Guided Tours Ireland

01/04/2025

01/04/2025

01/04/2025

27/03/2025

Recharge, rebalance, and revitalise at The Spa at Slieve Donard.
https://brnw.ch/21wRBOl


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27/03/2025

Guess who’s back… back on the Lough! 🎶

Carlingford Lough Cruises are back for Summer 2025 and we are officially LIVE and ready to take bookings!

We kick things off on Saturday 21st June and cruise our way right through to the end of summer — and trust us, this year’s lineup is next level 😉

Get ready to dance, sing, and sail your heart out with themed nights including:

Country Cruise | Disco Cruise | Blues Cruise | Elvis Cruise | ABBA Cruise

… and loads more surprises coming your way! 💃🕺🎸

Whether you’re channelling your inner dancing queen or ready to rock ‘n’ roll with The King, there’s a cruise with your name on it.

Hop aboard and book your spot now at:
www.carlingfordloughcruises.com

Tag your cruise crew and stay tuned — more details dropping soon ⬇️⬇️

27/03/2025

Carrigaholt Castle, originally a McMahan Clan stronghold built in 1480, stands watch over Ireland's Shannon Estuary and Loophead Peninsula.

As with most castles, this five-story tower house has changed hands multiple times over the centuries -- not always peacefully.

Perhaps the most notable ownership change occurred after seven ships of the Spanish Armada sought safe harbour at Carrigaholt in 1588. They were returning to Spain after a failed battle against the English Navy at Gravelines. Bad weather pushed 24 ships in the fleet onto the rocky Atlantic Coast of Ireland, resulting in an estimated 6,000 deaths.

The vessels anchored in Carrigaholt sought help from the McMahans, occupants of the castle, but their requests were denied. The English, who ruled Ireland at the time, apparently didn't believe that aid was refused and unsuccessfully attacked the castle.

Returning the following year under the command of Donagh O'Brien, fourth Earl of Thomond, they mounted another siege.

After four days, the McMahan's surrendered. Despite an agreement to spare the lives of those in the castle, all occupants were hanged, and the O'Brien's took ownership.

These impressive ruins are now managed by Ireland's Office of Public Works.

22/03/2025

Set your alarms ⏰

The countdown is on! Restaurant reservations for the week of the 153rd Open will be available to book from Wednesday 26th March.

Keep your eyes peeled on our page for more details…

21/03/2025

21/03/2025

Hello Spring! 🌸

Longer days and blooming flowers are the perfect excuse for a stroll through Botanic Gardens—just minutes from The Malone 🌿 A must-visit when staying with us!

If you're planning a spring city break, The Malone is your ideal base. Explore exclusive packages, Mother’s Day treats and Easter getaways on our website —all with the charm of a boutique experience.

Book your spring escape today at www.themalonehotel.com 🌷

10/03/2025

09/03/2025

𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗚𝗜𝗖 𝗢𝗙 𝗚𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗔𝗥𝗠 𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗟𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛!🏰

Step back in time and explore the historic Glenarm Castle with a guided tour this March! Discover centuries of history, breathtaking architecture, and the stories of one of Northern Ireland’s oldest estates.

Join us for a special visit this March including St. Patrick’s Day and immerse yourself in Irish heritage at its finest.

𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗧𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗡𝗢𝗪 and make unforgettable memories in the heart of the Antrim coast.

➡️www.glenarmcastle.com

03/03/2025

The launch of the 883-foot-long White Star liner Olympic from the Harland and Wolff yard, Belfast. Known as 'Old Reliable', she was the sister ship of the Titanic and Britannic.

Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images.

09/02/2025

From Faber - "This is the long-awaited, definitive edition of Seamus Heaney’s poetry. It encompasses all the poems Heaney published in his lifetime as well as the small number that appeared after his death."

09/02/2025

04/02/2025

NEW BOOK: 'Plantation Churches: Places of Worship in Early Seventeenth-century Ulster' by William Roulston and Tom McNeill

PRE-ORDER OFFER: Order this book (Expected publication date: 01 May 2025) for only £19.99! https://ulsterhistoricalfoundation.com/shop/products/plantation-churches

Not only was religious belief crucial to the people of early modern Europe, but parish communities lay at the heart of all social organisation. However, much of the story of Plantation Ulster has been based on secular themes of land grants, estates and settlement. This book sets out to redress the balance by examining the religious policy and the practical organisation of the Church during a period of enormous change.

The first major issue that the authorities faced was whether they should continue with the same parishes and bishoprics they had inherited from the medieval Church, or re-cast them to match their new regime. They settled for continuity but then faced similar questions over their places of worship. Where should the church be sited? On the pre-Reformation site or at a different location? Who should pay for it? The prominent members of the Reformed Church were not always agreed on the form of worship to be followed so who should dictate the arrangements for this?

Through a careful examination of both the documentary evidence and the physical remains, this study shows how the foundations for the new Church were laid and how the places of worship constructed in the early 1600s went on to dictate the pattern of church building into the twentieth century. The book also considers the locations and settings in which Catholics in Ulster gathered for worship during the Plantation era as they sought to maintain a separate religious identity at a time of considerable upheaval.

Chapter Listing

1 The Medieval Inheritance

2 Protestant places of worship in Ulster 1600–41

3 Protestant Church Buildings in Plantation Ulster

4 Catholic Places of Worship in Early Seventeenth-century Ulster

5 Legacy

6 Appendix 1: The condition of churches in Armagh, Clogher, Derry, Kilmore and Raphoe dioceses in 1622

7 Appendix 2: The condition of churches in Down, Connor and Dromore dioceses in 1622