Ireland's Ancient East facts for kids
Ireland's Ancient East (which is Sean-Oirthear na hÉireann in Irish) is a special way to explore the eastern and southern parts of Ireland. It's like a big adventure trail! Instead of one long road, it connects many amazing historical places.
This trail helps you discover the rich history of Ireland. It covers seventeen different counties across two provinces. You can visit ancient sites, old churches, and medieval castles.
You can use Bus Éireann to reach many of these cool places. The Ancient East is built around four main ideas. These ideas help you understand different times in Ireland's past.
- Ancient Ireland: This is about the very oldest times, with myths and early people.
- Early Christian Ireland: This covers when Christianity first came to Ireland.
- Medieval Ireland: Think knights, castles, and big battles from the Middle Ages.
- Anglo Ireland: This is about the time after the English arrived in Ireland.
Exploring Ireland's Ancient East
The Ancient East is divided into different areas. Each area has its own unique history and sights.
Historic Heartland
The "Historic Heartland" is in the middle of Ireland. It includes parts of Offaly, Laois, Kildare, Tipperary, Limerick, Carlow, and Kilkenny. Here are some places you can visit:
- Clonmacnoise: An ancient monastery ruin.
- Kilkenny Castle: A famous castle with a long history.
- Leixlip: A town with a historic castle.
- Limerick: A city with a strong medieval past.
- Maynooth: Home to a historic university and castle.
- Rock of Cashel: A stunning group of medieval buildings.
- Tipperary (town): A town in the heart of the county.
Land of 5000 Dawns
The "Land of 5000 Dawns" is in the northeast of Ireland. It's named for its very old history, going back thousands of years. This area includes Cavan, Longford, Louth, Meath, Monaghan, and Westmeath. Some key spots are:
- Athlone: A town on the River Shannon.
- Battle of the Boyne site: Where a famous battle took place.
- Brú na Bóinne: A UNESCO World Heritage site with ancient tombs.
- Dowth: Another ancient passage tomb.
- Hill of Tara: An important ancient ceremonial site.
- Kilbeggan Distillery: An old whiskey distillery.
- Newgrange: A famous prehistoric monument.
Celtic Coast
The "Celtic Coast" stretches along the eastern and southern shores. It includes parts of Wicklow, Wexford, Waterford, and Eastern County Cork. This area is full of coastal beauty and history. Here are some highlights:
- Blarney Castle: Famous for the Blarney Stone.
- Cobh: A historic port town.
- Enniscorthy: A town with a rich history.
- Glendalough: A beautiful monastic settlement.
- Hook Head: Home to one of the oldest lighthouses.
- Waterford: Ireland's oldest city.
- Wexford: A historic Viking town.
