Heritage

St Patrick’s Day parades on the island of Ireland With parades and celebrations galore taking place across the island, Ireland is the best place to be this St Patrick’s day! The epicentre of the merriment is the huge St Patrick’s Day Festival in Dublin (16th-19th March). This year’s National St Patrick’s Day parade, driven by community, diversity, youth and sustainability values, will be...

The motorway from Dublin to Limerick doesn't actually take you to the Treaty City but continues on further into the south-west, eventually running out of government money about 20 kilometres south of the city. Traffic slows and builds just ahead of your arrival into the historic heritage town of Adare. And while the rush-hour traffic allows you to enjoy the...

Ireland’s Boyne Valley is the birthplace of Ireland's Ancient East. Here you can experience a remarkable history stretching back over 9,000 years. You can walk in the footsteps of Ireland’s High Kings and visit the spiritual Hill of Tara, from where the kings ruled as long ago as the 2nd century. This is home to some of Ireland’s greatest heritage...

Minister O’Donovan announces free admission to OPW visitor sites in support of the Government’s recovery and reopening plan. Mr. Patrick O’ Donovan T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), today announced that admission charges to all fee-paying open OPW heritage sites are being waived in line with the Government’s recovery and reopening plan outlined...

OPW Heritage Sites that are open for Cocooners during COVID-19. The government has decided that, as of midnight on Wednesday 21 October, all of Ireland was to be placed on Level 5 of the Plan for Living with COVID. All indoor OPW Heritage sites were closed. Outdoor playgrounds, play areas and parks all remain open with protective measures in place, as...

DROGHEDA TO HOST, LÚ FESTIVAL OF LIGHT, A SPECTACULAR URBAN ANIMATION SHOW FROM THE 28th OF OCTOBER TO THE 5th OF NOVEMBER Louth County Council, in partnership with business representative group Love Drogheda, recently announced the launch of Lú Festival of Light, a wonderfully creative urban animation showcase and family festival. This novel and free event will open to coincide...

Derry-Londonderry declared a United Nations International City of Peace Derry-Londonderry, a city steeped in history, culture, and reconciliation, has been honoured with the prestigious designation of UN City of Peace. The United Nations International City of Peace program acknowledges cities worldwide that have demonstrated outstanding efforts in fostering peace, tolerance, and cooperation among their diverse communities. Derry-Londonderry's transformation into a symbol...

Part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Boyne Valley in County Meath is to become Ireland’s seventh National Park. The new National Park in Ireland’s Ancient East will stretch over 550 acres (223 hectares) and will be a unique place where history, heritage, nature and culture collide. The park will be situated in the eighteenth-century Dowth demesne, which overlays...

The night before the Battle of the Boyne, King William of Orange was hit by Jacobite artillery fire while out on a reconnaissance mission. Fortune favoured King Billy that July evening as he only suffered a flesh wound before going on to take victory in the most famous battle to have ever taken place on Irish soil. Had the hit...

The special aura and rugged beauty of the Skellig Islands have made an imprint not only on thousands of visitors but also on those whose job it is to care for them. Off the coast of County Kerry, on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, sit two small, jagged islands, dramatically beautiful and significant for their history, birdlife and most recently their...