List of heritage sites (Republic of Ireland) facts for kids

The Office of Public Works (OPW) and the National Parks and Wildlife Service work together to look after many of Ireland's heritage sites. These are special places like old buildings and historic spots that are important to Ireland's past. They make sure these sites are protected and kept safe for everyone to enjoy.

Amazing Castles and Forts

Ireland is famous for its many castles and forts! Here are some you can visit:

• Adare Castle in Adare, County Limerick is a strong castle from the Middle Ages. It was a very important place for the Earl of Desmond.
• Athenry Castle in Athenry, County Galway is a tall, three-story castle tower built in the 1200s.
• Aughnanure Castle near Oughterard, County Galway, is another tower house from the 1500s.
• Ballyhack Castle in Ballyhack, County Wexford was built in the 1400s by a group of knights called the Knights Hospitallers of St. John.
• Barryscourt Castle in Carrigtwohill, County Cork is a castle from the 1400s and 1500s.
• Cahir Castle in Cahir, County Tipperary is one of Ireland's largest and best-preserved castles.
• Desmond Castle in Kinsale, County Cork, was a custom house in the 1500s. This means it was where taxes were collected on goods.
• Desmond Hall in Newcastlewest, County Limerick, is a castle from the 1400s.
• Donegal Castle in Donegal, County Donegal has a 15th-century Norman tower and a grand house from the 1600s.
• Dun Aonghasa on Inishmore, Aran Islands, County Galway, is a very old stone fort built on a cliff edge.
• Dungarvan Castle in Dungarvan, County Waterford, has parts from the 1100s, including a round tower and strong walls.
• Ferns Castle in Ferns, County Wexford is a 13th-century castle with a round chapel and old fireplaces.
• Gallarus Castle in Ballydavid, County Kerry, is a castle from before the 1600s, built by the Knight of Kerry.
• Kilkenny Castle in Kilkenny, County Kilkenny, is a large castle with beautiful parklands around it.
• Listowel Castle in Listowel, County Kerry, is a 13th-century castle.
• Maynooth Castle in Maynooth, County Kildare, is another 13th-century castle.
• O'Dea Castle in County Clare is a 15th-century castle with a tall stone cross nearby.
• Ormonde Castle in Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary is a grand house from the 1560s.
• Parke's Castle in County Leitrim is a restored plantation castle.
• Portumna Castle in Portumna, County Galway, is a semi-fortified house.
• Rathfarnham Castle in Rathfarnham, County Dublin, is a historic castle.
• Reginald's Tower in Waterford, County Waterford, is a famous Viking tower.
• Rock of Cashel in Cashel, County Tipperary was once the home of the Kings of Munster.
• Roscrea Castle in Roscrea, County Tipperary, is a historic castle.
• Ross Castle in Killarney, County Kerry, is a 15th-century tower house.
• Trim Castle in Trim, County Meath is a large Norman castle.

Ancient Sites and Visitor Centres

Discover how people lived long, long ago at these amazing places:

• Brú na Bóinne in Donore, County Meath has very old stone monuments built by people in the Stone Age. There's also a visitor centre to help you learn more.
• Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery in County Sligo is another site with ancient stone monuments and a visitor centre.
• Céide Fields in County Mayo shows a very old farming system from the Stone Age.
• Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre in Kenagh, County Longford lets you see an ancient wooden road found in a bog, built around 148 BC during the Iron Age.
• Dunmore Caves in Ballyfoyle, County Kilkenny is a limestone cave with a long history, including a Viking event in 928.
• Hill of Tara in Navan, County Meath, was once the most important place in Ireland. It was where the High Kings of Ireland were crowned and was a centre of power and religion before Christianity.
• Oldbridge Estate is the site of the Battle of the Boyne, a very important battle in Irish history.

Peaceful Abbeys and Monasteries

These are places where monks and nuns lived and prayed many centuries ago:

• Ardfert Cathedral in Ardfert, County Kerry is a very old church built between the 12th and 17th centuries.
• Boyle Abbey in Boyle, County Roscommon is a Cistercian Monastery from the 1100s.
• Ennis Friary in Ennis, County Clare, is a Franciscan Friary from the 1200s.
• Glendalough in Glendalough, County Wicklow, is a famous monastic site started in the 500s. It has a tall Round Tower, old stone churches, and many stone crosses.
• Holy Cross Abbey in Holycross, County Tipperary, is a 12th-century abbey.
• Jerpoint Abbey in Thomastown, County Kilkenny, is another Cistercian monastery.
• Kells Priory in Kells, County Kilkenny is a large Augustinian priory.
• Muckross Friary in Killarney, County Kerry, is a Franciscan friary from the 1400s.
• Old Mellifont Abbey in Tullyallen, Drogheda, County Louth was the first Cistercian abbey in Ireland.
• Scattery Island Cathedral and Monastery in County Clare was an early Christian pilgrimage site.
• Sligo Abbey in Sligo, County Sligo, is a Dominican friary.
• St. Mary's Church in Gowran, County Kilkenny, is a historic church.
• Tintern Abbey in County Wexford is a Cistercian abbey.

Beautiful Gardens and Parks

Enjoy nature and beautiful landscapes at these sites:

• Altamount Gardens in Tullow, County Carlow is a lovely old garden.
• Connemara National Park in County Galway is a huge park covering 20 square kilometres, with the Twelve Bens mountains inside it.
• Coole Park Visitor Centre in Gort, County Galway, is a nature reserve and was once the home of Lady Gregory, who helped start the Abbey Theatre.
• Doneraile Park in Doneraile, County Cork, is a large park with specially designed gardens from the 1700s.
• Dromore Wood in Ennis, County Clare is a peaceful nature reserve.
• Emo Court in Emo, County Laois is a grand house with huge parklands.
• Fota Gardens on Fota Island, Carrigtwohill, County Cork, is a massive park (110,000 square metres) with an ornamental pond and Italian-style walled gardens.
• Garnish Island in Bantry, County Cork, is a beautiful island garden in Glengarriff harbour.
• Glenveagh National Park near Churchill, Letterkenny, County Donegal, is a vast area of 170 square kilometres with mountains, woodlands, and lakes.
• Heywood Gardens in Ballinakill, County Laois, is a formal garden designed by a famous architect, Sir Edwin Lutyens.
• John F. Kennedy Arboretum in New Ross, County Wexford, is a large tree garden (2.52 square kilometres) dedicated to US President John F. Kennedy.
• Killarney National Park in Killarney, County Kerry, is a huge park (103 square kilometres) with mountains, woodlands, and the beautiful Lakes of Killarney.
• Kilmacurrage Arboretum in Rathdrum, County Wicklow is another arboretum (a place where many different kinds of trees are grown).
• Wexford Wildfowl Reserve in North Slob, County Wexford, is a special place for wild birds.

Historic Houses and Other Sites

Learn about famous people and important events at these places:

• Blasket Center in Dunchaoin, County Kerry, is a visitor centre where you can learn about the language, culture, and traditions of the people from the nearby Blasket Islands.
• Derrynane House in Caherdaniel, County Kerry, was the family home of Daniel O'Connell, a very important Irish leader.
• Dwyer McAllister Cottage in Derrynamuck, County Wicklow, is a traditional cottage linked to the 1798 Rebellion, an important event in Irish history.
• Famine Warhouse 1848 in Ballingarry, County Tipperary, is the site of a small fight during the Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848.
• Glebe House and Gallery in Churchill, Letterkenny, County Donegal, is a house from the early 1800s.
• The Main Guard in Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, is a historic building.
• Muckross House in Killarney, County Kerry, is a grand Victorian house and gardens located within Killarney National Park.
• Newmills Corn and Flax Mills in Letterkenny, County Donegal, are old industrial buildings that have been restored. They were powered by a watermill on the River Swilly.
• Patrick Pearse's Cottage in County Galway is a cottage linked to Patrick Pearse, a leader in Irish history.
• Swiss Cottage in Cahir, County Tipperary, is a charming cottage built in the early 1800s.