fashioned seaside promenade and resort connected to Galway city, complete with a beautiful long, sandy beach along Galway Bay. The resort area still maintains traditional amusement arcades, a small fairground, cafes, pubs, eateries, hotels and B&Bs. On hot summer days, especially weekends or public holidays, the beaches can get extremely busy and, while there is a free car park, spaces are at a premium.
On the northwest corner of Donegal Square, opposite Belfast City Hall, sits the Linen Hall Library -- a private collection founded in 1788. The library is housed in a beautiful building designed by renowned architect and former mayor of Belfast, Charles Lanyon. The Linen Hall Library offers a variety of services, and prides itself on being a centre for culture and learning. It is FREE to visit and for public reference use (borrowing is restricted to members).
This ancient burial site located at Corracloona, a small townland (parcel of land) near the village of Kiltyclogher in County Leitrim is known locally as Prince Connell’s Grave. While it may look like just a bunch of rocks in a field, this rectangular shaped "court tomb" in fact dates from the early Bronze Age (2,000 - 1500 BC).
Described as a cross between Big Ben and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Belfast's Albert Memorial Clock Tower remains one of Belfast’s most recognized monuments. Constructed in 1869, the tower was named in honour of Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert. The tower is located at the intersection of Queen's Square and Victoria Street. It leans four feet from the perpendicular due to being built on marshy, reclaimed land.
Located in a remote, scenic setting, Garadice Lough in County Leitrim is part of the 40 mile / 63 km Shannon-Erne waterway, traversable by boat. Renowned among fishing enthusiasts, Garadice is a medium sized lake by Irish standards, occupying roughly 1200-acres / 5 square km. The lake is 5 metres / 16 feet deep, although in places it sinks three times deeper.