Ancient sites
Passage tombs, royal hills and early Christian settlements.
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5,000 years of stories
Ireland’s Ancient East
Journey through a landscape of passage tombs, medieval cities, elegant estates and riverside towns where Ireland’s past is always close at hand.
Explore the region5,000+ yearsLiving historyAncient landmarksCastles, abbeys and gardensEast and south-eastEasy routes between counties
Explore differently
Follow the stories through the landscape.
Ireland’s Ancient East rewards curious travellers. Base yourself in a historic town, connect nearby landmarks at an unhurried pace and leave room for gardens, food stops and quiet ruins beyond the headline attractions.
Region map
Ireland’s historic east and south-east.
The highlighted area brings together the counties of Ireland’s Ancient East, from the border landscapes through the midlands and down to the south-east coast.
Counties covered by Ireland’s Ancient East
Build your route
Explore county by county.
Use the county guides to connect major landmarks with the places between them.
01Cavan
Lakes, drumlins and ancient landscapes.
Open county guide →02MonaghanMarket towns, estates and quiet border country.
Open county guide →03LouthMonasterboice, medieval Carlingford and the Boyne coast.
Open county guide →04MeathNewgrange, Tara and the castles of the Boyne Valley.
Open county guide →05WestmeathUisneach, Fore Abbey and central lakelands.
Open county guide →06LongfordAncient trackways, canals and heritage villages.
Open county guide →07OffalyClonmacnoise, bog landscapes and Birr Castle.
Open county guide →08LaoisDunamase, Slieve Bloom and elegant gardens.
Open county guide →09KildareSt Brigid, grand houses and thoroughbred country.
Open county guide →10WicklowGlendalough, mountain passes and renowned estates.
Open county guide →11CarlowThe Barrow Valley, gardens and the Blackstairs.
Open county guide →12KilkennyA medieval city, craft traditions and monastic ruins.
Open county guide →13TipperaryRock of Cashel, Cahir and mountain valleys.
Open county guide →14WaterfordViking heritage, gardens and the Copper Coast.
Open county guide →15WexfordNorman stories, abbeys and long beaches.
Open county guide →Suggested journeys
Choose a route that suits your time.
3 daysBoyne Valley and Ireland’s royal heart
Newgrange, Hill of Tara and Trim Castle
View suggested route
- Newgrange
- Hill of Tara
- Trim Castle
Use this as a flexible driving outline and check opening times, road conditions and bookings before travel.
7 daysCastles and medieval cities
Meath, Kilkenny, Cashel and Waterford
View suggested route
- Meath
- Kilkenny
- Cashel
- Waterford
Use this as a flexible driving outline and check opening times, road conditions and bookings before travel.
10 daysThe full story trail
Border counties, midlands, Wicklow and the south-east
View suggested route
- Border counties
- midlands
- Wicklow
- the south-east
Use this as a flexible driving outline and check opening times, road conditions and bookings before travel.
Build your own Ireland’s Ancient East itinerary
Set your trip length, add your preferred stops and download your personal route.
Ways to explore
Make the region your own.
Castles and estates
Fortresses, grand houses and gardens with room to explore.
Historic landscapes
Walks where archaeology, rivers and mountain scenery meet.
Towns and craft
Medieval streets, local makers and distinctive food traditions.
At the heart of the region
Stories written in stone
From Newgrange to Glendalough and Cashel, the region’s landmarks reveal successive layers of belief, power, settlement and everyday life.
Practical planning
Give every story enough time.
Keep daily distances modest, combine one major landmark with smaller nearby stops and check timed-entry attractions before travelling.
Plan a memorable stop
Add an experience to your route.
Add a bookable heritage stop to your route through the east and south-east. Some guided day trips start in Dublin; tickets for other attractions require your own transport.
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Guided day trip
County Meath
Newgrange and the Boyne Valley
Visit the Boyne Valley on an organised trip from Dublin. This is a tour package rather than a standalone Newgrange entry ticket.
Start / arrival pointDublin city — not the Brú na Bóinne visitor centre
Horses & gardens
County Kildare
Irish National Stud & Gardens
Combine thoroughbred heritage with time in the gardens. Allow a separate journey from Athy or your canal-side base.
Start / arrival pointIrish National Stud, near Kildare town
Forest experience
County Wicklow
Beyond the Trees Avondale
See the woodland from an elevated walkway and viewing tower. Check optional extras and access arrangements before booking.
Start / arrival pointAvondale Forest Park, near Rathdrum
City walk
County Kilkenny
An introduction to Kilkenny
Follow a local guide through the medieval city and use the walk to decide where to spend the rest of your day.
Start / arrival pointBeside Kilkenny Castle; check the exact meeting point
Museum visit
County Waterford
Waterford Medieval Museum
Give Waterford's medieval story more time with an indoor museum visit, easily paired with a walk through the Viking Triangle.
Start / arrival pointMedieval Museum, Waterford city
Booking links open on GetYourGuide in a new tab. Prices, dates, inclusions, accessibility and cancellation terms depend on the selected option. Check the operator's current details; a listing here does not guarantee availability.