Daniel Kirkpatrick

Historical Sites in Ireland: Explore the Ancient Landscape of Ireland

Ireland’s landscape is rich with ancient monuments—ringforts, passage tombs, royal sites, and crumbling stone settlements that echo the lives of those who walked here thousands of years ago. This page gathers together some of the most important historical sites in Ireland which are featured on my blog. Each of these posts combine archaeological evidence with mythology, exploring the history and significance of these amazing locations.

Below is a summary of the most significant sites. While many span multiple historical periods, they are ordered below in terms of the period of most significant activity and historical interest. Select the links to read on.

Neolithic (or earlier) 4500-2000BC

Map of ancient historical sites across Ireland
Map of ancient historical sites across Ireland – click to see the full resolution image.
  1. Giant’s Ring
  2. Mount Sandel
  3. Newgrange
  4. Giant’s Causeway

Bronze Age 2000-500BC

  1. Corrstown Village, Portrush
  2. Dunseverick Castle

Iron Age 500BC-400AD

  1. Emain Macha (Fort Navan)
  2. Hill of Uisneach
  3. Hill of Tara
  4. Rathcroghan
  5. Dun Aonghasa
  6. Rock of Cashel
  7. Dún Ailinne – Knockaulin

Early Medieval (or later) 400AD-

  1. Dunluce Castle
  2. Nendrum Monastery
  3. Ballyaghagan Cashel

Historical Site Posts

  • Irish Hillforts: Ancient Fortifications of Ireland

    Discover the history of Irish hillforts – ancient Iron Age fortifications across Ireland. Learn about their designs, locations and cultural significance.

  • Iron-Age Hillforts in Ireland: Daily Life, Purpose & Key Sites

    High earth ramparts, smoky roundhouses and communal feasts—Iron-Age hillforts like Rathgall and Dun Aengus were more than forts; they were power-houses of craft, ritual and defence. This guide uncovers what daily life looked like on those windswept summits and why the Leinster kings chose hilltops for ceremony and control.

  • What is the history of Rathcroghan?

    Discover Rathcroghan, the ancient royal heartland of Connacht steeped in legend and history. Explore the tales of Queen Medb, archaeological discoveries, and Ireland’s most mysterious mythological site.

  • Mountsandel Fort – Ireland’s Oldest Mesolithic Settlement

    Explore the fascinating history of Mountsandel Fort, Ireland’s oldest known Mesolithic settlement. Discover its evolution from ancient hunter-gatherer camps to a strategic Norman earthwork, and learn how archaeological discoveries continue to shed light on this remarkable site’s past.

  • How old is Newgrange and who built it?

    Older than Stonehenge or the Pyramids, Newgrange is more than a burial mound — it’s a testament to prehistoric engineering, ritual, and sky-watching. In the heart of the Boyne Valley, its alignment with the winter solstice hints at a worldview both deeply practical and profoundly spiritual.

For the full list of other posts please select from the Categories below: