Ireland is many things to many people. To some it is a Guinness fuelled party zone full of pubs, to others a venue for quaffing world class seafood, to others still an oasis for enjoying traditional music. For me the appeal above all else is that Ireland is a destination where history is very much of the living variety, where you can feel the weight and richness of the centuries at every turn. Oh, and yes I do enjoy the Guinness, seafood and music too!
One place where all the strands of Ireland come together is in the Ancient East. This umbrella term covers swathes of the island’s rugged eastern and southern coasts, as well as delving into the lush hinterland. It is a land awash with the ghosts of everyone from ancient monks and rampaging Vikings, through to English aristocrats and Irish rebels.
I was asked recently to give my thoughts on the Ancient East and write about some of its highlights for The Telegraph. You can read the piece here.
I hope you enjoy it and that it helps inspire your own trip to Ireland’s beguiling Ancient East.
