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Medieval Ireland Wicklow and Kildare - Self Drive
Oct 10 2011 10:11 AM | Bhushan in Self Drive Tours
Medieval Ireland Wicklow and Kildare
+353 (0)404 69117
wicklow@failteireland.ie
The journey begins in the charming village of Blessington, which is just ten minutes drive away from a single solid-looking tower house called Threecastles. Since 1940 it has overlooked the man-made Blessington Lake – but in bygone days it commanded a ford on the River Liffey. South of Blessington, near Ballymore Eustace, an earthen bank has been preserved. The bank is one of the few remaining traces of the Pale, a fortification erected by the Anglo-Norman invaders to protect the land they had won from the dispossessed native Irish. Threecastles was one of the strongholds that guarded the Pale.
South of Ballymore Eustace is Baltinglass, an altogether more peaceful scene where the River Slaney flows in the shadow of the ruins of an abbey built by Cistercian monks in 1170. Go west to Castledermot which offers traces both of an ancient Celtic monastery with round tower and sculptured crosses and a Franciscan friary founded in 1302. Then go northwest for Kilkea, a splendid castle, extensively rebuilt in 1849 and now a very comfortable hotel.
The route goes north to Athy, where the medieval castle on the banks of the River Barrow is still inhabited. Between Athy and Kildare town is the great, tree-crowned, earthen mound called the Moat of Ardscull. Created as a fortress by the Anglo-Norman warlords in the 13th century, it commands a beautiful view over the fertile country that surrounds it. The centre of Kildare town was a pagan sanctuary, taken over in the 5th century by St. Brigid. It became a cathedral town in 1111 when the beautiful building that crowns the hilltop was begun. To the northwest of Kildare town, on the outskirts of Dublin’s fair city, are the riverside villages of Leixlip and Maynooth. Both have fine castles. Leixlip Castle was converted to a luxurious modern dwelling more than 200 years ago and remains an opulent family home. It is open to visitors only on specified dates. Maynooth Castle was reduced to substantial ruins by Cromwell’s men and remains an interesting place to visit – in a delightful university town.
Distance : 175 km (109 miles)
+353 (0)404 69117
wicklow@failteireland.ie
The journey begins in the charming village of Blessington, which is just ten minutes drive away from a single solid-looking tower house called Threecastles. Since 1940 it has overlooked the man-made Blessington Lake – but in bygone days it commanded a ford on the River Liffey. South of Blessington, near Ballymore Eustace, an earthen bank has been preserved. The bank is one of the few remaining traces of the Pale, a fortification erected by the Anglo-Norman invaders to protect the land they had won from the dispossessed native Irish. Threecastles was one of the strongholds that guarded the Pale.
South of Ballymore Eustace is Baltinglass, an altogether more peaceful scene where the River Slaney flows in the shadow of the ruins of an abbey built by Cistercian monks in 1170. Go west to Castledermot which offers traces both of an ancient Celtic monastery with round tower and sculptured crosses and a Franciscan friary founded in 1302. Then go northwest for Kilkea, a splendid castle, extensively rebuilt in 1849 and now a very comfortable hotel.
The route goes north to Athy, where the medieval castle on the banks of the River Barrow is still inhabited. Between Athy and Kildare town is the great, tree-crowned, earthen mound called the Moat of Ardscull. Created as a fortress by the Anglo-Norman warlords in the 13th century, it commands a beautiful view over the fertile country that surrounds it. The centre of Kildare town was a pagan sanctuary, taken over in the 5th century by St. Brigid. It became a cathedral town in 1111 when the beautiful building that crowns the hilltop was begun. To the northwest of Kildare town, on the outskirts of Dublin’s fair city, are the riverside villages of Leixlip and Maynooth. Both have fine castles. Leixlip Castle was converted to a luxurious modern dwelling more than 200 years ago and remains an opulent family home. It is open to visitors only on specified dates. Maynooth Castle was reduced to substantial ruins by Cromwell’s men and remains an interesting place to visit – in a delightful university town.
Distance : 175 km (109 miles)
