20 Attractions to Explore Near Athenry Heritage Centre

This restored 13th-century fortification was originally built by Meiler de Bermingham and is located within the heritage town of Athenry. The imposing three-storey hall-keep survives from the mid-thirteenth century. It is solidly impressive from the outside, although the interior was simply built, containing only a hall at first-floor level and dark storerooms below.

Dunsandle Castle is a 15th century castle built by the De Burgo family. It is fully accessible and has an exceptional charm with its location in the middle of the forest and its stones full of history. It is filled with unique architectural features to include a great hall with tie beams, it’s groin vault construction, an 18th century ice house, a murder hole and remains of a bawn with a defence tower featuring gunloops.

Oranmore Castle is a castle in Oranmore, County Galway, in Ireland. It was built between the 13th and 15th centuries. The Castle of the Well played a pivotal part in the defence of Galway during the Confederate Rebellion in the 1640s. It belonged to the Clanricardes, a prominent Norman family in Galway. Galway was under the rule of the Marquess and fifth Earl Clanricarde in 1642 when the town revolted and joined the confederate forces.

Claregalway Castle is a fully restored 15th century Anglo-Norman tower house. The castle is the original home of the Brian Boru Harp and it was Situated on the banks of the River Clare, in Claregalway village. You can walk the corridors of time and follow the history of the Castle from Norman times to its current restoration, experiencing the masterful woodwork of the great hall and the stonework that has stood against time.

Rathbaun Farm is situated in a rural area of Southwest County Galway in Ardrahan. The Burke and Connolly family have been farming the 80 acres of land for over 200 years and Fintan Connolly continues this tradition today. Visitors to Rathbaun Farm will be enchanted by its 250 year old thatched cottage, turf fire and original stonewalls. Everyone is invited to hand feed the new lambs which are in plentiful supply between March and November.

Lough Ree is the second largest lake on the Shannon after Lough Derg. The lake serves as a border between the counties of Longford and Westmeath on the eastern side and County Roscommon in the province of Connacht on the western side. The lake supports a small commercial eel fishery and is locally famous for its eels on wheels truck. Another popular piece of folklore says that there was once a town where the lake is today, but the town was submerged underneath the water.

Dun Aengus is over 3,000 years old prehistoric hill fort on the Aran Islands of County Galway. It was perched spectacularly on a cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the fort is about 900 metres from the visitor centre and offers views of up to 75 miles of Irish coastline. As much of the tour is outdoors, visitors are advised to wear weather protective clothing and shoes suitable for walking over uneven terrain.

A majestic 16th-century tower house on the southeastern shore of Galway Bay in County Galway, Ireland. The castle comprises of a 75 foot tower and defensive wall against a stunning backdrop making this castle – the most photographed castle in Ireland. The castle served as one of the strongholds built by Guaire’s descendants, Lords of Aidhne, O’Heyne or Hynes, chieftains in 1520. It was one of minimally nine fortifications built in the region.

Rinville park is a local recreational area south of Galway and Oranmore. There are numerous hiking trails passing through forests and pastures and in the centre of the park, a tower house with surrounding outbuildings can be visited.

The Coole Park is one of Ireland’s most spectacular nature reserve covering approximately 400 hectares of wetland and woodlands located in Gort. The park is in a low–lying karstic limestone area characterised by seasonal lakes, known as turloughs, which are almost unique to Ireland. The most unique features of Coole Park are the turloughs which are said to be the best examples of turloughs in the world.

Aughinish is a small island and townland located in Oughtmama Parish of the Barony of Burren in north County Clare, in Ireland on the south shore of Galway Bay. The island was originally connected to County Clare, but in 1755 that connection was lost due to the tsunami effect of the massive Portuguese earthquake.

Corcomroe Abbey is beautifully situated on the edge of the rocky hills of the Burren. It is best known for its lonely situation, lying close to another interesting monastic settlement, a group of three small early Christian Churches which nestle in the pass of Oughtmana and which are dedicated to St. Colman. The church was constructed in the early 13th century and consists of a nave with an aisle on the south side

Kilmacduagh Abbey is a 7th century Irish monastery located near Gort, County Galway. Half in ruins, the building has an exceptional charm, worthy of the greatest remains in Ireland. It was founded by Saint Colman, son of Duagh in the 7th century, on land given him by his cousin King Guaire Aidne mac Colmáin of Connacht. This site was of such importance in medieval times that it became the centre of a new diocese, or Bishop's seat, the Diocese of Kilmacduagh, in the 12th century.

Lough Cutra is a lake in County Galway, Ireland. It is the site of a Special Area of Conservation. There are so many things to see and do in this area and also attracts tourists by its natural beauty.

Carraigin Castle is a 13th century lakeside castle in seven acres of private parkland on a lake shore. It was surrounded by forests with rich parkland, the castle offers a variety of activities to its visitors. Boating and fishing is available close to the castle along with pleasant woodland walking, cycling and horse-riding.

Ross Errilly Friary is the largest and best preserved Franciscan Friary in Ireland. is a National Monument of Ireland and among the best-preserved medieval monastic sites in the country. Though usually referred to by locals as "Ross Abbey," this is not technically correct as the community never had an abbot.

Lough Bunny is a freshwater lake in The Burren, County Clare, Ireland. Lough Bunny has an elevation of 16 metres. Lough Bunny is situated northeast of Aughrim, northwest of Lough Attyslany. The lake lies within the jurisdiction of Clare County Council, and is within the Mid-West Region of Ireland

Shrule Castle was built in the early part of the 13th century by the Norman de Burgh family. It was granted to John de Burgh in c.1308 by his father Richard be Burgh, the 2nd Earl of Ulster. The castle was attacked in 1570 by english forces led by Sir Edward Fitton, the first Lord President of Connaught, 1569-1572. In 1642, during the Confederate Wars, a number of English settlers surrendered to Irish authorities.

Lough Graney is a little romantic lake to the north-west of the town land of Clonusker. It nestles among the glens and valleys of Cahir. The lake's outlet is the short River Graney, which flows through Lough O'Grady and past the town of Scarriff into the west side of Lough Derg.

Aillwee Cave is Ireland's Premier Showcave. The cave system consists of over a kilometre of passages leading into the heart of the mountain. Its features include an underground river and a waterfall as well as some large stalactites and stalagmites. The remains of bears can also be seen inside the caves and allusions have been made to it being the last bear den in Ireland. The cave is typical of the Clare caves, consisting in the main of stream passage and ending in a sump.