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Explore Ireland's archaeology, sites and stories with the experts from Abarta Heritage.

15/12/2024

The Bann Disc • Derry

This small bronze disc is one of the most iconic pieces of early Irish metalwork. It was found when it was dredged from the River Bann at Loughan Island, near Coleraine, in 1939. It is delicately decorated in the La Tène style, dating to the Iron Age.

See it in the Ulster Museum, Belfast.

15/12/2024

Make Ireland's past your present this Christmas.

A Tuatha Membership is the perfect gift for lifelong learners, eager explorers, and lovers of Irish archaeology, history and heritage.

Find out more and order your gift membership: https://store.tuatha.ie

13/12/2024

Seahan Passage Tombs • Dublin

In the foreground you can see the exposed chamber of a Neolithic passage tomb, with a cairn topped by an OS point in the background.

There are 11 recorded passage tombs in the Dublin Mountains. A sacred landscape for Ireland’s first farmers.

Dublin's uplands are full of stories. Our exclusive itinerary will lead you through millennia, from megalithic tombs to early monasteries to the setting for debauched 18th century aristocrats.

Available now for Tuatha Members.

Not a member yet? Come and join us to make 2025 a year of adventure! Or if you’re looking for the perfect gift for the history hunter in your life, pick up a gift membership today:
https://store.tuatha.ie/

13/12/2024

Still on the look out for the perfect gift inspired by Ireland's incredible archaeology and wildlife? Or do you need to treat yourself in the run up to the festive season? Check out our 2024 gift guide, featuring some of our favourite books, magazines, artists and experiences!

📚 It's been a bumper year for incredible new books. From journeys deep into Ireland's prehistory, to a monumental new book on the Irish Civil War, our gift guide will give you plenty of inspiration for your festive reading list.

🎨 For a small country, we punch above our weight when it comes to amazing artists! The wonderful Ciaraíoch Art, Annie West, Róisín Doherty and John Flynn are just a few of the names we had to include on our list this year whose work is often inspired by Irish heritage.

🗞 Want a gift to last all year? Consider a subscription to Archaeology Ireland, an essential monthly read for all archaeology enthusiasts.

Or for those passionate about nature and conservation, a gift membership to Irish Wildlife Trust is the perfect choice.

🎁 Still need a bit more inspiration? Check your inboxes to find our full 2024 Irish Heritage Gift Guide.

https://www.tuatha.ie/newsletter/

12/12/2024

Boyle Abbey • Roscommon

There is a wealth of wonderful medieval sculpture at Boyle Abbey, but this depiction of two dogs fighting is one of my favourite scenes.

Love how the mason depicted the poor dog's tongue lolling out! 🐶

11/12/2024

Annaghmore Dolmen • Leitrim

Ireland has more than 180 recorded portal tombs (also known as dolmens). They date to the Neolithic period, mainly between 3800–3500 BCE.

They can vary widely in size, (this example at Annaghmore is relatively small), and they can often be found close to streams or routeways.

11/12/2024

A membership to Tuatha opens up a world of discovery. With expert knowledge at your fingertips, you can plan your next adventure and steer your own learning at a pace and place that suits you.

Find out more about the benefits of joining Tuatha on www.tuatha.ie, and start exploring Ireland’s past, today.

10/12/2024

Ross Castle • Kerry

Even in the wintery weather, Killarney National Park is always a stunning place to explore.

One of the main landmarks is this fine towerhouse, built in around 1450–1500 by the powerful O’Donoghue family who held sway over Killarney at that time.

Killarney National Park contains a wealth of historic highlights, which you can discover with our exclusive itinerary. Available now for Tuatha Members.

And this Christmas, you can give someone the gift of a Tuatha membership, and explore Killarney together!

Find out more about making Ireland’s past your present here: https://store.tuatha.ie/

09/12/2024

Join us in the latest edition of our free newsletter as we explore Rathmichael Hill, a site with a variety of highly interesting archaeological features, from prehistory through to the later medieval period.

Together with Abarta Heritage, we share some of our favourite Irish heritage sites every week. So if you would like to dig deeper into the stories, archaeology and history of Ireland, sign up for the free newsletter here: https://www.tuatha.ie/newsletter/

08/12/2024

Killamery • Kilkenny

This unusually carved boulder covers a small holy well at Killamery in the historic Lingaun Valley of County Kilkenny. Though an exact date is unknown, it is not unlike some forms of Hiberno-Romanesque architecture and so may date to 12th century.

The River Lingaun may look fairly unremarkable today, but it served as the ancient boundary between Leinster & Munster.

There is a true wealth of heritage, from 5000 year old tombs, high crosses, 1798 battlefields and more! Tuatha Members can explore it all with our itinerary.

And this Christmas you can give someone the gift of a Tuatha membership, and explore the Lingaun Valley together!

Find out more about making Ireland’s past your present here: https://store.tuatha.ie/

07/12/2024

A small stone circle at Bohonagh, near Rosscarbery in West Cork.

You can find a relatively large number of Bronze Age monuments around West Cork. Evidence of the numerous copper mines that were exploited at places like Mount Gabriel, and along the Mizen Peninsula.

This monument is situated on private land, so please do ask permission before visiting.

06/12/2024

Tonight is an important night on the Irish Christmas calendar: The !

And while the anticipation for this evening builds, here is a toy from another age. A Viking toy boat, found during excavations on Winetavern Street in Dublin.

You can just imagine a Viking child racing it along a stream, maybe dreaming of going off on an adventure themselves one day.

05/12/2024

H**e Abbey • Tipperary

H**e Abbey (also known as St. Mary's Abbey of the Rock) sits both literally and figuratively in the shadow of the mighty Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary.

Though it's often overlooked by visitors to the Rock, it is well worth taking the time to explore the ruins of this well-preserved ruins of this Cistercian monastery.

The name H**e Abbey has a number of possible derivations - the first suggestion is that the name 'H**e' may derive from 'iubhar', the Irish for Yew Tree. Another theory suggests that the name refers to the dull grey coloured tunics that the monks wore.

So if you're planning a visit to the Rock of Cashel – remember there's so much more to discover nearby!

Our Rock of Cashel Route Itinerary will turn your day trip into an epic adventure! Exclusively available for Tuatha Members.

Do you know someone you’d like to take this trip with? Make Ireland’s past your present this Christmas with a gift membership to Tuatha and start exploring together!

Pick up your gift certificate at our store:
https://store.tuatha.ie/

04/12/2024

As the Winter Solstice approaches, so does our final Tuatha Talk of 2024!

Located in a picturesque setting above the Lingaun River, Knockroe is a Neolithic passage tomb, with alignments to sunrise and sunset on the Winter Solstice.

It was excavated by Prof. Muiris O’Sullivan over a number of seasons. Muiris has just submitted the truly landmark report on 30+ years of research at Knockroe.

He joins us for a Tuatha Talk on the compiled results, bringing together specialist analysis and brand new insights into this wonderful site.

Priority booking is now open for Tuatha Members!

Tickets are flying fast, so if you're a member, be sure to check your inbox for a mail with the link to save your seat!

If you're not a member yet, do join us! Monthly webinars with experts (plus recordings of previous talks), articles, tours & more!
https://www.tuatha.ie/

Or if you are looking for an ideal gift for the history lover in your life, consider a gift membership to Tuatha!

30-day passes or annual membership options available:
https://store.tuatha.ie/

03/12/2024

St Patrick's Graveyard • Kilmovee • Mayo

This atmospheric site is located in the east of County Mayo, not far from the border with Roscommon. Here you can find the ruin of a small medieval church surrounded by a graveyard.

This image really captures the jumble of an old historical graveyard that has been in use for centuries. A place of community and time.

02/12/2024

Make your Mondays Monumental with Tuatha and Abarta Heritage! In this week's edition of our FREE newsletter we're feeling adventurous as we take a trip to the remote but spectacular Caherconree – a truly monumental site on the Di**le Peninsula.

Find out more about this site in the latest newsletter. Not on the mailing list? Discover the stories of a different site every week when you sign up here: https://www.tuatha.ie/newsletter/

01/12/2024

The Coolnashanton Trumpet • Fermanagh

This instrument made from yew and bronze was dredged from the River Erne in the 1950s.

It is a very rare example of an early medieval instrument, it is believed to date to around the 9th century.

It was lost over a thousand years ago, near the monastery on Cleenish Island.

Was it dropped? Did the poor musician fall in too?

Or was it flung into the river by someone sick of the same old tune every day? Like the early medieval equivalent of Christmas music in a store?

You can see it in Fermanagh County Museum.

30/11/2024

Mooghaun Hillfort • Clare

A hillfort comprised of a series of enormous stone ramparts surrounds a prominent limestone hill overlooking the Fergus River.

Excavations by the Discovery Programme found the site has its origins in the Bronze Age.

You can dig deeper into the story of Ireland’s hillforts in the latest episode of Amplify Archaeology Podcast!

Out now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all the usual podcast channels. Or on the Abarta Heritage website at the link below:
https://www.abartaheritage.ie/irish-hillforts-amplify-archaeology-podcast/

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What makes Tuatha’s itineraries different? We really help you to get under the skin of a landscape. We take a more thoughtful approach, helping you to dwell longer in a landscape. From the epic sites to true hidden gems. With a Tuatha itinerary, you can explore off the beaten track with confidence and experience adventures to remember. If you have someone in your life that loves getting out and about, discovering Ireland’s incredible archaeology and heritage, do consider a gift membership to Tuatha. Prices start from just €25: https://store.tuatha.ie/ #IrishGifts

Make Ireland's past your present this Christmas. A Tuatha Membership is the perfect gift for lifelong learners, eager explorers, and lovers of Irish archaeology, history and heritage. Find out more and order your gift membership: https://store.tuatha.ie/

Knowth Passage Tomb Complex

Set in the famous bend of the River Boyne, not far from the other great tombs at Newgrange and Dowth, Knowth is undoubtedly one of Ireland’s most significant archaeological monuments. A Neolithic passage tomb complex, home to perhaps the greatest concentration of megalithic art in Europe. It has been a place of significance for millennia. Discover more about the complex story of this monument at our next Tuatha Talk with archaeologist Dr Kerri Cleary on Wednesday the 20th of November. This very special lecture will be the first in our series to be held both in-person and online, thanks to The Royal Irish Academy who will be hosting this event in the beautiful surroundings of their Dawson Street Academy House. Find out more about the event and book your FREE online or in-person tickets through the link: https://www.ria.ie/events/knowth-a-tuatha-talk-with-dr-kerri-cleary-and-the-royal-irish-academy/

A moment of peace at St Patrick's Well, Clonmel.

In case you need it, here is a little moment of peace for your timeline. This is St Patrick's Holy Well near our hometown of Clonmel, Tipperary. The clear waters of the well are reputed to have curative properties for sore eyes and headaches. It's an atmospheric, special place. If you'd like to know more about the history of St Patrick's Well, or how to get there, we have a free article here: https://www.tuatha.ie/st-patricks-well/

Early Medieval Ireland

Ireland's early medieval period was a pivotal era in Irish history, and we are excited to announce our latest online course that helps you to dig deeper into the story! In our brand new course, Dr Sharon Greene leads us through Ireland's early medieval period. The course is broken into a series of classes that you can take in your own time. Each focused on a different key aspect, such as settlement, society law and politics, everyday life, and the house and home. The impact of the Vikings, and more. The course comes with a downloadable pdf workbook with reading lists and recommendations of further resources so you can dig even deeper into the story. Our Early Medieval Ireland Course is now available to all Tuatha Members! Not a member yet? Join today for full access to this course, along with our other courses on Genealogy and an Introduction to Irish Archaeology, and our full back catalogue of webinars from leading experts in Irish archaeology and heritage. You'll also have full access to all our itineraries, articles, and more, so visit the link below to join today to start your journey into Ireland's past: https://www.tuatha.ie/

In need of a little timeline cleanse? Here's a moment from Poll an Eas in County Leitrim. It's a lovely time of year to go exploring Ireland!

If your dad loves digging into Irish archaeology, history and heritage, then he'll love Tuatha! A gift membership will help him to delve deeper into the stories of Ireland, with detailed articles, online courses and talks by leading experts. Enjoy family days out together as you explore with our itineraries. With opportunities to join us on our regular programme of talks and tours. With monthly and annual memberships available, and instant access to your digital voucher, there's no need to get in a flap this Father's Day. Make Ireland's Past your Present with Tuatha! Find our monthly and annual gift vouchers here: https://store.tuatha.ie/

Turn your next Irish road trip into an epic adventure with a Tuatha Itinerary! Our expertly crafted itineraries feature a blend of famous historic highlights with a swathe of hidden gems that will help you to get off the beaten track. The itineraries are accompanied by a map created by our illustrator Sara Nylund. And they are available whenever you need them. You can use them digitally or download and print before you set out on your journey. With a new itinerary added every month, you’ll always have somewhere new to explore! Find out more about our itineraries in the link below: https://www.tuatha.ie/ireland-road-trip-itineraries-and-trails/ #discoverireland #exploreireland

Win two tickets to explore Skellig Michael in 2024!

We‘re so excited to be returning to Skellig Michael this summer. And we won’t be going alone! We’re offering a member of Tuatha the opportunity to WIN two tickets to visit this incredible site with us this July. Enjoy a tour of one of Ireland's most spectacular and unforgettable sites, with an experienced archaeologist as your guide, plus an overnight stay in the stunning surroundings of Portmagee. This free prize draw is open to all members of Tuatha – both monthly and annual – simply enter through the link on your Member Dashboard. Not a member of Tuatha yet? Don’t worry, there’s still time! Come and join us today to enter into this exclusive competition, plus get instant access to all our itineraries, articles, courses, talks, tours and more! Join us today at www.tuatha.ie

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig daoibh! In honour of St Patrick’s Day, we thought we’d bring you a little mindful moment as we follow the flow of the water at St. Patrick’s Holy Well, just outside our hometown Clonmel in County Tipperary. The water emerges from springs at the head of the well, before surging down the twin flumes to the calm waters of the pond below. The water flows around the base of an early medieval cross, before passing down the outflow where they form a tributary stream that joins with the mighty River Suir and onwards to the sea. #stpatricksday2024 #stpatricksday #láféilepádraig

2023 has been quite an adventure! We want to thank everyone, especially all our wonderful members and all who follow us for all of your support throughout the year. We already have some exciting plans for 2024 — our first Tuatha Talk in January will be with Dr Rebecca Boyd on Everyday Life in Ireland's Viking Age Towns, and our first exclusive member tour will be of medieval Trim with Dr Michael Potterton later in the month. Other tours include the prehistory of the Boyne Valley with Professor Muiris O'Sullivan, and we're hopeful of a tour of the Saltee Islands when the puffins are home. And of course we'll have lots more articles and itineraries to come! Thanks again for making the year so special, and we're looking forward to more adventures with you! Wishing you all a happy and healthy 2024. #HappyNewYear