Donaghmore Round Tower

A monastery was reputedly founded here in the 5th century by St Patrick, who placed it in the care of St Cassan.
The Round Tower was not built until the 10th century.
It is well-preserved, but its upper part was badly restored in 1841.
The four windows which normally face North, South, East and West at the top of the Round Towers are missing here.
The stone at the top of its roof is also missing.

The doorway, which is about four metres above ground level might not be original.
It has a carved surround with a Crucifixion with twisted legs on the keystone, and a head facing outward from each of the jambs.
The ruin (beside the tower) is of a 15th century church, which gives the site a very Tim Burton like look. 

                             

Monaincha Abbey

Monaincha Abbey is located on what used to be an island in a bog.The principal remains are of a church with Romanesque features and a High Cross. The Abbey is built on the site of an earlier 8th century Monastery, the High Cross was erected in the 9th century, and the head was added in the 12th. In the Annals of the Four Masters it was described as the 31st wonder of the world. this was as a result of the Island being known as the Island of the Living, the Island on which no one could die. The abbey is about a two mile drive from Roscrea and is well sign posted, the site has a magic atmosphere that will stay with you long after your visit.

                              

Oughterard Round Tower

The Round Tower is over 10 meters high and has a narrow round-headed doorway.
The site is said to date back to an old monastery which was founded here in the 6th century.
The Church which is beside the tower is said to have been built in 1609, but may be earlier.
It has an intact east window and partially preserved barrel-vaulting.
This is a great site with a graveyard that is kept superb all year round.
Oughterard is located only a short drive from the N7, parking is not great I parked on the road beside the graveyard.
                          

Ballynamona Castle

Ballynamona Castle was built by the Nagles around 1600. The castle was occupied until the 19th century.The castle is a four storey square tower house with corbelled turrets at opposite corners. The ruin is located just off the main Mitchelstown Mallow N73 road, and you will have to cross a couple of fields to get up close. The castle did once have a Sheela-na-Gig that was on a wall of the castle, but around 1894 the Sheela was removed from the castle and is believed to have been smashed while the owner of the castle was in England.

                          

The Gallus Oratory

The Gallarus Oratory is a very unique church which may date from the 6th century.

It is built in the shape of an upturned boat.

Built of dry stones there is no roof; instead the stones taper towards the top.

The walls are built of sandstone and are 1.2 metres thick. 

They are perfectly fitted together and it is completely waterproof inside. 

It is dimly lit, with only a very small window opposite the entrance door (shown).

The church overlooks the harbour at Ard na Caithne (which was known as Smerwick untill quite recently) and is located on the stunning Dingle Peninsula. 

Wateresk Portal Tomb

The Mourne mountains are the stunning backdrop to this tomb, which is also known as Sidderyford Dolmen. The granite capstone is 3 metres long and 1 m high it rests on three support-stones, the tallest being 1.8 metres high. Viewed from all sides this tomb can look very different, which make it well worth a visit if you happen to be in Down.

Duckett’s Grove Castle

Originally a Georgian home of noted Anglo Irish family, this castle was rebuilt in Gothic Revival style. Although burnt in 1933 the remaining towers and turrets, make this location a surreal view pretty unlike most other castles in Ireland.  Built in 1830 by William Duckett in an estate covering more than 5,000 acres. During the Troubles, The castle was occupied by soldiers from the Irish Republican Army and many Nationalist leaders sought refuge here. The site itself is situated in the townland of Rainstown, between Carlow and Tullow but the estate comprised several large townlands and parts of others. Duckett’s Grove Castle was destroyed by fire in April 1933 but the cause of the fire has not been determined.