A Visit To Ireland Must Include Irish Museums And Historical Places
Ireland’s rich history makes it the ideal tourist destination for those interested in the heritage of this beautiful country. No matter what part of Ireland you visit, you will find a wealth of historical places, buildings and sites to visit, some with fascinating legends behind them. In each county you will find Irish museums and historical places filled with fascinating artefacts and information about the history of the area.
Your first stop should be the National Museum of Ireland, offering insight into the archaeology, natural history and heritage of Ireland. The museum was opened in 1877, and houses 4 million historical artefacts. Divided into 4 separate locations, each part of the museum covers a different area. The decorative arts department is housed in the Art and Industry Building in Collins Barracks which includes exhibitions of artistic crafts through the ages, including glasswork, metalwork, lace and ceramic works. This and two other departments, natural history and archaeology and history, are housed nearby in Dublin city as well. The fourth exhibit of the museum covers the history of country life in Ireland, and is in County Mayo, some 240 kms away.
Dublin is also home to a Toy Museum, a Transport Museum and a Historic Science Centre which appeal to children as well as adults. Make sure you visit the Viking and medieval museum, Dublinia, for a fun and interesting look at medieval history in Dublin. As you travel through the rest of Ireland, you will find that most cities and towns have a museum exhibiting artefacts found in that county. The Cork Museum, the Galway Museum and the Ulster Museum are a few that you will encounter on your travels through Ireland. The Hunt Museum in Munster features artefacts dating from the Neolithic Age through to the 20th century.
There are about 83 castles in Ireland, featuring prominently on the itinerary for visitors wanting to see historical places in Ireland. Most of the castles were built between the 13th and 16th centuries, each with its own history and legends. Limerick Castle is of course home to the famous Blarney Stone. Legend has it that kissing the stone will give the kisser the ‘gift of the gab’, or the power of persuasion. Dublin Castle is now the seat of Irish Government, but was once the site of King John of England’s fortress, built around 1230. The Bedford Tower is the centrepiece of this building, which was built in 1761. Grange Castle in County Kildare boasts a 15th century tower house.
Of particular interest to historians are the many cathedrals and other religious sites dating back centuries that are found throughout Ireland. Glendalough is the site of a sixth century monastery. Ennis Friary, St Colman’s Cathedral and many other large and small religious buildings are not only magnificent in appearance, but are fascinating in terms of their history as well. St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin is possibly the best known cathedral in Ireland, dating back to 1220. If architectural history interests you, don’t miss Belfast City Hall, built in 1898 with its magnificent green domes.
There are some ancient sites to visit in Ireland too, most notably the megalithic passage tombs at Fourknocks and Newgrange, the former dating back about 5000 years. The tourist wanting to visit all the Irish museums and historical places may find they need a six month trip! If you are interested in history, Ireland has more attractions than most.
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