Heritage in and near Birr

The emigration of thousands of Irish people to America in the 18th and 19th century has played an important role in Ireland’s heritage: visit Birr to learn more about this history. Ulster American Folk Park outside Birr provides a living heritage experience, with costumed demonstrators demonstrating everyday life in Old World and New World buildings. This Birr heritage park also features a full-size recreation of a 19th century sailing ship.

Ulster American Folk Park

The Ulster American Folk Park is an award-winning museum of emigration and folk life telling the story of the floods of Irish emigrants who left these shores over three centuries by means of exciting, interactive exhibits. ... more

Ireland is thought to have been inhabited for at least 6000 years, and its heritage is rich and fascinating. From the mysteries of the ancient Celts, to the turbulent politics of later times, Ireland's long history means that visitors with an interest in times gone by will find many fascinating sites to visit. Several of Ireland's well-preserved historic monuments have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Ireland is the place to see Europe's largest and most significant concentration of prehistoric megalithic structures: the Brú na Bóinne or Bend of the Boyne Complex, located near Drogheda on the north bank of the River Boyne. The whole collection of structures is a World Heritage Site, due to the importance of the tombs, standing stones, henges and other prehistoric ruins of the complex, some dating from as far back as 3500 BC. The amazing monuments here had social, economic and religious purposes and reveal a great deal about the prehistoric inhabitants of Ireland.

The three main sites of the Boyne complex, are Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth, known for their incredible passage tombs. Newgrange and Nowth can be accessed through the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre which also interprets the fascinating Neolithic monuments for visitors. The Newgrange mound is probably the most significant of all the monuments, and stretches 76m across and 12m high, covering an entire acre. Although built between 3300 – 2900 BC, the roof of the massive burial chamber is still largely intact, and is an amazing achievement of prehistoric architecture. Newgrange was also carefully designed so that at dawn on the winter solstice, a narrow beam of sunlight would light up the floor of the chamber at the end of the tomb's long passageway.

Another significant and famous prehistoric site along the River Boyne is the Hill or Tara, a long limestone ridge that contains a number of ancient monuments and was also known as the seat of the the High King of Ireland.

A remote but incredible Irish heritage site is Skellig Michael, an island off the coast of Portmagee, which was home to an ancient monastery from the 7th or 8th century. The island was a centre of monastic life for Irish monks, before it closed around the 10th century when changes in the climate made the sea journey from the mainland difficult. The monastery, perched on the top of a 230m high rock, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is extremely well-preserved. You can see the monks' stone 'beehive' huts, two churches and the original ancient wall and steps leading up the monastery. A visit to Skellig Michael will provide you with a real sense of the peaceful life of devotion lived by this early Christian brotherhood.

Another World Heritage Site in Ireland which is recognised not so much for its historic value as for its geological importance is the Giants Causeway, the area on the north-east coast of Northern Ireland which is covered in about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns. These incredible rock formations were the result of an ancient volcanic volcanic eruptions, and the they are some of the world's most amazing natural wonders. The columns descend from the bottom of the sea cliffs and then disappear under the sea. The Giant's Causeway is also a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and you can appreciate the coastline's fascinating geological formations and wonderful scenery by taking a stroll along a 17km coastal path. Portstewart provides a good base to explore the Giant's Causeway.

Ireland's rich heritage is interpreted in a number of captivating attractions, which vividly recreate the past so visitors can get a feeling for how people lived in centuries gone by.

Bunratty Folk Park is a reconstruction of a 19th century village, with farmhouses, village street and shops and homes that range from a basic one-roomed residence to Bunratty House, a stately Georgian mansion dating from 1804. Characters, complete with authentic costumes, recreate everyday life in the 1800s and allow visitors to meet villagers such as a miller, blacksmith, baker and schoolteacher, who demonstrate their various trades. The folk park is overlooked by the magnificent Bunratty Castle, the most well-preserved medieval fortress in Ireland, which is furnished with superb 15th and 16th century furnishings.

Another excellent and enlightening recreation of the past can be experienced at 'Craggaunowen – The Living Past Experience', Ireland's prehistoric park near Limerick. The park interprets Ireland's prehistoric and early Christian eras, and features replicas of the types of homesteads, animals and artefacts that would have existed in Ireland over 1000 years ago. You can explore the Crannog – a lake island dwelling that was home to Bronze Age Chieftains, and see a replica of a Ringfort, a typical residence of Iron Age Celtic farmers. The park is towered over by Craggaunowen Castle, which is not a replica, but an actual medieval castle built around 1550. To add to the historical interest, the park also has rare animal breeds that would have been around in the prehistoric era, such as Wild Boar. Don't miss the 'Brendan boat' a leather hulled boat that was used in the 1970's re-enactment of the journey taken by St. Brendan and the early Christian monks from Ireland to America. They were said to have discovered America centuries before Columbus, and the authentically recreated boat allowed intrepid adventurers to prove that this was possible.