Ireland In Ruins. Welcome! Blog Introduction.

IIII above: Rock Iage Above: Rock of Cashel, Co. Tipperary

Welcome! Thanks for checking out Ireland In Ruins. The Countryside of Ireland is dotted throughout with many remnants of it's long history.There are Castles dating back to Norman times, old Churches and many, many Abbeys most of which over time have fallen into ruin.
Quite a few of these sites are in the care of the Office of Public Works (OPW) and are quite accessible to the visitor, but the vast majority have found themselves either surrounded by private land or incorporated into more modern buildings.
We, being amateur explorers, will endeavor to show you some of the best or most unusual ruins, mostly off the beaten track and the easiest way to access them. We have decided to feature mostly ruined sites and not as many restored or intact buildings as sometimes these have been modified and somehow have lost their individuality and charm. A few exceptions aside lets face it, it is far more exciting clambering over an interesting ruin than admiring the decorative wallpaper of some stately pile!
Along the way we will also feature some of the ancient and sometimes mysterious megalithic sites that we have come across on our travels.
Any site featured we have personally visited and photographed. (click on the images to enlarge them) Access can sometimes be difficult but we will always try to overcome this to get a good look at these amazing places.

All Images © G Hill with S Hill & L Hill 2011-2021 (unless otherwise stated) All Text © G Hill 2011-2021

Please feel free to comment on the site and especially if you found it useful in your own visits.

UPDATED VISITS.  Going forward I will list any updated posts below:

March 2021: Second visit to Grange Castle. See post - Grange Castle Co. Dublin