Giants Causeway, Northern Ireland

Beaghmore Stone Circles, Northern Ireland

The circles were discovered in the early 1940s during peat cutting and1,269 stones were uncovered. Dated to the earlier part of the Bronze Age c. 2,000-1,200 BC, there are 7 stone circles and several stone rows. Their exact purpose remains unknown, though in some cases their alignment corresponds with movements of the sun, moon and stars.

I tried to get Dave to lie down in one of the circles for a pagan sacrifice picture but he wouldn't. It was raining, so I wasn't too disappointed.

Random detours on the border

Grianan Ailigh
Built as a pagan temple in the 5th century BC, later Christians adopted the fort . Was restored in the 1870s.

Kristen outside the fort

James inside the fort

View from the top

Ogham stone

The earliest Irish script, Ogham, dates from about AD300. The notches correspond to Roman letters like a form of Morse Code. Unfortunately the translation on the plaque nearby for this stone was written in Irish. So we have no idea what it says!

Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Or Derry as the Irish would call it! Derry's defensive walls are the most complete of any city in the UK.

Clonmacnoise, Ireland

Clonmacnoisewas founded in 545 on the major east-west land route through the central Ireland. All the early buildings including churches were of wood and have not survived. They were replaced in stone by the tenth century onwards when Clonmacnoise became a bishopric.

James and Dave infront of a replica high cross which is what Clonmacnoise is most famous for.

After the 12th century it fell into decline. The English built a castle (picture below) next to the monastery in the 13th century and the whole settlement was finally sacked in 1552 by an English garrison from Athlone which reduced it to a ruin.