Doe Castle, Co Donegal, Ireland
The 16th century castle was the traditional home of the Sweeney Clan
Doe Castle – revisited
Haroldstown Portal Tomb
Haroldstown Portal Tomb, Co Carlow, Ireland
Stroan Fountain
Stroan Fountain, Co Kilkenny, Ireland
A natural spring feeds the fountain built ‘erected by subscription by permission of the Landlord Gervase Bushe. Designed and arranged by Thomas Seigne.’
Athgreany Stone Circle
Athgreany Stone Circle (the Piper’s Stones), Co Wicklow, Ireland
The circle now consists of 14 stones with some of the original missing
Clara Church
Clara Church, Co Kilkenny, Ireland
The ruin of Clara Church is a short distance from Clara Castle
Clara Castle
Clara Castle, Co Kilkenny, Ireland
Brownshill Portal Tomb
Kernanstown Dolmen aka Browneshill Dolmen, Co Carlow, Ireland
Ullard Church and Cross
Ullard Church, Co Kilkenny, Ireland
The 12th century church was built on the site of a 7th century monastery
Ullard Church – Romanesque Doorway
Ullard Church – Romanesque Doorway detail
9th century High Cross
At the back of the church a handball alley was build using the church wall
The Rock of Dunamase – revisited
The Rock of Dunamase, Co Laois, Ireland
Through the centuries The Rock of Dunamase was a place of fortification. During the Norman conquest of Ireland the rock was refortified and its these ruins that have survived.
The gate to Dunamase Castle ruins
Ray High Cross, Standing Stone, Bullaun Stone and Church
Ray High Cross
Ray High cross
Subcircular stone with perforation and two mill stones
Raymunterdoney (Ray) old church, Co Donegal, Ireland
Ray Standing Stone in the North East corner of the graveyard
Bullaun Stone in Ray Graveyard
Ray old church with bullaun stone forefront and standing stone background
Barnes Lower Standing Stones – revisited
Pair of standing stones at Barnes Lower, Donegal, Ireland
There are cup marks on the stones but the direction of the light concealed them
Barnes Lower Stone Row – revisited
Barnes Lower Stone Row (Alignment), Co Donegal, Ireland
The three stone alignment with the third stone barely visible
The two larger stones with surface texture emphasised by oblique sunlight
The largest stone of the alignment again with surface texture emphasised by oblique sunlight
Barnes Lower alignment with Muckish mountain in the background
Barnes Lower stone row with Muckish Mountain
Barnes Lower view from car park with Lake Salt and Muckish Mountain. The stones are approx. 150 mtr from track to right as you enter car park
Killahoey Beach
Killahoey Beach aka Dunfanaghy Beach, Dunfanaghy, Donegal, Ireland
Leamaneh Castle – revisited
Leamaneh Castle, the Burren, Co Clare, Ireland
Gleninagh Medieval Church
Gleninagh Medieval Church, the Burren, Co Clare
The enclosure contains numerous ancient graves marked with simple stones
Creevagh Wedge Tomb
Creevagh Wedge Tomb, the Burren, Co Clare, Ireland
Creevagh Wedge Tomb, Black & White
Pinnacle Well
Pinnacle Well, the Burren, Co Clare, Ireland
A housing was built over the well around 1860 giving it the appearance of a small church
Parknabinnia wedge tomb – revisited
Parknabinnia wedge tomb, the Burren, Co Clare
Parknabinnia viewed from the road – with some local tourists
Parknabinnia Wedge Tomb in BW
Doonagore Castle – revisited
Doonagore Castle, Doolin, Co Clare, Ireland. Mid 16th century Castle restored in the 1970s
Carron Church – the Burren
Carron/Carran Church on the Burren, Co Clare, Ireland
The ruins of the 13th century Carron Church
Carved head on the north wall of Carron Church ruin
Fairy Bridges, Bundoran
Fairy Bridges, Tullan Strand, Bundoran, Co Donegal
It is said that locals thought the natural sea arches were haunted by the fairies
Shesknan, in search of a tomb
Shesknan tomb? Co Leitrim, Ireland
Shesknan Tomb? Co Leitrim, Ireland
Gortnahoula Court Tomb
Gortnahoula Court Tomb, Co Sligo, Ireland
Much of the site is buried under the peat with the other stones obscured by tall reeds
Moneylahan Cashel
Moneylahan Cashel, Co Sligo, Ireland
All that remains of the walled enclosure
Tawly Mass Rock
Tawly Mass Rock and Bullaun Stone, Leitrim, Ireland
The Mass rock has an incised cross and ‘IHS’ inscription just visible below
Tawly Bullaun Stone – both stones were found close by
Aghaderrard Court Tomb
Aghaderrard Court Tomb, County Leitrim, Ireland
The ruins and remnants of Aghaderrard Court Tomb
Traditional Jack O’ Lantern 2022
Halloween or Halowe’en comes from All Hallows Eve – The night before All Hallows Day (All Saints Day) which was the Christanisation of Samhain an ancient Celtic festival of celebration, feasting and connecting with ancestors at harvest time. Celebrated on October 31st, the half way point between the Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice. Ancient Celtic tradition marked this as a time when the barriers between the spiritual and physical worlds came down which marked it as a time for Fairies (Shee/Sidhe) and other malevolent beings. From here we get many of the pagan practices that continue to today. Irish and Scottish migrants took their traditions with them to America and America, well Americanised it.
Links to past Jack O’ Lanterns 2017 here https://www.tonyoneill.org/2017/10/25/traditional-jack-o-lantern-2017/ and 2016 here https://www.tonyoneill.org/2016/10/27/irish-jack-o-lantern/
Donaghmore Round Tower and Church
Donaghmore Round Tower and Church, Co Meath, Ireland
Donaghmore 10th century Round Tower and 15th Century Church ruin
Donaghmore Round Tower stands 26 meters tall
The ruin of Donaghmore Church
Donaghmore Round Tower just off the N51 Navan to Slane Road
An original monastery here dates to St. Patrick who gave his disciple, St. Cassanus (Cassan) stewardship
Coolbeg Wedge Tomb revisited
Coolbeg Wedge Tomb, Drumcliff, Co Sligo, Ireland
Behy Cliffs
Behy Cliffs, Co Mayo, Ireland (Opposite the Céide Fields Visitors Centre)
O’Dowd’s Castle
O’Dowd’s Castle, Easkey, Co Sligo, Ireland
Dating from 1207
Belmullet Standing Stone
Belmullet Standing Stone, Mullet Peninsula, Co Mayo, Ireland
The standing stone is great… location not quite
Boats – Blacksod, Belmullet
Blacksod, Belmullet peninsula, Co Mayo, ireland
Cliff Baths
The old Cliff Baths, Enniscrone, Co Sligo, Ireland
Built in 1850 by the Orme family
Beltany Stone Circle – revisited
Beltany Stone Circle, Raphoe, Co Donegal, Ireland
the Celtic festival of fertility known as Beltane is celebrated in early May and it is thought the circle takes its name from this festival
This is the cup marked triangle stone
The Standing Stone at the circle
Link to first visit – https://www.tonyoneill.org/2016/09/15/beltany-stone-circle/
Barnes Lower standing stones
Pair of standing stones at Barnes Lower, Donegal, Ireland
Doon Standing Stone 2
Doon Standing Stone, Co Sligo, Ireland
This is located in the field next to the standing stone I photographed in 2018. Link to post here https://www.tonyoneill.org/2018/08/12/doon-standing-stone
Stroove Standing Stones
Stroove MegalithicTomb aka Stroove Standing Stones
Stroove Standing Stones, Inishowen Peninsula, Co Donegal, Ireland
Carrowmore Megalithic Complex revisited
Carrowmore Megalithic Complex, Co Sligo, Ireland
Carrowmore Tomb 1
Carrowmore Tomb 3
Carrowmore Tomb 4
Carrowmore Tomb 7
Carrowmore Tomb 13
Carrowmore Tomb 13
Carrowmore Tomb 18
Carrowmore Tomb 51 – Listoghill
Carrowmore Tomb 51 – the chamber in the cairn
Carrowmore Tomb 52
Carrowmore Tomb 52a
Carrowmore Tomb 53
Carrowmore Tomb 56
Carrowmore Tomb 57. Link for first visit to site here
Ballymagaraghy Standing Stones
Ballymagaraghy Standing Stones, Inishowen, Co Donegal, Ireland
The stone pair are surrounded by a small stone cairn