Shronebirrane Stone Circle

What I have read and seen about this circle has always pushed it well down my list of must see sites - missing stones and being "Charged" for the privilege of looking at this site.
So when on my way back from another site close by (free to view) and with a bit of time to spare before work, I took the turn for this circle.
The drive down into Drimminboy Valley towards this site is nothing less than stunning and the setting for the remaining 8 stones (originally 13) could not be better.
The tallest of the circles stones is 2.6 meters high, with the others decreasing in height.
You will find better circles close by but for sheer backdrop this makes Shronebirrane a must see.
The Charge, well I hopped the gate saw no one and spent about 15 minutes at the site with the €2 in my pocket (which I spent on an ice cream on the way back to work).  
  

Carrick Castle

The striking ruin of Carrick Castle (sometimes referred to as Carrickoris Castle) is most famous for the horrific medieval murders of 1306.

Sir Pearce Bermingham built an earlier castle on this site and it was he who perpetrated the grizzly murders  on the family of Murtough O’Conor Faly, King of Offaly.
All the details of the background and the murders themselves can be found in this great post by Dr Charles Mount .

What remains today of the castle is just two walls ( the south and east ones ), these look to be for the best part still at their full height.

To find Carrick Castle take the R401 from Edenderry heading north the ruin is in the next field beside Carrick graveyard.

Parking is tricky as the castle is located on a bad bend. You will have no trouble at all spotting the ruin.

Moone High Cross

Moone High Cross is Ireland's second tallest high cross, it can be found a short drive from the post office in  Moone Co Kildare.
The cross is over 5 meters high, made of granite it is dated back to the 8th Century.
The head and base of the cross were discovered in the graveyard of the abbey in 1835, the cross was initially put together with these two sections.
In 1893 the missing middle section was found, and soon after the cross was re erected complete.
The cross features finely crafted Celtic designs, the biblical scenes cover scenes like Daniel in the lions den  the loaves and fishes miracle and the twelve apostles (bottom image).   
The site also has fragments of other high crosses (with some very nice details) displayed close to the main cross.
The church which now provides cover and protection for the high cross is 13th century.

Castledermot Round Tower

Castledermot is one of Ireland's more unusual round towers, the stone work and much altered top gives this tower the look of a giant turret.

The tower dated 10th Century stands to a height of 20 meters, the doorway is at ground level and cannot be seen as it now connects the tower with the modern church via a passageway.

The history of the site:-
St Dermot founded a monastery here which was plundered by the Vikings in 841 and again in 867.
Cormac Mac Cuilleannain the famous scholar, King and Bishop of Cashel was buried here after his head had been cut off in battle in 908.

The monastery was plundered in 1048, and the last known abbot of the monastery died in 1073.
Along with the tower this site has a Romanesque archway (bottom image), two high crosses (with the base of a third) and the only known hogback stone in Ireland.

With so much to offer, I would hope to share more of this site in the future.     

Broadleas Stone Circle

Broadleas Stone Circle is for me the total stand out circle of the few that can be found in Leinster.
The circle is located only a short drive from Athgreany Stone Circle
The circle has 39 stones in total.  A walk around the circle will leave you in no doubt that other stones are missing.
The width of the circle is close to 30 meters, with the biggest of the boulder stones standing at approximately 1 meter in height.
I have no doubt what helps make this site so special for me is the trees Ash, Holly and Blackthorn.
These for me all help make this circle pretty close to perfect.
Broadleas can be found just off the R411 as you travel from Ballymore Eustace to Hollywood.
The site is easiest to spot coming from the Hollywood direction.

   

Dunnaman Court Tomb

  

Dunnaman is listed as a court tomb, but all that can be seen today is the gallery.
The gallery has four chambers, with the jams very visible (image No 3).
The tomb is close to 13 meters in length and over 1.5 meters wide, it has a east-northeast alignment.
The location of this site is just off the A2 as you travel towards Kilkeel, it is well signposted and can be found in it's own enclosure.
For a tomb that is missing so much of what it should have Dunnaman is still well worth a visit.

Monasterboice

Muiredach's Cross (south cross)

The Tall Cross (west cross)

The North Cross

Monasterboice dates back to the 5th Century when St Buite founded a monastic community here.
Today a visit to this great site will bring you into contact with two church's, a round tower and three high crosses.
The round tower stands to an impressive 28 meters high despite missing its cap.
The tower is the easy way to find this site, you can see it from the M1.
The two most famous high crosses are of sandstone and are dated around the 10th Century

-Muiredach's Cross (south cross) is 5.2 meters tall, with beautiful detail on both sides.
The cross gets its name from an inscription at the base "saying it was erected by Muiredach".
 
-The Tall Cross (west cross) is Ireland's tallest high cross, it is over 7 meters tall.
This cross has detailed panels on both sides, my personal favorite is David with the head of Goliath.
  
-The third cross which is known simply as the north cross, is tucked away in its own enclosure against one of the boundary walls in the graveyard.
The head of this cross has been grafted onto a newer plain body.

Monasterboice has so much to offer, just give yourself plenty of time.