Top Things to do in Ireland’s Ancient East
Top 10 Architectural Buildings in Ireland’s Ancient East, Ireland’s Ancient East
Discover the best top things to do in Ireland’s Ancient East, Ireland including Glenstal Abbey, Tourin House and Gardens, Ballyowen House, Athy Library, Glendalough Monastic Settlement, St Fin Barre's Cathedral, Ballynatray House and gardens, Bantry House & Garden, Number 2 Pery Square, Castletown House.
Restaurants in Ireland’s Ancient East
1. Glenstal Abbey
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 24 reviews
Built in 1830 in the style of a 12th century castle as an expansive family residence, with elaborate landscaping of trees and man-made lakes, Glenstal became a Bendictine abbey when the family moved to England in 1920. Today it includes a school of arts and crafts and a new church which houses a collection icons, silver and other treasures.
2. Tourin House and Gardens
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 8 reviews
Reviewed By chrisG7706AI - Cappoquin, Ireland
This is a beautiful garden that has many hidden delights just waiting to be explored. It has a gorgeous walled garden and is especially lovely in spring with with daffodils and crocus
3. Ballyowen House
4. Athy Library
5. Glendalough Monastic Settlement
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,114 reviews
This historic site, whose Gaelic name translates to “valley of the two lakes,” consists of the 6th-century monastery founded by St. Kevin and the famous round tower, standing 112 feet high with a base measuring 52 feet in circumference. Visitors: There is a car park at the Visitor Centre. It is recommended to see the informational video at the Visitor Centre before starting your explorations.
Reviewed By 296ashleel
We went on September 25th and it was our first stop after arriving in Dublin. It was the perfect way to kick off our Ireland vacation. It takes a little over an hour to get from Dublin airport to Glendalough (slightly more if you are learning to drive on the opposite side!), so you can definitely do this as a day trip from Dublin. There is parking lot and a small visitor center which contain restrooms. The people at the V.C. desk were able to direct us to the walkway. You can walk around the cemetery and ruins. There were smaller pathways that you could take, so we took one that seemed less traveled. Mainly because there was a large group of students on a field trip which were being quite loud (as high schoolers do). The path we took had benches scattered throughout to stop and really immerse yourself in the quiet and beauty of it all.
6. St Fin Barre's Cathedral
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 974 reviews
A stately 19th-century cathedral dedicated to the patron saint of Cork.
Reviewed By igal27 - Rehovot, Israel
The walk up to the cathedral through the grounds is very impressive -- the cathedral is imposing and the grounds inviting. The kids enjoyed playing in the grass and walking through the maze. The cathedral from the inside is stunning, well worth a visit.
7. Ballynatray House and gardens
8. Bantry House & Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 697 reviews
Bantry House and Garden is a stately home in southwest Ireland situated right on Bantry Bay with panoramic views of the bay and the caha mountains. The estate is owned by Egerton and Brigitte Shelswell-White and is managed by their daughter Sophie and her partner Josh. It has been in the family since the 1700s. The house contains original furniture and objects d'art. The garden is laid out over 7 terraces with a fountain, large wisteria circle and 100 steps leading up to the woodland. The house, garden and tearoom is open to the public daily from easter to october. The estate hosts weddings, music festivals and fairs. We have a separate review page for our B&B accommodation.
Reviewed By OttawaTrekker
We spent a couple of hours touring the gardens and the public rooms inside the house. My partner and I are both decoration and history buffs, so we took our time discovering the lovely interiors and really enjoyed ourselves. Outside, the views from the main terrasse overlooking the bay are fantastic and climbing all the way to the top is worth the exercise. The gardens and the grounds are quite pretty and a lot of fun to explore. All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable visit.
9. Number 2 Pery Square
10. Castletown House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 370 reviews
Castletown is the first and largest Palladian style mansion in Ireland and is just 20km from Dublin City Centre and sits on the banks of the River Liffey. The house is open daily for tours Mid March to the 4th November 2018, access to the house is by guided or self-guided tour. For tour times and admission charges see website. FREE admission to the restored 18th century parklands, open daily throughout the year. For gate opening times see website or refer to the signs on the site. Extensive events programme which includes: Children's art and craft workshops, music recitals, parkland tours, evening concerts, 'Family nights' in the Courtyard Cafe for all this and more refer to website.
Reviewed By BJDublin
We visited Castletown House for the first time recently and absolutely loved it! There are lovely grounds to walk through. Ideal for couples, or families with children to enjoy or to walk your dog. There is a market held on the last Sunday of the month selling everything from local arts and crafts to delicious food. We spent a full day there by the time we had seen the market, had coffee and cake and then had a lovely walk for an hour. The paths are very well laid out and you can see the house clearly so you can't get lost! After our walk we had lunch in the cafe and then did the tour of the house. Our guide was Deirdre and she had so much information to tell us about the history of the house and the family that lived there. It was a very enjoyable day and we would highly recommend a visit. It's a real gem just outside of Dublin.
