All over the island, the misty landscapes and scattered ancient ruins are resonant with tales from Irish mythology.
Whether it’s stories of mighty Celtic warriors and the sacred seats of Irish kings and queens, or fairy forts, gods and goddesses, changelings and the banshee, the aura of mystique from long ago is palpable and utterly beguiling.
Nowhere more so than at the Hill of Tara in the Boyne Valley, County Meath. Overflowing with Irish mythology, history and culture, Tara is said to be the sacred dwelling place of the gods and the actual seat of the High Kings of Ireland.
Dating back to 2000 BC, this ancient seat of power contains over 30 monuments, including the Stone of Destiny and the Mound of the Hostages. A special place for the Celts who settled in Ireland, today it remains central to Gaelic identity and one of the most mystical places in Ireland.
County Armagh is home to another special royal fortress. The main circular earthwork enclosure at Navan Fort, or Emain Macha in Irish, is a whopping 240 metres in diameter. This site is linked in legend with tales of the King of Ulster, Conor McNessa, the goddess Macha and the heroic Red Branch Knights under the command of Cúchulainn, the greatest of all Irish warriors.
During early Christian times in Ireland, the mystical Clonmacnoise in County Offaly was the monastery of all monasteries With its ornate high crosses, round towers and churches overlooking the banks of the River Shannon, it is still one of the most important archaeological sites in Ireland.