16 September 2016 | Belfast Telegraph
West: The Blaskets
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Stone is thought to date from 2000BC. For more information visit www.wildatlanticway.com or follow @wildatlanticway #wildatlanticway. Look East To make the most of the historic wealth of the Ancient East, expert say it’s best to avail of the local guides and storytellers who bring the past to life in the most entertaining and informative way. And there’s no shortage of storytelling trails to whet your appetite… Tall stories - Find out why trees were divided into Nobles, Commoners and the Lesser Divisions of the wood on a guided walk on the Carlow/Wexford border. The Blackstairs Eco Trails Tour will see you never think about trees in the same way again. Big houses, hard times - Powerscourt Estate in Co Wicklow is one of the country’s grandest Anglo-Irish manors. Its magnificent gardens have been named by National Geographic as the third best garden in the world. For a sense of how the Great Famine of the 1840s shaped the future of Ireland, the Glaslough Village Trail in Co Monaghan includes several kilometres of famine walls. Castles and Conquests - The Norman legacy is seen in great castles, especially those at Kilkenny and Cahir, Co Tipperary, which are closely associated with the powerful Butler family. Local historian Pat Tynan is the perfect guide to take you on a walking tour of the atmospheric heart of Kilkenny. Greenways and family trails - The Waterford Greenway, due to open shortly, goes from the heart of Waterford city to Dungar-
West: Valentia Island, of the Kerry coast van. Further north, the Old Rail Trail in Co Westmeath goes from Athlone to Mullingar. Lough Boora Parklands in Co Offaly is an ideal way to take in the changing season. High Kings and heroes - The Cooley Peninsula in Co Louth is the site of the epic saga, the Cattle Raid of Cooley, which tells of a battle between Queen Meabh of Connacht and Ulster champion Cú Chulainn. The circular Táin Trail takes two days to complete and showcases a beautiful stretch of Ireland’s Ancient East. Maritime Gateway - Cobh, or Queenstown, as it was known at the time, is where The Titanic set off for America. Local guide Michael Martin runs the Titanic Trail Tour. Due east, Youghal’s heritage centre boasts an absorbing tour run by Clifford Winser, the country’s only town crier. Mystical Waterdays - Follow the Shannon for some great places to discover, like the riverside fortress of Athlone Castle, Co Westmeath, or trek the Slieve Bloom mountain range with local guides on hand to point out its notable features. Sacred Ireland - Clonmacnoise, Co Offaly, is one of the spiritual jewels of the region with its round tower. Walk the pilgrim route between Clonmacnoise and Ballycumber, some 24km away. Near Thurles, Co Tipperary, the Kilcommon Pilgrim Route takes you along the venerable Mass path. Vikings - Don’t miss Waterford’s Viking exhibition in Reginald’s Tower and the Epic Tour which brings the Viking story to life. For more great ideas on the regions trails and storytellers, see www.irelandsancienteast.com
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