It is at the Northern end of the Lower Lough and is barely an island these days at it is connected to the mainland by bridges.

On the island is one of the most evocative carvings of Lough Erne , a double-faced JANUS figure.

Caldragh cemetery is an ancient Christian burial ground and you will find the JANUS figure here. It is an idol of yellow stone with very bold symmetrical features.

It has the phallus on one side  , and a belt and crossed limbs on the other. The figure was probably an invocation of fertility and a depiction of a god-hero.

There is another carved stone nearby called LUSTY MAN.

This island and these carvings are just another example of the wide variety of interesting sights to see on tours of Ireland.

Contact Ireland Luxury Tours for details. http://www.irelandluxurytours.com We can access Boa Island on our extended Belfast tours.

It is in County Armagh and rich with Irish history and folklore.

Its dynasty held power for 700 years until defeated by the Collas brothers , who moved their power base back onto the hill at Armagh.

A hundred years later , in 445 A.D , Saint Patrick declared the hill the site of his primacy and first bishopric. Having converted the local chieftain he built his cathedral here.

Later , between the ninth and eleventh centuries the city was repeatedly pillaged by the Vikings.

Its a great wee hidden gem on tours of Ireland , and also accessible on our extended Belfast tours.

But if you are on Ireland tours there are a few hidden gems in Newry.

Firstly you have the Catholic Cathedral which looks bland from the outside but has a most interesting interior.

The Town Hall is also worth a look as it is built on a bridge over the river Clanrye and is half in County Down and half in County Armagh.

The Newry and Mourne museum contains Nelson’s table from H.M.S Victory and a lot of information on local history.

Lastly there is Bagenal’s Castle which was once a Cistercian Abbey. It was actuallly found within a former bakery !!

So….if you are on tours of Ireland or extended Belfast tours consider a wee stop in Newry !!

If you fancy an overnight stay we recommend the Canal Court Hotel  http://www.canalcourthotel.com

The town sits at the mouth of the two northernmost Antrim glens , Glenshesk and Glentaisie.

There is a beautiful marina and some great local pubs. There are also some nice shops.

Ballycastle is where the ferry to Rathlin island leaves from…..weather permitting ! There are also some “water taxis” available.

In June Ballycastle holds the Ould Lammas Fair , which is Irelands oldest fair , dating from 1606.

The stallholders do a roaring trade in Dulse (a tasty edible seaweed) and Yellowman (a bright coloured hard toffee).

There is a memorial to Guglielmo Marconi to commemorate the inventor of the wireless. He made his first transmission between Ballycastle and Rathlin in 1898.

Nearby , in the middle of a very good golf course , is Bonamargy Friary , founded around 1500…..the whole thing is very interesting , and a real hidden gem.

Try our extended Belfast tours and visit Ballycastle. Or on any of our tours of Ireland build in a trip along the Causeway coast.

With the Titanic anniversary (100 years since the tragedy) , and the opening of the new Museum plus the Irish Open Golf Competition.

Add to that the Olympics , and people touring Ireland as an extra , and it is a boom year.

So to avoid disappointment with hotels , restaurants , or transport book your Belfast tours early. If you are a golfer you will need to get tee off times arranged very early.

Contact Ireland Luxury Tours http://www.irelandluxurytours.com for details of our Belfast tours and beyond.

We have great deals available for the North coast , Giants Causeway , Devenish Island , Lough Erne , Mountains opf Mourne , Ards Peninsula , and many more.

It is just 5 miles North of Ballycastle and 12 miles West of the Mull of Kintyre (in Scotland) and is Northern Irelands last remaining inhabited island.

There is a ferry from Ballycastle to Rathlin.

Rathlin itself is never more than a mile wide and the population is concentrated around Church Bay.

A stroll around the island will reveal relics of far greater antiquity. Halfway to the West lighthouse is the site of a Stone Age axe factory , and to the north , earthworks known as Doonmore (great fort).

In the early Christian period , the island was a haven for monks , who have left evidence of their presence in the form of a sweathouse (primitive sauna) at Knockans near Church Bay.

In 795 AD Rathlin was the first place in Ireland to be raided by the Vikings.

It is also connected to Dunluce castle when the MacDonnells were slaughtered by the English on Rathlin.

Thre is also a large population of Puffins on the island which attract many visitors.

The Manor House hotel http://www.rathlinmanorhouse.co.uk/ is a great local hotel with good food , a great pub , and live music. Its worth spending a night there.

Rathlin Island is a place worth seeing on any tours of Ireland.