In the Roe Valley Country Park is Ulster’s oldest hydro-electric station. Erected in 1896 to generate electricity for commercial use and operated from here under the guidance of local genius J.E.Ritter
March 17, 2013Read More
Portaferry Castle is a 16th-century tower-house, built by the Savage family and prominently located on the slope overlooking Portaferry harbour within sight of Strangford and Audley’s Castles across the water. Simpler than the earlier ‘gatehouse’ tower house, it is square in plan with one projecting tower to the south where a turret rises an extra storey and contains the entrance and stair from ground floor to first floor.
March 16, 2013Read More
Nendrum Monastery was founded with the blessing of St Patrick, and was at its prime in the year 1000. It is a magic spot, a beautiful island accessible by bridges, with dry stone walls, heavenly views and a guide & site display.
March 16, 2013Read More
The Magilligan Martello tower was built during the Napoleonic Wars and is one of the most northerly of the towers built all around the coasts of Ireland. It has walls over 9ft thick
March 16, 2013Read More
These extensive remains are of a Cistercian Abbey founded in 1180, by John de Courcy, who led the 1177 Anglo-Norman invasion of East Ulster. It is set in a beautiful location beside the River Quoile, with distant views towards de Courcy’s Cathedral town of Downpatrick.
March 16, 2013Read More
This gun site was built to protect the mouth of the Belfast Lough from enemy invasion and now houses a little military museum. Centrepiece is a 12ft by six inch diameter naval gun which was installed in 1992. It is nearly a century old and was brought from Spike Island in Cork Harbour which also had a defensive fort. Grey Points two guns were sold for scrap in 1957 after the disbanding of the coastal artillery.
March 16, 2013Read More
Carrickfergus boasts Ireland’s sole surviving coal gasworks and is one of the only three left in the British Isles. This museum gives visitors the opportunity to see Europe’s largest surviving set of horizontal retorts (in which the gas was made), meet the manager and the workers, and ascend the working gasholder for panoramic views of Carrickfergus town.
March 16, 2013Read More
Enniskillen Castle, situated beside the River Erne in County Fermanagh, was built almost 600 years ago by Gaelic Maguires. Guarding one of the few passes into Ulster, it was strategically important throughout its history. In the 17th century it became an English garrison fort and later served as part of a military barracks. This historic site houses two museums, Fermanagh County Museum and The Inniskillings Museum.
March 16, 2013Read More
Dunluce Castle is thought by many to be the most picturesque and romantic of Irish castles.
March 16, 2013Read More
One of the finest Norman castles in Northern Ireland, with views to sea and Mourne Mountains. It was founded in 1177 by John de Courcy, following his invasion of Ulster. This medieval coastal castle, with circular keep and massive walls, stands on the top of a rocky hill commanding fine views south over Dundrum Bay and the Mourne Mountains.
March 16, 2013Read More