Heritage Sites

Kells Heritage Centre is a new vibrant visitor attraction. Housed in the beautifully restored courthouse are multi-media exhibition, gift shop and Tourist Information Office. The exhibition "The Splendour of Ireland" gives an insight into the crafts and culture of monastic Ireland and entices the visitor to explore the various sites of interest throughout Kells.

The 9th century market cross of Kells is now located in the grounds of the Heritage Centre. One of five crosses in the town , a self guided walking trail is available in the centre.

Opening Hours:

The 'In the Dock' bistro offers a pleasing array of snacks and meals.

The most famous threasure from Kells is of course the illuminated manuscript known as The Book of Kells . This magnificent treasure is currently housed in Trinity College, Dublin. There are however facsimiles (exact copies) on display in St. Columba's church and one in the Heritage Centre.

St Columba's Church of Ireland Church, stands on the site of an earlier Mediaeval church, which lay in partial ruins and was restored in 1578. The sole remnant of that church is the Bell Tower. The Mediaeval church continued to be used, in whole or part, until the present church was built in 1778, altered in 1811 and altered again in 1858. The exterior is plain; not so the interior, which is rich Victorian Gothic. The stained glass is particularly noteworthy. In the old baptistry stands a facsimile of the Book of Kells.

In the grounds of the Church stand the remains of four Celtic Crosses, probably 11th century. One of the crosses was destroyed by English soldiers under the command of Oliver Cromwell at the time of the English Civil War Only two are complete. They represent various scenes from the Gospels.

Also in the grounds is a Round Tower, probably from the same period as the crosses. It is unusual in that it has five windows, rather than the usual four, overlooking the five main roads into the town. Round Towers were used as a place of retreat when unwelcome visitors (The Vikings or other monastic communities) made their appearance. In times of peace, a monk would call the community to prayer by ringing a hand-bell out of the windows.

The Church is open to visitors (Summer months)
Monday to Friday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday: 10.am. - 1 p.m.

Sunday Service: 11.30 a.m. 8.30 a.m. (lst Sunday of the Month)
Daily Service: (Summer months)10.00 a.m.
Christians of all denominations welcome to receive the Eucharist.

Not far from St Columba's Church of Ireland Church. This small rectangular building (St Colmcille's House), a traditional 12th Centurie Oratory is positioned at one of the highest points in the town.

In the churchyard on the top of the hill in Kells are found the Round Tower and a number of High Crosses. The round Tower is about 100 feet high, and has five windows at the top, though the original conical cap is missing. The doorway had heads carved on it, but these have almost entirely weathered away. The tower must date from before 1076, for in that year Murchadh Mac Flainn, who was claiming the High Kingship of Ireland, was murdered in the tower. Near the round Tower is the South Cross dedicated to Saints Patrick and Columba, which was possibly erected in the 9th century.

For directions to Headfort House From Kells. Click here

Headfort House was built roughly two hundred years ago for the Earl of Bective, Thomas Taylour. It is built of Ardbraccan limestone and the house itself was designed by the Irish architect George Semple. The interiors were designed by the Scottish architect Robert Adam. His designs were somewhat simplified for various reasons. Much of the interior remains in very good condition, thanks mainly to the school's occupancy. It remains the only intact Adam interior in Ireland.

Much of the original furniture, which would have been designed by Adam to complement his lofty interiors, is still in place. Some items were recently bought by the state, with a view to their being displayed in the house eventually.

These items, including pier glasses and tables, are undergoing restoration in Kilkenny Castle, as part of an ongoing exhibition of Irish Furniture. The furnishings from the magnificent Chinese Drawing Room have long since gone.

The Tower of Lloyd is an impressive landmark. The area round the tower has been developed as a community park (The People's Park). There are good facilities for children to play, have picnics and generally run about.

On the outskirts of the town and clearly visible when approaching from the North stands the "Tower of Loyd ". The tower is roughly 100 feet high and has a lantern round the top, rather like a lighthouse. It was built in the late 18th century by the lst Earl of Bective in memory of his father Sir Thomas Taylor. Why such a thing exists is not so clear (inland lighthouse). There are those who say that the tower was built so that the Headfort family could sit in it and watch various country pursuits taking place. Others say it was built to provide employment at a time of economic hardship or is no more than a "folly".

The tower was used to view horse racing and the hunt in the nineteenth century.

The plaque reads: 'This pillar was designed by Henry Aaron Baker Esq. architect was executed by Mr. Joseph Beck stone cutter Mr. Owen Mc Cabe head mason Mr. Bartle Reilly overseer Anno 1791'.

For directions to Castlekeeran High Crosses and St. Ciarians Well From Bensfort Lodge or Kells. Click here

Castlekeeran High Crosses

The Hermitage of Ciaran was named after a monk of the nearby monastery of Kells, who should not be confused with either of the better known Co Offaly saints. The site was plundered by Vikings in 949 and by Dermot MacMurrough in 1170. In the 13th century it passed to the Knights Hospitallers and by the 16th century it was owned by the Plunketts.

There are grass-grown remains of a small church about 14.5m by 7.5m. There are three almost intact High Crosses but none of them bears figure sculpture. However they have good moulding at the edges and one of them has some interlacing at the end of the arms. Such plain high Crosses are usualy called termon crosses and were used to define the boundaries of the monastic land.

There is the base of a fourth cross. Tradition says that St Ciaran caught St Columba in the act of stealing this cross for his monastery at Kells. Columba dropped the cross in the river in his haste to escape.

Beside the church is an Early Christian slab with a two-armed cross and an Ogham Stone with the inscription COVAGNI MAQI MUCOI LUGUNI. About 400m SW is St Ciaran's Well.

St. Ciarians Well

Nowadays there is a festival on the first Sunday in August to celebrate the curative power of the water from Ciaran's Well. The waters are believed to be most efficacious on this day.

Differnt areas of the well have different curative powers. Drinking the water, is said to heal ailments of the throat. Lower down the stream, the water is said to cure problems with the feet and ankles. Elsewhere there is a stream for healing backs.

For directions to The Loughcrew Cairns From Bensfort Lodge or Kells. Click here

Loughcrew Cairns form the largest complex of Passage Graves in Ireland. The Cairns are megalithic structures containing symbolic engravings. Like other passage graves in Ireland, they have clear astrological alignments. There is evidence of many uses during the millenia, but it is generally agreed that they were originally built about 4000 bc as burial chambers. They were excavated by amateurs at the beginning of the twentieth century, when many of the artifacts were removed. A blessing in disguise, perhaps, as recent archaeological scholars have concentrated on despoiling less explored sites, leaving Loughcrew relatively undeveloped and unknown; the best kept secret in archaeological Ireland.

The Loughcrew Cairns (prehistoric passage graves), some 5,000 years old, are the oldest feature of this extraordinary area, and, set on the highest hills in this part of Ireland, dominate the area now as they have done for all time. They may be the oldest calendar known, and may even be the world's oldest existing dwellings.

The Cairns are in two groups; Carnbane West, about 15 cairns, including Cairn L which is roofed and contains superb symbolic carvings in good condition. This group is some 2 km walk from the Car Park on gently sloping ground. Carnbane East includes Cairn T, also roofed and with excellent engravings, and is a shorter but steeper walk. The exposed cairns have suffered severely from acid rain erosion, removing much of the relief of the engravings.

The key for Cairn T is held at Loughcrew Garden Visitor Centre during opening hours (049 8541060). This is 3 km from the Cairns.

Garden Opening Hours:
March 17th - September 30th:
Daily12.30pm - 5.00pm

Oct 1st - March 16th:
Sundays and Public Holidays Only:
1.00pm -4.00pm

Outside these hours, the key is held at Loughcrew House, about ½ mile from the Gardens (049 8541356). Either way, the key will not be released before 10.00am or after 4.00pm.

Fore Abbey

For directions to Fore Abbey From Bensfort Lodge or Kells. Click here

Tour Guide (on request)

Contact: Jane O'Reilly
Tel: 044 61780
email : foreabbeycoffeeshop@oceanfree.net

The ancient Christian ruins of Fore which lie in a valley between two ranges of hills are associated with St. Fechin who founded a monastery here around 630 A.D. Approx. 300 monks were living at the Abbey by the time St. Fechin died of the yellow plague in 665 A.D. Between 771 and 1169 A.D. Fore was burnt 12 times.

In the 13th century the de Lacys who were Norman landlords built a Bendictine priory in the valley nearby. Some of the buildings that remain are from the 15th century and have been restored throughout this century, making Fore Abbey the largest group of Benedictine remains in Ireland. Its 13th century church still has some docorations and graceful arcaded cloisters. Attached to the church are the broken walls of two towers, where the monks once lived.

Dovecote

The 'Dovecote' is raised up above abbey offering some splendid views. Several rows of little holes form most of a circular building all made out of rough stone slabs. What remains here is, just the bottom of what would have been a 6-8 foot tall, roofed building.

St. Feichin's Church

Raised up above the road and visitors car park this lovely ruin is very worth taking a look at. As you approach the church up the steps you first see the doorway in the west end with its huge lintel stone, said to weigh seven tons. This lintel is one of the Seven Wonders of Fore because St. Feichin is said to have raised it up by the "power of prayer". It has a Maltese cross carved on the outside face.

Moving inside the 10th century part of the building there is a stone font just inside the door. In the centre of the room there is a modern plinth with a layout of the church and a legend describing the ages of each section. The east end was extended in the 12th century and later, in the 15th century, the east window was replaced.

On the arch between the two sections there is a carving of a sitting man (monk?).

The graveyard contains a restored uncarved cross to the east with a headless statue standing next to it.

SEVEN WONDERS OF FORE
1. The water the flows uphill
2. The monastery in a bog
3. The mill without a race
4. The water that won't boil
5. The tree that has three branches or the tree that won't burn
6. The anchorite in a stone
7. The stone raised by St. Fechin's prayers

Anchorite's Church

In the hillside above the old church of St. Fechin is a tiny chapel, the Anchorite's Church, an extension to a cell once occupied by hermits until the 17th century. Tradition states that the last hermit in Ireland was Patrick Beglan stayed here and is commemorated on a stone tablet in the cell.

The chapel is kept locked and the key can be obtained from the Seven Wonders Pub nearby.

At a bend in the River Boyne, Brú na Bóinne comprises the spectacular passage tombs of Knowth, Dowth and Newgrange.

These cairns were built around 3200BC and so they are older than Stonehenge in England and the Pyramids of Egypt. Built by Neolithic communities about 5000 years ago, the passage graves have clear astronomical alignments such as the Winter Solstice Sunrise at Newgrange and the Equinox Sunrise at Loughcrew. Large stones outside these monuments are decorated with Megalithic Art, with spirals, concentric circles, triangles, images and zigzags.

On the morning of the Winter Solstice, the sunlight enters the tiny opening in the passage grave of Newgrange, and gradually illuminates the central chamber of the grave. Presently there is a lottery system as to who might experience this phenomenon on the Winter Solstice each year. However, the guided tour of Newgrange on other days of the year is a fascinating, informative and spine-tingling experience.

Were these monuments burial tombs?, sacred temples?, astrological observatories? No one knows for sure.

The Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre is located at Donore and is the starting point for all tours to Newgrange and Knowth. Visitors then cross the pedestrian bridge across the Boyne to the shuttle bus pick-up point from where they are brought to the heritage sites. Admission to both Newgrange and Knowth is through the Visitor Centre, as there is no direct access to the monuments. Dowth is not accessible from the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre, but can be driven to directly.

Located six miles from the east of the village of Slane is the site of the famous Battle of the Boyne. The Battle was fought in 1690 but over 300 years later the defeat of James II at the hands of William of Orange still comes up for discussion. It's not so much the battle as what is stands for - continuing differences between Catholic and Protestants - and the difficulty of overcoming memories of the past in search of a common future.

Trim Castle is the largest and one of the most important Norman military constructions in Ireland. Work began on Trim Castle around 1172 and the building was completed with the central tower in the 1220s. The three acre enclosure is dominated by a 25 metre high stone keep and is mounted on a Norman motte.

There are three levels inside, the lowest one divided in two by a central wall. The principal outer wall is around 500 meters long and remains largely standing today. It dates from around 1250 and includes eight towers and the gatehouse. Just outside the central keep are the remains of an earlier wall. The site was protected by a ditch, a curtain wall and a moat. The curtain wall was protected by five D-shaped towers and entry to the castle was only through two of the gates. Within the castle was the great hall, a chapel and living quarters.

A draw-bridge was operated through the Dublingate while the Towngate had a porticullis to protect it as well as a 'murder hole'. Extensive conservation work has been done on the castle.

The Hill of Tara, known as Temair in gaeilge, was once the ancient seat of power in Ireland - 142 kings are said to have reigned there in prehistoric and historic times. In ancient Irish religion and mythology Temair was the sacred place of dwelling for the gods, and was the entrance to the otherworld. Saint Patrick is said to have come to Tara to confront the ancient religion of the pagans at its most powerful site.

On a clear day it is claimed that features in half the counties of Ireland can be seen from atop Tara. In the distance to the northwest can be seen the brilliant white quartz front of Newgrange and further north lies the Hill of Slane, where according to legend St. Patrick lit his Pascal fire prior to his visit to Tara in 433 AD.

There are a large number of monuments and earthen structures on the Hill of Tara. The earliest settlement at the site was in the Neolithic, and the Mound of the Hostages was constructed in or around 2500BC. There are over thirty monuments which are visible, and probably as many again which have no visible remains on the surface but which have been detected using special non-intrusive archaeological techniques and aerial photography.