Ireland’s Ancien East

From Newgrange to Kilkenny’s Medieval Mile to Waterford’s Viking Quarter. From Louth’s Mellifont Abbey to Cork’s many attractions, visitors are encouraged to delve into 5000 years of history in Ireland’s Ancient East. Take a journey of discovery through a beautiful landscape that attracted warring settlers for millennia - a journey that stretches from the dawn of civilisation in Ancient Ireland right through to what life was like in Anglo-Ireland in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Irish racing history will be celebrated at the Curragh on 27th June with the 150th staging of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.

The beautiful Basque Country will be celebrated on 19th June. Alliance Francaise invite you to their building at 1 Kildare Street, Dublin 2, to celebrate the culture and traditions of the Basque Country and its warm and friendly people.

Visitors are invited to Kilkenny this summer where the motto is “It’s our county, at your pace”. Come and try water and tree walking, biking, kayaking and more on your fun-filled family ‘Kilcation’ this summer. What’s more, there are some great hotel deals available this summer, ensuring your stay will be both enjoyable and affordable. Whether you’re looking for a leisurely, adventurous or exhilarating holiday, Kilkenny has something for you.

As soon as you walk in to the Féraud store you feel at ease and comfortable. The ambiance is reflected in the high quality clothing that is on offer at affordable prices. Situated on 24 Duke Street, just off Dublin’s main shopping thoroughfare of Grafton Street and next to Nespresso, the Féraud store is an independent Irish business that carries the widest selection of Féraud suiting in Ireland.

There will be fun for all the family at the 9th annual Shandon Street Festival. This free family fun day will take place around Church Street, in the shadow of the Shandon Bells in Cork on 20th June and there really is something for everyone to enjoy at this one day extravaganza.

Blarney Castle was built nearly six hundred years ago by one of Ireland’s greatest chieftains, Cormac MacCarthy, and has been attracting visitors to Munster ever since. People come from all over the world to kiss the Blarney Stone, only to leave with miraculous powers of eloquence.

The beautiful coastal town of Dingle in Co. Kerry is the setting for the Dingle Adventure Race. The Dingle Adventure Race is a one day multi activity race that will test participants to the limit, with challenges including biking over the spectacular Conor Pass, climbing Mount Brandon (Ireland’s second highest mountain range), running and kayaking. Nearly 1000 competitors will take part over three different courses, DAR, DAR Sport and DAR Mini, all taking place on 6th June.

The Titanic Experience in Cobh offers visitors a unique opportunity to step back in time and walk in the footsteps of the last 123 passengers to board the Titanic on 11 April 1912. The Titanic Experience is located in the original White Star Line Ticket Office in the centre of Cobh town (known as Queenstown at the time) which was the departure point for those 123 passengers. The experience is separated into two parts that allow visitors to immerse themselves into the Titanic’s ill fated maiden journey.

The Aillwee Cave and the Birds of Prey Centre offers visitors an unforgettable experience, with a range of exciting activities. Start by taking a 35 minute guided tour of Aillwee Cave, marvelling at the beautiful caverns, the frozen waterfall and hibernation chambers of the long extinct brown bears.

Some of the world’s most pre-eminent Tolkien experts will visit County Clare from 26th to 28th June for the annual Tolkien Festival. Organised by the Burren Tolkien Society and supported by the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark, the festival celebrates author JRR Tolkien’s links to the Burren, an area that is said to have served as inspiration for his epic novel, The Lord of the Rings.

Visitors to Titanic Belfast can enjoy a unique historical experience on 19th June with Taste of Titanic.