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A Look at Leinster

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The Brownshill Doleman in County Carlow

Leinster is sometimes overlooked by travelers to Ireland, with the raw and rugged splendor of the south, west and north coasts attracting more attention. However, the Leinster province, which is Ireland’s largest and borders the Irish Sea, has a rich resource of sights and sounds for visitors, including, of course, Dublin City. Leinster encompasses the counties of Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Longford, Laois, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow.

Carlow

Just outside the town of Carlow is an over 100 ton stone structure whose history dates back to 4000 B.C. It is known as the Brownshill Dolmen or the Kernanstown Cromlech. Officially labeled a portal tomb for the two large stones which mark its entrance, how exactly the Dolmen was built remains a mystery as its capstone weighs in at 100 tons, believed to be largest in Ireland.

Dublin

Founded in the 9th century, Dublin City is a culturally rich, international business hub, and tourist mecca. From the city’s beginnings as a Viking trading port to a walled medieval city, it transformed into an elegant Georgian city, cosmopolitan with wide streets and cultural quarters. The National Museum of Ireland on Kildare Street houses the treasures of ancient Ireland, with exhibits including prehistoric and Viking Ireland. The Book of Kells, written around  800 AD and one of the most beautifully illuminated manuscripts in the world, is on display at the Old Library at Trinity College and attracts over 500,000 visitors a year. St. Patrick’s Cathedral, erected on the site where St. Patrick is believed to have baptized his converts to Christianity, dates back to the 12th century. Another historic attraction, Dublin Castle was founded in 1203 by order of King John, who required a fortress constructed for the administration of the city. All that remains of the original design is the Norman Tower, while the rest of the castle has been added to and rebuilt over centuries. For those travelers hoping to soak up some of Ireland’s liquid history, the Guinness Storehouse and the Old Jameson Distillery are both popular Dublin destinations.

Kildare

County Kildare is well known for Irish horse breeding, training and racing. The famous Curragh, a flat open plain of almost 5,000 acres, is home to the Curragh Racecourse, which hosts all five classic annual races: the Irish Derby Stakes, the Irish Oaks, the Irish 1,000 Guineas, the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the St. Leger.

Kilkenny

Situated on the banks of the River Nore, Kilkenny town is  known for its historic buildings, and culture of arts and crafts. The Kilkenny Arts Festival celebrates theater, dance, visual art of all types and film, while the Kilkenny Design Craft Centre offers an unrivaled selection of Irish handcrafts. Kilkenny’s important ecclesiastical sites include the Black Abbey, Kells Priory, and Tullaherin Church and Round Tower. Kilkenny Castle is also a popular destination. Many of the landmarks are included in popular walking and cycling tours.

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