The castle is Anglo-Norman and goes back to the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries , though the virgin appearance of the outer shell is deceptive. A good deal of the brickwork dates back to the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

The Irish chieftain Conor O’Brien was the first to build a fortress on the rock. But it was the Anglo-Norman Butlers , the Earls of Ormond , who made it into one of the most powerful castles in Ireland.

The Earl of Essex showered the castle with artillery fire in 1599 and gradually it fell into disrepair. It was rejuvenated , along with other town buildings , by the Earl of Glengall in the mid nineteenth century.

So if you are on tours of Ireland , passing the town of Cahir , then visit the castle. It is much more of a must see attraction than a hidden gem.

http://www.discoverireland.com/gb/ireland-things-to-see-and-do/listings/product/?fid=FI_13108

It is a real hidden gem on any Ireland tours.

The castle is a fifteenth century O’Brien stronghold , adjoining which is a four-storey building with mullioned and transomed windows (c.1640).

The area North of here is littered with ancient remains such as POULNABRONE DOLMEN. This is the Burrens most famous portal dolmen dating from 2500 BC !!!!  http://www.stonepages.com/ireland/poulnabrone.html

CAHER COMMAUN is also nearby which is a ninth century triple ring fort. http://www.megalithicireland.com/Cahercommaun%20Cliff%20Fort.htm

The tiny hamlet of Carran will offer you a chance for some local food and maybe even a Guinness !!  http://www.burrenconnect.ie/town_and_places/carran.html

This are a is full of must see attractions and hidden gems on any tours of Ireland….dont miss it !

The little pub/restaurant beside it….known as “Durty Nellys”  http://durtynellys.ie/contact/ Call into this pub on a Friday evening and there are often local singers joining in with the local pianist….all unrehearsed and very genuine. The food is great too.

The Vikings recognised the original sites strategic importance for protecting trade and fortified it during their stay. In fact you can still see the moat.

The first castle on the site was built by the Normans but they lost control.

Then in 1460 the Macnamaras built the castle that stands today.

Also in the grounds stands Bunratty Folk Park which is a complete reconstruction of a nineteenth century village.

Although it is extremely touristy the castle and village are worth a visit on any tours of Ireland that take you close.

But the real hidden gem is the little pub on a Friday night !!!

and the Marble Arch Caves http://www.enniskillen.com/marblearchcaves.html there is plenty to see.

They are a bit of a hidden gem but when you are down there you will realise that they are a must see attraction.

The tour begins with a boat journey on a subterranean river , then on through splendidly lit chambers. The chambers are calcite-walled and dripping with stalactites and fragile mineral veils. You need sturdy walking shoes and warm clothes though !!

The local guides are full of knowledge and quirky stories.

Marble Arch Caves are accessible on our extended Belfast tours and can be combined with a visit to Devenish Island for a full day of sightseeing. But if you are on any Ireland tours call in and see them…you wont be disappointed !!

Ancient annals say that Strangford Lough was formed around 1650BC by the sea sweeping in over the lands of Brena. 

This created a beautiful , calm inlet , the archipelago-like pieces of land along its inner arm fringed with brown and yellow bladderwrack and tangleweed , and tenanted by a rich gathering of bird life during the warmer months and vast flocks of geese and waders in the winter.

It’s an attractive haven of small boats and yachts , and several picturesque halts for the land-bound make the road along the lough’s western shore the most interesting route leading south on Our extended Belfast tours.

On our tours of Ireland we always recommend a route around Strangford Lough.

Its main street has a chintzy , middle English ambience re-inforced by a sprinkling of tea rooms and Antique shops. There are also some great pubs and restaurants , such as “the Plough”

You get the best of Hillsborough by folowing a route that starts from the war memorial and heads up the magnificent approach to the eighteenth century Gothic parish church.

There is also an elegant but ruined fort in Hillsborough which was constructed in 1650.

There is Hillsborough lake which is stocked with brown and rainbow trout…simply magnificent.

Perhaps the best known building is Hillsborough Castle , which is a mansion dating from 1797 , which is used to house visiting diplomats and royalty.

Hillsborough can be reached on our extended Belfast tours even from the cruise ships.

But on tours of Ireland it can be included while travelling between Belfast and Dublin.