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St. Senan's Well, Scattery

St. Senan's Well lies about 70 feet west of the Round Tower. This is the spot where, during a drought, an Angel showed Senan where to find water, using a holly branch (or hazel or sometimes elder) as diviner. This was then planted and became a sacred tree.

Image is present on following page(s): St Senan

Round Tower, Scattery Island

The round tower on Scattery is ablut 40m high. It is believed to date from the time of St. Senan.

Image is present on following page(s): Buildings on Scattery

Seventeenth-Century Sketch of Carlow Castle

This is a late seventeenth-century sketch of the then-intact Carlow Castle. It is found in 'Grose's Antiquities of Ireland'. Two late seventeenth-century sketches can be seen in 'Thomas Dineley's Journal' (1680). This was more than 100 years before the castle was ruined by explosion.

'Thomas Dineley's Journal' (1680).

Image is present on following page(s): Carlow Castle

Poulnabrone Dolmen, Co. Clare

Poulnabrone Dolmen is one of the most famous dolmens in Ireland. Dolmens were used as burial places. Poulnabrone dolmen dates from around 3800 B.C.

Photograph by Sonia Schorman.Courtesy Clare County Library

Image is present on following page(s): Aspects of Clare

Carrick-on-Suir castle

This castle of the Butlers - Earls and later Dukes of Ormonde - stands above the Suir on the east side of Carrick. It was acquired in 1315, though the oldest part of the castle is a mid-fifteenth-century walled bawn with a tower house in each of its northern corners. There are few defensive features save for small firing-holes either side of the front door.

Image courtesy of Dept. of Environment, Community and Local Government

Image is present on following page(s): Early Mansions, Early Mansions

Ancient Monuments up to 1700 A.D

In the many centuries before the building of the houses that we live in today, the Irish countryside was dotted with thousands of structures made of wood, earth and stone. Discover our ancient monuments in this feature by Dr. Peter Harbison.

Image courtesy of Dept. of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

St. Senan's Bed, Scattery Island

This small building imeediately west of Teampall Senain is known as 'St. Sena's Bed'. It is believed that St. Senan is buried here. Local custom has it that a young women should not enter the building as if they do, they will never marry.

Image is present on following page(s): St Senan

Tempall Senain, Scattery Island

The remains of Tempall Senain on Scattery Island.

Image is present on following page(s): The Shannon Estuary, Buildings on Scattery

Dr. Peter Harbison

Dr. Peter Harbison spent much of his working life as archaeologist and magazine editor with Bord Fáilte and, in retirement that isn't, he is now Honorary Academic Editor with the Royal Irish Academy. His 'Guide to the National (and Historic) Monuments of Ireland' is now a classic that has remained in print for over 35 years. He is the author of over twenty books, mostly on the archaeology and art of Ireland, including 'Pre-Christian Ireland' (1988), 'Pilgrimage in Ireland' (1991), 'The High Crosses of Ireland' (3 vols.,1992), 'The Golden Age of Irish Art' (1999), and 'The Crucifixion in Irish Art' (2000). During the last decade and a half, he has produced five volumes on eighteenth-century topographical drawings of Ireland's ancient monuments by artists such as Gabriel Beranger and Austin Cooper. Dr. Harbison is an Honorary Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin, an Honorary Member and Professor of Archaeology at the Royal Hibernian Academy and an Honorary Member of the Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland, in addition to being a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London.

Image courtesy of Robin Smith

Image is present on following page(s): Irish Churches & Monastic Buildings, Ancient Monuments up to 1700 A.D, Ancient Monuments up to 1700 A.D

Craggaunowen Crannóg

Craggaunowen in Co. Clare attempts to recreate aspects of Ireland's past with the restoration and reconstruction of earlier forms of dwelling houses, farmsteads and hunting sites.

Image courtesy of Dept. of Environment, Community and Local Government

Image is present on following page(s): The Earthen Rath or Lios, The Earthen Rath or Lios

Christ Church Cathedral

Standing on high ground in the oldest part of the city, Christ Church cathedral is one of Dublin's finest historic buildings. It dates back to 1038 when Sitric, the then Danish king of Dublin, built the first wooden church here. In 1171 the original simple foundation was transformed into a cruciform stone church, though the present structure dates mainly from 1871 to 1878 when a huge restoration was undertaken. Only the transepts, the crypt, and a few other portions date from the medieval period.

Image courtesy of Dept. of Environment, Community and Local Government

Image is present on following page(s): Cathedrals and Parish Churches, Cathedrals and Parish Churches, Cathedrals and Parish Churches

Roche Castle

Roche Castle, like its sister castle at Carlingford, were both built by the Anglo-Normans as part of the process of taming and colonizing north Louth in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. Striking and powerful, it commands a pass northwards and affords wonderful views over the surrounding country.

Image courtesy of Dept. of Environment, Community and Local Government

Image is present on following page(s): Norman Castles, The Norman Conquest, Norman Castles

Charles Fort

Charles Fort near Kinsale, Co. Cork was constructed in the late 17th century on the site of an earlier coastal fortification. It is a classic example of a star-shaped fort and has five bastions. The two seaward bastions, the Devil's and the Charles' were for defending the harbour and both are casemated - that is, they have gun embrasures inside as well as on top of the walls.

Image courtesy of Dept. of Environment, Community and Local Government

Image is present on following page(s): Early Mansions, Early Mansions

Bunratty Castle

Bunratty Castle in Co. Clare is a fine example of a larger type tower-house in Ireland. This particular structure was built in 1425.

Image courtesy of Dept. of Environment, Community and Local Government

Image is present on following page(s): Norman Castles, Norman Castles

John's Bridge

John's Bridge, Kilkenny

Property of Dr. Brendan Grimes

Image is present on following page(s): John's Quay and its environs

Corcomroe Abbey

This well-preserved abbey is picturesquely sited among the grey hills of the Burren, Co. Clare. The abbey is noted for its detailed carvings and other rich ornamentation, which are not commonly found in structures from this period. It features a typical cruciform church facing east, with a small chapel in each transept.

Image courtesy of Dept. of Environment, Community and Local Government

Image is present on following page(s): Abbeys and Friaries, Abbeys and Friaries, Abbeys and Friaries

Dowth, Co. Meath

Dowth is one of the three principal tombs of the Brú na Bóinne complex of passage-tombs (the others being Newgrange and Knowth). It is less developed as a tourist attraction than its neighbours, partly because the chamber is much lower, and partly because the decoration is poorer.

Image courtesy of Dept. of Environment, Community and Local Government

Image is present on following page(s): Late Stone Age Megalithic Tombs, Late Stone Age Megalithic Tombs

Kilmolash, Co. Waterford

The ruined medieval parish church at Kilmolash, Co. Waterford, with its surrounding graveyard

Courtesy of Con Brogan

Image is present on following page(s): Churches and Ecclesiastical Enclosures / Shéipéil agus Ráthanna, Churches and Ecclesiastical Enclosures / Shéipéil agus Ráthanna

Ellen, Countess of Desart

Ellen, 4th Countess of Desart

Kilkenny County Library

Image is present on following page(s): Lady Desart's Speech at the Library Opening

Desart Court, Front View

Front view of Desart Court former home of the Cuffe Family, County Kilkenny

Kilkenny County Library

Image is present on following page(s): The Cuffes of Desart

Fenagh Dolmen, Co. Leitrim

View of Dolmen in Fenagh, Co. Leitrim

Courtesy of Con Brogan

Image is present on following page(s): Our Legacy of Ancient Monuments, Our Legacy of Ancient Monuments

Dún Dúchathair, Inishmore, Co. Galway

Dún Dúchathair on Inishmore, Co. Galway has a massive drystone wall cutting off the cliff-bound promontory. The entrance was between the cliff and the wall on the left and the foundations of buildings can be seen close to the wall

Courtesy of Con Brogan

Image is present on following page(s): Our Legacy of Ancient Monuments, Our Legacy of Ancient Monuments

Main entrance of the Kilkenny Carnegie Library

Main entrance of the Kilkenny Carnegie Library as it is today

Property of Dr. Brendan Grimes

Image is present on following page(s): The City Library: a new beginning

Carnegie Library Entrance

Main entrance to the Kilkenny Carnegie Library

Property of Dr. Brendan Grimes

Image is present on following page(s): The City Library in 1910

Desart Court, Rear View

Rear view of Desart Court former home of the Cuffe Family, County Kilkenny

Kilkenny County Library

Newgrange

The Stone Age passage tomb at Newgrange is illuminated spectacularly each year at winter solstice. According to Irish mythology, Newgrange was one of the fairy mounds where the Tuatha Dé Danann lived. Some versions of the Cúchulainn story say he was conceived there.

© Richard Gallagher.

Image is present on following page(s): Late Stone Age Megalithic Tombs, Late Stone Age Megalithic Tombs

Kevin Mulligan, author of the Built Heritage feature.

Kevin V. Mulligan is an architectural historian, a graduate of NUI and TCD where he studied history of art and architecture and ancient history and archaeology. Over the past decade he has worked for the Office of Public Works, The Irish Georgian Society, An Taisce and with Duchas on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. His specialization is in Irish architecture of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and has published extensively in this area. He is currently writing the fourth volume of the Buildings of Ireland series covering South Ulster.

Courtesy of Kevin Mulligan

Image is present on following page(s): Built Heritage 1700 - Today, Built Heritage 1700 - Today

Kilclooney More, Co. Donegal

Portal tombs, with their large capstones, can be very striking, like this example at Kilclooney More, Co. Donegal

Courtesy of Con Brogan

Image is present on following page(s): Megalithic Tombs / Tuamaí Meigiliotacha (Clocha Móra), Megalithic Tombs / Tuamaí Meigiliotacha (Clocha Móra)

Derrynane, Co. Kerry

An Ogham-inscribed standing stone at Derrynane, Co. Kerry

Courtesy of Con Brogan

Image is present on following page(s): Standing Stones and Stone Circles / Clocha Seasta agus Ciorcail Chloiche, Standing Stones and Stone Circles / Clocha Seasta agus Ciorcail Chloiche

Rockstown Castle, Co. Limerick

A tower house at Rockstown, Co. Limerick with traces of a pear-shaped enclosure or bawn around it

Courtesy of Con Brogan

Image is present on following page(s): Castles / Caisleán, Castles / Caisleán

Metal Guttering on the Kilkenny Carnegie Library

Metal Guttering on the Kilkenny Carnegie Library

Property of Dr. Brendan Grimes

Image is present on following page(s): County Kilkenny Carnegie Library Committee, 1923-1925

Knockgraffon, Co. Tipperary

The impressive motte and bailey at Knockgraffon, Co. Tipperary

Courtesy of Con Brogan

Image is present on following page(s): Mottes and Moated Sites / Mhóta agus Láithreacha Mótaithe, Mottes and Moated Sites / Mhóta agus Láithreacha Mótaithe