Navan Fort County Armagh Northern Ireland 2018 (Navan Centre And Fort)
Navan Centre & Fort is a place where myth and reality meet. It is one of Ireland’s most famous and important archaeological sites, the legendary Emain Macha. Legends say that Macha, the ancient goddess of war and fertility, scored the earth with her brooch pin and traced the famous outline of this sacred stronghold of the hero Cu Chulainn, home of the famous Red Branch Knights and Ulster Cycle of tales.
Living History At Navan – Have you ever wondered about the past? How did people live their lives 2,000 years ago? What were their homes like? How did they survive? What were their daily tasks? Allow our Living History characters to bring these questions to life before your eyes! This memorable and interactive experience takes place in our replica Iron Age dwelling. Sit down by the fire and witness Iron Age life come alive! Enjoy helping the Celts prepare and cook their meals and get your hands dirty in the garden and herb beds.
Prepare yourself for battle and learn the skills to survive as an ancient warrior, or sit and relax and allow your imagination to wander as the great tradition of storytelling is used to pass on some of the history of the area and the great warriors who once lived here!
The Navan Centre & Fort, located just two miles from Armagh City, is a place where myth and reality meet. As the ancient seat of Kings and the earliest capital of Ulster, there is plenty to explore.
Step back in time by 2000 years with a visit to our Iron Age dwelling (dwelling open April-September), where you will meet the Celts going about their daily lives and bringing history to life. Discover how they survived and thrived as they engage you in this highly interactive and unique experience.
After meeting real life warriors, learn more about the stories of the bravest of them all – Cú Chulainn and the Red Branch Knights. Our multilingual AV show incorporates many of the tales of the Ulster Cycle associated with the great site of Navan Fort. With archaeological evidence of the site dating back to 95BC, our experienced tour guides will accompany you to what is undoubtedly one of Ireland’s most famous sites, Emain Macha (Navan Fort). Indeed, this site is considered to be what brought St. Patrick to Armagh, the Ecclesiastical Capital of Ireland.
For younger visitors, our indoor and outdoor Archaeology Discovery space is a must-see, along with an Ecology trail to truly appreciate the diversity of wildlife the grounds have to offer.
This is a real gem of the Orchard County and offers a unique experience and insight into life long ago.
Opening times
Summer Opening: 1st April - 30th September, Monday - Sunday 10:00 - 17:30. Last admission 16:00.
Winter Opening: 1st October - 31st March, Monday - Sunday 10:00 - 16:00. Last admission 15.00.
#NavanFort #NorthernIreland #LittleLionKubz
St. Patrick's Day Parade in Belfast, Northern Ireland
There are specific celebrations all around the world which are famously known for being held for a long period of time and at the same time for the different meaning it might be carrying or the different purposes it might be standing for; St. Patrick's Day and the celebrations held for it in Ireland is one of those different festivals that are widely known all around the world (
St. Patrick's Day - which is also known as the feast of Saint Patrick or which might be called St. Paddy's - is a cultural and religious celebration that is held on the 17th of March every year and which marks the traditional death date of Saint Patrick, the foremost patron saint of Ireland. This day actually commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in general and it also celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish in general.
Those Irish people, those who have attended any of these celebrations before, or those who are just interested about the Irish culture, will know that celebrating this day usually happens in the form of public parades and festivals, Ceilidhs, and wearing green attire or shamrocks; if you are visiting Ireland during this time of the year, you will definitely get the chance to see these celebrations and experience that different kind of atmosphere.
Even though the celebrations are changing every single year with different additions that make them more modernized, it is important that people know that Saint Patrick's Day was made an official Christian feast back in the 17th century and since then, people started making all these different celebrations - it is even observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Lutheran Church.
St. Patrick's Day is known to be an Irish celebration but it is important to say that it is also celebrated in other countries as well and which include the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the British Overseas Territory of Montserrat. This day is also widely celebrated by the Irish diaspora around the world, especially those in the United Kingdom, Canada, United States, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand - so you might stumble upon any of these different celebrations anywhere in the world.
The interesting - and funny - fact about these celebrations is that they are more commonly held by the Irish diaspora more than they are held in Ireland and it actually entered Ireland in the 20th century, which is after it was celebrated in other countries. The parades, the wearing of green clothes and shamrocks, and those music festivals which are also held usually combine different participants such as the marching bands, the military, fire brigades, cultural organisations, charitable organisations, voluntary associations, youth groups, fraternities, and more of these different examples.
There are actually lots of different things attached to this day, such as wearing green and even lighting the streets in green, wearing shamrocks, speaking Irish during that week, and banning alcohol and eating during that day. The wearing of green comes from the 11th century pseudo-historical book Labor Gabala Erenn when Goidel Glas, the son of Scota and Niul, was bitten by a snack and was saved by Moses placing his staff on the snakebite and as a reminder, he would retain a green mark to stay with him and take his people to the land that would be free of snakes. On the other hand, using the shamrock goes back to the belief that Saint Patrick used the shamrock, which is a three-leaved plant, to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagan Irish, and that is why it is considered good luck for people during that day - or even generally in Ireland.
This year, we attended one of these different parades that is held in Northern Ireland in order to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and bring these celebrations back to you. This carnival or festival was at Custom House Square where there were different characters to be seen and different things and shows that people would enjoy watching while celebrating that day. (
Being Irish, we have actually seen such celebrations before but for those who are visiting the place for the first time and managed to do that during St. Patrick's Day time then they should attend such festival and at the same time visit some of the most famous attractions that would happen to be placed in the same area. In this year's case, people could visit the Cathedral Quarter which is not far ( check Albert Clock ( and get to see the big fish sculpture that is known to be found in Belfast, Northern Ireland (
Happy Saint Patrick's Day from us =))!
The best locations around Ireland / Northern Ireland and further afield. A travel blog/vlog of the hidden treasures that are on our doorstep.
CLRG Irish Dancing World Championships 2017 | Senior Ladies O21
Results of 2017 CLRG Irish Dancing World Championships, Senior Ladies O21
1st place: Michaela Hinds - Butler-Fearon-O'Connor (Eastern Region, Canada)
2nd place: Jessica Hindley - Carey Academy (Midlands Region, England/Wales)
3rd place: Zoe Griffin - Carey Academy (Midlands Region, England/Wales)
4th place: Sarah Oldam - Heritage Irish Dance Company (Mid Atlantic Region, USA)
5th place: Etain Mulvenna - Mulvenna Academy (Cuige Uladh, Eire)
6th place: Mary Katherine Kulp - Broesler (Southern Region, USA)
7th place: Cassidy Luebbers - Broesler (Southern Region, USA)
8th place: Erica Schiff - Watters (Southern Region, USA)
9th place: Ashley Negrey - Knock (Western Region, Canada)
10th place: Lyndsey Faherty - Richens/Timm (Mid America Region, USA)
11th place: Kirsty Jordan - Doherty Petri (Ulster, Mid-Atlantic & New England Regions)
12th place: Ashleigh Hopkins - Inishfree (Southern Region, USA)
13th place: Kathryn Monahan - Ryan (Cuige Chonnacht, Eire)
14th place: Sarah Cornell-Farrow - Miller (South Australia)
15th place: Amy Frances Chesnut - Sharon Taylor (Scotland)
16th place: Shea Bilton-Gough - Maguire-O'Shea (Southern Region, England)
17th place: Jessica Healy - Mason-Cummins Academy (North East Region, England)
18th place: Bridget Oei - Griffith (New England Region, USA)
19th place: Erika Cocco - Penk-O'Donnell (Western Region, Canada)
20th place: Meagan Eviston - McGing (Mid America Region, USA)
21rd place: Kim Bell - Ardan Academy (Mid America Region, USA)
22nd place: Alexia Bell - Houston (Western Region, Canada)
23rd place: Megan Margaret Daly - Mayer (Mid America Region, USA)
24th place: Maggie Henry - Tim O'Hare (Mid America Region, USA)
25th place: Fiona Waites - Maguire-O'Shea (Southern Region, England)
26th place: Fiona O'Brien - Elaine Kavanagh (Cuige Laighean, Eire)
27th place: Chelsea Docherty - Coyle (Scotland)
28th place: Cara King - Scariff (Southern Region, USA)
*29th place: Esther van der Burg - Kilkenny (Netherlands)
30th place: Roisin Bates - Ceim Oir (Southern Region, England)
31st place: Ciara McGovern - DeNogla-Ardmore (Mid Atlantic Region, USA)
32nd place: Bailey Quigley - Inishfree (Southern Region, USA)
33rd place: Natalie O'Hare - Ceim Oir (Southern Region, England)
34th place: Cliodhna Treacy - Scoil Uí Ruairc (Cuige Mumhan, Eire)
35th place: Rachel Cawker - Doyle (Eastern Region, Canada)
36th place: Lauren Bohill - Carson-Kennedy Academy (Cuige Uladh, Eire)
37th place: Roisin Murray - Baffa Academy (Southern Region, USA)
38th place: Lauren Beadle - Harney Pender Keady Academy (New England Region, USA)
39th place: Sara Farrell - Brooks (Southern Region, England)
40th place: Olivia Casano - Proto-Casano (New England Region, USA)
41st place: Elizabeth Lynch - Christine Ayres (Victoria, Australia)
42nd place: Heidi Vanacore - Kelly Hendry (North East Region, England)
43rd place: Hannah Lynch - Holly & Kavanagh (Cuige Laighean, Eire)
44th place: Fae Doherty - Marie Connell (Midlands Region, England/Wales)
45th place: Danielle Mohan - Ceim Oir (Southern Region, England)
46th place: Molly O'Neill - McGahan Lees (Southern Region, England)
47th place: Courtney Pearce - McWilliams (South Africa)
48th place: Katelyn Dunn - Doherty Petri (Ulster, Mid-Atlantic & New England Regions)
49th place: Gabrielle Nurse - McGahan Lees (Southern Region, England)
50th place: Laura Cass - Cass-Barrington (Southern Region, USA)
*Aisling Award winner
Another Railway Awayday to Scunthorpe via Kirk Sandall, Hatfield & Stainforth, Crowle and Althorpe
Today I'm visiting Kirk Sandall, Hatfield & Staniforth, Crowle and Althrope. I will also be taking a stroll along the Stainforth and Keady Canal.
Dromore Railway Viaduct Co Down
We're down at the market town Dromore Co Down to take in the sights and sounds and film a few interesting places around the town.
In the 1800s came the rise of the train. Transport was transformed and the landscape needed 'readjustment' too to cope with what was happening. A massive tall bridge/viaduct was needed to transport the trains across the Lagan river valley and so we have the Dromore Viaduct built by Jackson in 1860. It still remains solid today. Testament to how well it was designed and built. Sadly this magnificent railway viaduct is now abandoned. The railway here ceased running in 1956.
The viaduct crosses high above the River Lagan. It is roughly 101m long, and 6m wide- It was only ever built to carry a single track. The viaduct consists of seven arches, 10m apart, with the piers being 1.5m wide. The piers and abutments are made of ashlar blackstone, whilst the parapets, which stand a metre above arch level, are coped with chamfered sandstone. The viaduct stands at 23 metres tall.
It was designed by Thomas Jackson of Messrs Greene & King, who built the line from Knockmore to Banbridge. Jackson was also responsible for designing Hillsborough and Dromore railway stations.
Construction began in 1860 and was completed the following year, opening to railway traffic in 1863 with the first train on July 13th of that year. Originally owned by the Banbridge, Lisburn and Belfast Junction Railway (Whose trains were ran by the Ulster Railway), it became part of the Great Northern Railway in 1876. The line, and thus the viaduct, was closed on April 30th 1956 and the tracks lifted shortly after.
In 2009, the PSNI was called to the viaduct after a group of teenagers broke onto and bungee jumped from it.
The viaduct is a listed building and has been since 1977. It is the property of Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council. Dromore Town Park passes underneath two of the arches, though the ends have both been sealed off from public access. Floodlights have been installed under the arches and it is common to see it lit up blue overnight.