IRELAND IS ONE of the richest places in the world, per square mile, for ancient monument and is among the most diverse in terms of architecture.
So much so that history enthusiast and amateur photographer Emmet McLaughlin’s attempts to run in the Dublin Mountain’s were curtailed by interesting sights (and sites).
“I kept finding national monuments,” he told TheJournal.ie. “I started taking photographs, then decided to make a calendar and that eventually developed into a website.”
The Inishowen native launched the Curious Ireland website in December 2011 but believes it is still in its “teething stage”.
Despite his protestations, the site already offers a fairly comprehensive tour of Ireland’s historical monuments, from ancient stones to modern-day structures.
Categorised in chronological order, location and type, McLaughlin offers an easily-navigable look at Ireland’s architectural history. Each post comes with a 200 to 250 word explanation, photograph, map and directions.
The former sales, marketing and advertising man wants to expand the website further and offer users the opportunity to search their DNA past and heritage, as well as find their family crests and other interesting facts.
Ancient (4000 bc – 500 ad)
The Temple of Deen, Culdaff, county Donegal (2500bc – 1500bc)
This wedge tomb dates from between circa 2500bc – 1500bc and is probably the remains of the central chamber of a large monument. Prominently located on a hill overlooking Trabrega Bay and the Atlantic, it is popularly known as the Temple of Deen as Deen is a subdivision of the larger townland of Larahirrel. It was marked on the original Ordnance Maps as a Druid’s Altar as this site is linked to pagan ceremonies lead by the Druids. In the 19th century – due to the revival and interest in all things Celtic – many ancient monuments were re-visited. The United Irish League held meetings at the Temple of Deen on Sunday afternoons to demand land reform. The meetings were attended by tenant farmers in east Inishowen and prominent speakers from Dublin addressed them. Those who attended derived inspiration from pagan spiritual sites such as this court tomb.
St Kevin’s Church, Glendalough (12th century)
This is described as a nave and chancel church. The roof is entirely made of stone and the round tower (which was added at a later date) acted as a belfry. It is also known as ‘St Kevin’s Kitchen’ as the round tower projects upwards like a chimney. St Kevin was of royal ancestry and came here around 550 ad from what is present-day Tallaght to find solitude and prayer.
Cloncha Cross, Culdaff, county Donegal (circa 10th century)
At four metres tall, this national monument stands near one of the most important early-Christian sites in Inishowen. It’s carvings are a hybrid of the Christian Celt. It has geometric patterns on both sides along with depictions of the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes, as well as carvings of two men with folded arms which could be St Paul and Anthony in the desert.
Clondalkin Round Tower, Clondalkin Village, Dublin (8th century)
This tower is built on the site of a monastery founded by St Mochua in the seventh century. It is one of only four remaining round towers in county Dublin. The other three can be found in Swords, Lusk and Rathmichael. This one stands at more than 90-foot tall and is thought to be an early round tower as the granite on the lintels is flat.
Trim Castle, county Meath (1176 ad)
Trim Castle is not only the earliest stone castle to be built in Ireland but it is also the largest Norman Castle in Europe. It was built in 1176 by Hugh de Lacy and his son Walter, taking more than 30 years to complete.
Jerpoint Abbey, Thomastown, county Kilkenny (1180)
Kileen Castle, Dunsany, county Meath (1820)
The history of Killeen Castle dates back over eight hundred years to 1181, when it was built by Hugh de Lacy as part of the strategic castle defence system for north Leinster. From 1403 until the 1950’s, the castle acted as the seat of the Plunkett family, Earls of Fingall, and their five and a half centuries of unbroken connection with Killeen Castle is exceptional by most standards.
Newbridge House, Donabate, county Dublin
Castletown House, Celbridge, county Kildare (1722 -1729)
Connolly’s Folly, Celbridge, county Kildare (1740)
This strange looking structure is ‘Conolly’s Folly’, built by Katherine Conolly, the philanthropic widow of Speaker William Conolly, to provide employment for hundreds of the poor of Celbridge when the famine of 1740-41 was at its worst. It is sometimes called ‘The Obelisk’ and can be seen from the main Castletown House some 2.5 miles away.
St Aengus’s Church, Burt, county Donegal (1967)
Designed by local, award-winning architects Frank Corr and Liam McCormick, the church takes its pagan inspiration from the Grainan of Aileach ringfort which is located on the nearby hilltop.
Millmount Martello Tower, Drogheda, county Louth (1808)
Scrabo Tower, Newtownards, county Down (1857)
The Samuel Beckett Bridge, Dublin City (2009)
This is Santiago Calatrava’s second bridge in Dublin as the Spanish architect also designed the James Joyce Bridge further upstream. It can rotate 90 degrees to allow ships to pass through.
Fairy Castle, Two Rock Mountain, county Dublin (2,500 bc)
The Curiosity Shop, Malin Head, county Donegal
Lighthouses
Shrove Lighthouse, Shrove, county Donegal (1837)
Sean’s Bar, Athlone, county Westmeath (900 ad)
This bar dates from 900 ad and is not only the oldest bar in Ireland, but also in Europe and possibly the World. This was officially certified by The Guinness Book of World Records through archaeological evidence taken from the the wattle and daub walls.
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