Killala Round Tower

Killala Round Tower is one of Co Mayo's five round towers.
Thought to have been built in the 12th Century the tower stands 52 meters high.

The original monastic foundation here probably dates back to the 5th century, when Saint Patrick appointed Muiredach as first bishop of Killala.

The tower was struck by lightning at some stage in the 19th century, the repairs have left quite a bulge on the side of the tower (above the doorway on the left).

The tower is very easy to find you will see it before you reach Killala, parking is no problem on any of the side streets.

Photographing it is another matter, the image above was taken stood upright balancing on the back of a bench with my nephew Conan holding onto my legs.

 

Knockanyconor Portal Tomb

Knockanyconor Portal Tomb can be found just off the N61 in the town of Lecarrow.
As you can see many other stones lay close by the Portal tomb.
This site is a bit of a mess but still a very striking mess.
The tombs entrance faces east.
The partially collapsed capstone which is 2.4m in length and 1.8m in width rests on two portal stones 1.4 in height.
This site is also known as Nellies big rock, the name comes from the the story of a woman in the 19th century who reared a child under the capstone.
    

Ross Errilly Friary

This Franciscan friary is known as the biggest and best preserved in Ireland.
The original site dates back to 1351 and was founded by the de Burghs, a local Norman family.
History shows that it was the mid 1750's before the monks finally left the Friary.
In the intervening years the Friary fell in and out of the monks hands for various reasons such as a plague, the English Reformation and Cromwell.
A lot of today's remaining structure was built in the 15th century.
Ross Errilly Friary is located a short drive from Headford Co Galway.
It is signed posted from the main street in Headford.
Parking is provided.
Depending on your luck you may have this fantastic sight to view all on your own or you could be sharing it with coach loads of tourists.
  

Donaghmore Church (St Farannan's church)

This 12th Century church is built on an earlier site founded by St Farannan.
The sites standout feature is the Romanesque doorway (despite missing some stones).

The church was taken into the care of the Board of Works in 1833, and around that time restoration work was carried out by Thomas Deane.

This small but striking ruin can be found just off the R689 as you travel from Fethard to Clonmel.

Athgreany Stone Circle (The Pipers Stones)

This large stone circle consists of fourteen stones, originally thought to have been seventeen.
The granite circle has a diameter of 23 meters, with the tallest stone 1.8 meters.
There are a number of other large stones close by which may have belonged to a second circle.
The circle is in a field (short walk) just off the N81 and is signposted "the pipers stones".
This is a superb circle with a wonderful atmosphere.

Brownshill Portal Tomb

Located just beside the R726 Carlow to Hacketstown road stands this giant of a portal tomb ( in a fenced off enclosure).
The capstone (estimated to weigh between 100 and 150 tons) sits on two large portal stones along with a door stone.  A fourth stone stands close by.
The date of construction has been estimated between 4,900 and 5,500 years ago.
This site has never been excavated.
For me this site me is all about the monster granite capstone - the biggest in Ireland and probably Europe.  

Carrigafoyle Castle

  

The stunning Carrigafoyle Castle can be found two miles north of Ballylongford in the channel between the mainland and Carrig Island.
The Castle was besieged in 1580 by Sir William Pelham for two days, during which it was heavily bombarded and destroyed.
All the occupants who survived, comprising nineteen Spanish and fifty Irish were massacred.