The Celtic Sites of Ireland

Ireland has a long history as a beacon of the Celtic world and fortunately many of the sites, some thousands of years old, remain in good condition.

The country’s sparse population and only more recent industrialisation mean that much of what came from the pre Christian periods have not been disturbed and are there for visitors to the country to see to this very day. So, what are the essential Celtic sites of Ireland on a visit to the Emerald Isle?

Newgrange

Situated in Co Meath, around 40 miles from Dublin is Newgrange. This large circular structure was created around 5,000 years ago and is thought to be a burial place of the dead. The large quartz fronted tomb is so positioned that a beam of light enters through a light box above its small door on the Winter Solstice each year – a truly wonderful piece of engineer and thousands of years older than the pyramids in Giza and UK visas.

Newgrange, Ireland by fhwrdh

The Hill of Tara

Of course, each culture has to have a mainstay and for the Ancient Irish, this place was the Hill of Tara, home of the High King of Ireland and also situated in Meath, near Navan. The Hill of Tara has a long history in Irish mythology and has been central or featured in many Irish myths. The area is full of mounds from the time, the remains of the ancient bank hall and was even thought to be the home of the Holy Grail and parts were dug up by the British Israelites at the start of the 20^th century.

Standing Stone at Hill of Tara – Ireland by Ben and Kaz Askins

The Ceide Fields

The Ceide Fields is situated in Mayo and is a large flat topped hill and one of the oldest field systems in the world. The field system has been dated to nearly 6,000 years old and was discovered in the 1930s underneath a bog land by a local. He noticed that when cutting away the turf that the stones underneath were formed in patterns below the bog area. Upon proper archaeological investigation it turned out that an ancient area of homes, complex field structure and megalithic tombs were built before the bog grew over it.

Ceide Fields Neolithic site, Ireland by Brholden

Aran Islands

The largest of the three islands is Inis Mor and hosts a whole host of Celtic sites as well as showcases a life from a different time. One of the must see Celtic sites is the cliff fort of Dun Aengus, which has now been cut half away from erosion – though still is a fantastic sight.

Dun Aengus fort, Ireland by Kaly99

The Burren

An amazing piece of geological landscape and one of the largest limestone karst landscapes in Europe, the Burren is one where artic and tropical plants grow side by side.  The Burren is home to numerous Celtic burial sites and there is a smorgasbord of portal dolmens, burial tombs and other remains scattered across this fantastic area beside the Atlantic.

Poulnabrone Tomb, the most Famous Dolmen at the Burren, Ireland by SARCASTICALIOUS

Cormac Reynolds works for UK visa company Global Visas

Tags: archaeological investigation, askins, british israelites, burial place, ceide fields, celtic world, christian periods, circular structure, co meath, emerald isle, flat topped hill, hill of tara, irish mythology, irish myths, navan, newgrange ireland, sparse population, uk visas, winter solstice

Category: Ireland, Sights