heritage Ireland’s National Heritage in the care of the 0ffice of public works Trade Catalogue 2021

Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands Wild Atlantic Way Ireland’s Ancient East group trade information

1. groups and trade … explore more ¬ Specific language audio-visual films in some sites for pre-booked tours Bring your group to visit an historic place for a great day out. ¬ If you are a public group or in the travel trade and have ¬ Access to OPW Tour Operator Voucher Scheme (TOVS). customers for group travel, FIT or MICE our staff are Payment by monthly invoice. delighted to present memorable experiences at over 70 Email us at [email protected] historic attractions.* * Minimum numbers may vary at sites due to COVID–19 restrictions as at July 2020. ¬ Our guides excel in customer service and storytelling * Some sites may not be fully accessible or closed due to COVID–19 that enthrals and engrosses the visitor, while offering restrictions as at July 2020. a unique insight into the extraordinary legacy of Ireland’s iconic heritage. 3. plan your itinerary ¬ Join our mailing list for more information on heritageireland.ie ¬ For inspiration about passage tombs, historic , ¬ Contact each site directly for booking – details in Groups / Christian sites and historic houses and gardens throughout Trade Catalogue Ireland.

* Due to COVID–19 restrictions some sites may not be open. ¬ From brunch to banquets – find out about catering facilities at sites, events and more … 2. group visit benefits ¬ Wild Atlantic Way ¬ Group Rate – up to 20% off normal adult admission rate. ¬ Ireland’s Ancient East (min. 10 at most sites) ¬ Dublin ¬ One free tour leader per group booking ¬ Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands ¬ Free once-off familiarisation visit ¬ Ability to amend/cancel bookings free of charge 4. tour operators voucher scheme – contact us ¬ Coach parking at many of our sites ¬ Visitor Services, Office of Public Works, ¬ Use of tour groups own wireless transmission whisper 20 Lakeside Retail Park, Ballindine Road, Claremorris, system allowed. (This does not include open audio loud- Co. Mayo, f12 dk30, Ireland. speakers.) Some of our sites have their own guided wireless t. 353 (1) 647 6000 / e. [email protected] transmission system/audio guide provided free of charge. ¬ Coming soon – Holiday Pass. Explore more with a 2-week ¬ Fast track admission for pre-booked groups Holiday Pass. For use by FITs / individuals only. ¬ Exclusive guided tours (some sites have specific language ¬ Join our mailing list for more information on heritageireland.ie guided tours)

www.heritageireland.ie office of public works Coleraine

Ireland’s Iconic Heritage Sites Letterkenny Derry Larne Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands Ballybofey Strabane Antrim

Donegal Belfast Omagh ireland’s hidden heartlands dublin 24 Jerpoint Abbey 1 Aughnanure 0 Áras an Uachtarain 25 JFK Arboretum 2 0 Arbour Hill 26 Enniskillen 3 Rathcrogan Visitor Centre 0 Casino Marino 27 Castle 4 Famine Warhouse 1848 0 28 Loughcrew Belderg Ballycastle Sligo Monaghan 0 House 29 Castle Belmullet Killala Newry Bangor Eris wild atlantic way 0 Garden of Remberance 30 National Botanic Gardens –. Ballina 0 Government Buildings Kilmacurragh Crossmolina 44 Adare Castle 0 Grangegorman Military 31 Old Mellifont Abbey Achill Swinford Boyle Cavan Dundalk 45 Ardfert Cathedral Cemetery 32 Ormond Castle Island Knock 46 Athenry Castle 0 Iveagh Gardens 33 Portumna Castle and Gardens Airport Ardee 47 34 Reginald’s Tower Westport 0 Castlerea Oldcastle 48 35 Tulsk Kells 0 National Botanic Claremorris Longford 49 Carrowmore Megalithic 36 Roscrea Heritage Navan Gardens – Glasnevin Lanesborough Roscommon Cemetery 0 & St. Enda’s Park (Castle & Damer House) Ballinrobe 50 Céide Fields 37 St. Mary’s Church Letterfrack 0 Visitor Centre & Mullingar Trim 51 Charles Fort 38 Swiss Cottage Clifden Maam Cross 52 0 39 Tintern Abbey Athlone Moate Maynooth 53 Coole 40 The Main Guard 0 Royal Hospital Kilmainham Ballinasloe Dublin 54 Derrynane House and Gardens 41 0 St. Audeon’s Church Galway Dun Laoghaire 55 42 Wexford Wildforest Reserve 0 War Memorial Gardens Kildare 56 43 Wicklow Mountains Loughrea Islandbridge Inis Mór , 57 National Park Aran Islands Birr Gort Portumna 58 Dromore Wood ireland’s ancient east Athy 59 Dun Aonghasa Roscrea Wickow 60 Ennis Friary 5 Altamont Gardens Ennistymon 61 Gallarus Oratory 6 Ballyhack Castle Ennis Carlow 62 Glebe House and Gallery 7 – Tullow Arklow

63 National Park Oldbridge Estate SHANNON AIRPORT 64 Grianán of Aileach 8 Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre Gorey Kilrush Limerick Kilkenny 65 Ilnacullin (Garinish Island) 9 Castle Gowran Ferns 66 Ionad an Bhlascaoid 10 and Estate Adare Cashel 67 Ionad Cultúrtha an 11 Clonmacnoise Tipperary Enniscorthy Phiarsaigh, Conamara 12 Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre Listowel Cahir New Ross Newcastle West Carrick-on-Suir 68 National Park 13 and Clonmel 69 Listowel Castle Wildlife Park Tralee Wexford Rosslare Harbour 70 and 14 Dungarvan Castle Dingle Traditional Farms 15 Dunmore Caves 71 Newmills Corn and Flaxmills 16 Dwyer Mc Alister Cottage Killarney Dungarvan 72 Parkes Castle 17 and Gardens Youghal 73 18 Ferns Castle Carrigtwohill 74 Scattery Island 19 Fota Arboretum and Gardens 75 Skelligs 20 Fore Abbey Cork 76 Sligo Abbey 21 Glendalough Visitor Centre 22 Hill of Tara Bantry 23 Heywood Gardens Skibbereen From banquets to brunch ... enjoy catering facilities at our historic sites.

Clockwise from top left: Dublin Castle; ; Castletown House and Parklands; Farmleigh House

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Aughnanure Castle , Co. Galway

Discover the only medieval castle open to visitors in beautiful Connemara

opening hours 2021 (provisional) is a late–fifteenth century Gaelic towerhouse that

Open daily, 9.30 – 17.15 stands on a limestone outcrop on the leafy banks of the Drimneen 27.02.20 – 21.10.2020 River. Built by the O’Flaherty chiefs of the medieval territory of Open daily, 9.30 – 16.15 Iarchonnacht, the castle stands as a testament to what was once the 22.10.20 – 04.11.2020 most powerful and influential force in late–medieval Iarchonnacht and Open daily, 9.30 – 15.15 is a visible statement of the family’s wealth and status on an important 05.11.20 – 15.11.2020 route–way to . For almost four centuries the O’Flahertys 2021 dates should be similar. ruled supreme as independent Gaelic warrior lords and depended on the admission sea for trade, food and transport while the green fields and mountain Adult: €5.00 pastures provided grazing for their herds, and the thick forests offered a Group/Senior: €4.00 safe refuge. By the sixteenth century they had built a network of small Child/Student: €3.00 Family: €13.00 castles or towerhouses along the Atlantic coastline and further east Accompanied children under towards Lough Corrib from where they ran their prosperous little 12 go free. Gaelic kingdom, far out of the reach of English law. highlights The legacy of this powerful family is deeply entwined with that of the — Murderhole – a fifteenth century towerhouse at Aughnanure which provides the backdrop though which defence feature the story of Gaelic medieval Ireland is told. — Elaborate sixteenth century banquetting hall carvings — Annual family–friendly events including Heritage Week, Biodiversity Week and Halloween — Beautiful river walk along the banks of the Drimneen visitor experiences

Experience Description Fitness Level Min. / Max. Duration Price numbers (approx.) per person

Guided Castle Tour Fully guided tours of all four floors of the Wheelchair access on ground floor Min. 2. 45 minutes € 4.00 castle, its flanking towers, walls gatehouse only. Uneven surfaces on pathways Max. 30 Group Rate and remains of the banqueting hall. The around the grounds. story of the O’Flahertys is one of many stories of Gaelic ruling families in Ireland, fighting for survival in a time of major political upheaval. Explore the stout stone walls and flanking towers that provided refuge to the family in times of raiding and war. The tour ends by walking back through the gatehouse, over the bridge and along the beautiful banks of the Drimneen river.

Self Guiding There are several information panels Wheelchair access on ground floor € 4.00 inside the castle that will guide you only. Uneven surfaces on pathways Group Rate through the building at your own pace. around the grounds. These informative panels tell the story of Aughnanure, the O’Flahertys and Gaelic medieval Ireland and can be accompanied by visitor’s guides in several languages, available for sale at reception. Paths around the site facilitate visitors with reduced mobility and guides are always on hand to answer any questions.

booking languages

T. 00 353 (91) 552214 Leaflet available in Irish, E. [email protected] English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Polish. location facilities Oughterard, Co. Galway, H91 PX20. Off the N59 Car parking. Toilets on site. main Galway to Cliften route. No Tea Room on site. 5kms south of the village of Oughterard nearby Glengowla Mines, Quiet Man Bridge, Corrib Cruises, Brigit’s Garden and Cafe.

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