Clones Town, County Monaghan, Ireland - Ireland Attractions
Clones Town County, Monaghan, Ireland - Doesn't it feel good to be back home? It can be amazing to bring back the memories from our childhood - sure we remember things every now and again, but you cannot beat actually walking the streets where you grew up for memories ( good and bad! to come flooding back ). Hence off to Clones, County Monaghan, Ireland, the town where I grew up.
For the few who do not know - Clones is a small town in western County Monaghan, Ireland. The Clones area was part of the Border Region which was earmarked for economic development by the Irish Government due to the current below average economic growth in the area. County Monaghan is on the border with County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland which brings its own advantages and challenges.
Walking through the town and seeing the old places which are still standing there, just about! :-)
During our walk of the town we came across a picture from 1843 for the Market House and it was amazing to see the buildings from the photo are still standing around the Diamond. Amazing.
On the Diamond we have the imposing buildings such as Ulster Bank - which sadly closed in 2016....to all the pubs, post office, credit union and more.
Checking out the tourist map, trying to decide in which direction we should go, we finally managed to go down to the Wee Abbey, just off the Diamond - a great stop for history buffs. The most imposing feature on the Diamond is the Celtic High Cross. Down the road towards Cavan, to the right - is the path to the Motte and Bailey Fort, a piece of ground showing where an old fort used to stand with an amazing view across the local area. Plenty of history here!!
Towards the bottom of Fermanagh Street is the Butter Yard and the relatively new statue of the children playing leapfrog. Pretty Nice!
Close to the Round Tower is the Ionad Cassandra Hand Centre where they used to make lace and was built in 1847, coming again to the Wee Abbey. Across the road from the Lace centre is the Round Tower and graveyard.
There are other towns which one could visit around the North of Ireland, such as Letterkenny in county Donegal ( there is also Bushmills Town which is found on the north coast of Ireland ( and you could visit Newcastle Co. Down which is a lovely place to go to if you like beaches! :-) (
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Rossmore Forest Park - Monaghan - County Monaghan - Ireland
Forest parks, gardens, running around; that's how we sometimes choose to discover and explore Northern Ireland and know more about those hidden gems which not all the people know about and not all the tourists tend to visit - we are opening your eyes about everything that might be found in Ireland, just like visiting the Rossmore Forest Park in county Monaghan.
Rossmore Forest Park is located in Monaghan town, county Monaghan, which is beautiful with all those flowers and walks which one will move through and feel the hard work that has been exerted in this place. Rossmore Forest Park was given that name for the Rossmore Castle which was built back in the old days by Robert Cunningham, an MP for Monaghan Borough from 1679 to 1796, who commenced the building of the castle and left it to be completed by his son, Henry Robert.
In addition to the castle which is believed to be the main attraction in this forest park, there are also other things to be placed in consideration, such as the buttresses to the castle walls and the entrance stairway which are the things kept to provide a viewing point to the surrounding countryside, as well as the wedge tomb and the court tomb which are also considered from the things that visitors come to check.
For those who come to visit Rossmore Forest Park, there are things to look out for, such as the rhododendron and azalea display which is attractive for the flowering display and for the shelter it offers for game birds. There are also many of the original estate trees which still remain until today, such as the Scots pine, cedars, and a monkey puzzle. Also the main avenue to the car park displays several large sierra or giant redwoods while and avenue of yew trees runs a full 460 meters from the walled garden to the mausoleum in the graveyard.
In addition to the green areas and the trees which one will immediately fall in love with in the Rossmore Forest Park, there are also some mammals to consider and which you could get across them while being there, such as otters, badger, fox, hedgehog, and pigmy shrew, also five of Ireland's seven species of bat are to be found in the locality as well as the large residential population of birds and migrants such as wildfowl which increase in winter and warblers, swallows, cuckoo, and flycatchers in summer - in other words, we could say that there are lots of different things that one will get the chance to see and witness in this park when it comes to nature and the beautiful creatures that are living there which one could manage to see.
After our visit to this park with the kids, we could assure you that it is a very nice place to head to for a walk - even the kids loved the idea of running around the place once they entered the park - it was really amazing. You just have to choose the right time of the year to head there in order to see the place in its real beauty, but about the weather, we know that it is considered hard to expect the weather of Ireland and know how it will be throughout the rest of the day :-)
There are different things that one could visit in Monaghan town in Ireland, we have previously been to the Clones Town and I was so happy to bring back some of the old memories back from home ( we have also been to county Monaghan before to visit Leslie Castle and meet some friends at the Hillgrove Hotel, which we believe was another good experience as well ( another destination was Lake Muckno and the walk we had there ( and we ended those things which we tend to explore in county Monaghan with Rossmore Forest Park and the walk we had there with the kids.
There are different parks in Ireland and Northern Ireland - and we have to say that every single one of them is beautiful on its own and offers a different kind of experience - and we have actually been to several ones before with the kids - we walking around and the kids running and playing.
The suggestions which we might give you for those parks and gardens include the famous Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park in Belfast which is considered the most popular and dates back to a very long time ( there is also a park called Phoenix Park located in Dublin which is also another kind of experience ( the St. Stephen's Green Park which is also located in Dublin and which is sometimes referred to as City Centre Park ( and there are actually different other ones which might be resembling trails for one to explore or might be carrying statues or other characters which might be related to stories of famous writers and movies or cartoons.
The best locations around Ireland / Northern Ireland and further afield. A travel blog/vlog of the hidden treasures that are on our doorstep.
A Walk Around Clones on a Winter Day - County Monaghan
We had a walk around Clones - checking out the Diamond, Round Tower, Fermanagh Street, Clones Abbey, The Butteryard beside the Creighton Hotel. Enjoying the history that is in every corner of the city...
Clones is known to be a small town that is located in western county Monaghan in Ireland. Clones also shares a border with county Fermanagh in Northern Ireland and this has been considered a reason for the economic status and problems that it went through since 1921 because the creation of the Irish border banned its access to a large part of its economic hinterland for many years.
We believe that Clones is a historic place since history fills it in every single corner one will get the chance to move across, although when it comes to the landmarks which one could visit, they might end up not being much and the rest will be about walking through the old streets and enjoying the old buildings, which was also part of the trip we have been on.
Through the tour that we have made in Clones, county Monaghan, we visited the Round Tower which is considered one of the most famous landmarks there. The Round Tower was built from sandstone and is believed to date back to the 10th century, which we are not totally sure of. This tower stood at almost 23 meters height including the conical cap which is missing at this point. The Round Tower has four storeys including the bell storey with a single window on each one of them except for the bell storey which had the usual four windows; one on each cardinal point on the compass. Just beside the tower, you will find some graves that let people sometimes refer to the place as the Clones Round Tower graveyard.
In addition to the Round Tower, we have also been to the Celtic Cross; the Celtic Cross which is standing on the Diamond also dates back to the 10th century and is made from sandstone as well. This cross is considered a combination of two separate crosses that mix the head of one and the shaft of another, and it reaches a height of 4.57 meters. The Celtic Cross in Clones is one of the famous attractions in the place for the history it carries since it is believed to be among the remains of a monastery founded in Clones by St. Tighernach in the sixth century. The faces of the shaft are not plain or free but they carry different pictures that are related to the biblical scenes, making it more interesting for those seeing it for the first time to come closer and inspect it all by themselves.
If you are visiting Clones and you are still searching for other significant places and spots to check in the place then there is also St. Tiernach's Grave, which was another place that we got to pass by and discover in real during our trip.
It is always different and exciting to get to experience a new place for the first time and discover all those different historical places which are found in it - just like what we have done while visiting Clones even though it wasn't the first time for us there, yet we got to see some places for the first time.
While walking through the streets of Clones, in addition to those old building and streets, you might also come across some sculptures, such as the one for the kids playing which we have passed by, and that is the reason why we always believe that walking through the streets of a new place that you are visiting for the first time might always give you the chance to see things that you did not have in the place, making the whole thing much more interesting.
If you are going to stay at Clones for any reason and want something else to do, you could enjoy visiting county Fermanagh, since it shares its border, and check some of the things that it could offer you as well. From those places which we have already been to and which we could recommend, there is the Enniskillen Castle Museum ( the Pollnagollum Cave in Enniskillen as well ( you might also visit a place that gives you the chance to enjoy Lough Erne ( check the Headhunters Barber Shop and Railway Museum ( or else visit Blakes of the Hollow pub in order to check the fourth door in Game of Thrones movie series if you happen to be a fan (
Sometimes the place we tend to visit might not carry much for us to see and explore, but we also believe that the more we search and walk through the streets, the more we will find and discover, and that is exactly the tip we want to give to all those travelers out there: never stop walking through the streets and you will never stop discovering new things.
Have you ever visited Clones in county Monaghan before to check any of these historical places we have been to and shared?
The best locations around Ireland / Northern Ireland and further afield. A travel blog/vlog of the hidden treasures that are on our doorstep.
Relax in the Great Outdoors in Castleblayney and South Armagh
Produced by BNL Productions
Visit Castleblayney & South Armagh
Famed for its spectacular beauty, it's no wonder that the magical Lough Muckno and Ring of Gullion area is fast becoming such a magnet for visitors. An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Ring of Gullion in South Armagh is famous as the source of many powerful Irish myths. Known as the 'Killarney of the North', Muckno is based around the largest lake in County Monaghan.
There are so many ways to enjoy this idyllic natural wonderland. Choose from a range of exhilarating outdoor activities from hill walking and mountain climbing to woodland rambles, boating, water-skiing, horse riding, golfing and some of the finest angling on the island of Ireland.
The sublime Slieve Gullion Pathway has been specially created to suit all ages and abilities. Take the path to the mystical ancient cairn at the top of Slieve Gullion for a truly spiritual experience and gaze around you at the breathtaking views that stretch for miles. Children will adore the fabulous new adventure play area in the foothills of the mountain too.
Just minutes from the charming town of Catleblayney, the serene Lough Muckno attracts nature ramblers, sports enthusiasts, families and anglers alike to enjoy its wooded walks, picnic areas, boating, golfing and world-class angling, not to mention its state-of-the-art new adventure play area.
So easy to get to and around, this beautiful region offers everything from mountains, lakes and woods to a wide range of activities for all. There's so much more to enjoy while you're here too, such as welcoming pubs, restaurants and coffee shops, enticing spas, fine hotels and fascinating museums.
So come along, meet the locals and enjoy the wonderful attractions and scenery of this unique area for a truly unforgettable experience.
For more information go to mournemountains.co.uk , monaghantourism.com or ringofgullion.org
Melview Fishing Lodge - Ultimate Fishing in Ireland
Melview Lodge provide excellent accommodation to anglers looking for top class fishing in Ireland.
Ireland Part 2 - Places to visit in Ireland
Ireland Part 2 - Places to visit in Ireland
Welcome to Part 2 of our Ireland Adventure! If you're looking for unique places to visit in Ireland check out this travel vlog! In it, we visit the charming town of Dingle, drive the Wild Atlantic Way to the beautiful Slea Head Beach, see Beehive huts from 2000 B.C., and go surfing at Inch Beach. Its all wrapped up with a visit to the medieval town of Kilkenny and the iconic Kilkenny Castle.
Some of our favorite spots from the video:
The Wild Atlantic Way -
Slea Head Drive -
Inch Beach -
Beehive Huts -
Kilkenny Castle -
Driving at Rally School Ireland, County Monaghan
The rally driving experience in Scotstown is just outside Monaghan town. Here you can experience a heart-thumping, adrenaline filled day at a Multi-Million Euro facility.
They have Rally cars and Supercars, and with packages ranging from 6 laps to 45 laps, including Junior Rally Experiences for Kids 10+, Advance/Winter Driver Training, Rally and Supercar Packages, you are sure to find an experience to suit you. No licence is required.
Arriving at the venue I was instantly reminded of a Top Gear track. Match that with the gorgeous sunny day, and we were left with beautiful driving conditions.
We were greeted by staff and got kitted out to drive three excellent cars with the training and guidance of a nice gentleman named Seamus.
Seamus was an amiable man and a very experienced rally driver. He was very helpful and carefully prepared us to complete 12 laps in three different cars.
Overall it was an incredible experience and a great activity for either a couple or group of friends on a stag/hen do.
Seamus kept track of the times for each lap, so myself and my girlfriend got competitive and it quickly turned into a competition. The loser had to buy the winner a pint after, so there was no messing about.
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Cavan Burren 2016
Aerial tour of Cavan Burren, Ireland
Ireland Trip 2017
Our 10 day trip to Ireland recorded with the GoPro Hero 5 Black. Went from, Dublin, Kilkenny, Kinsale, Killarney, Galway, Belfast, and back to Dublin. Heavily relied on Rick Steves Ireland 2017 book and the National Geographic Ireland Adventure Map!
Background music:
Avicii the nights
Walk Off The Earth red hands
Ed Sheeran galway girl
The beauty of Sligo, Ireland
Just some pictures i took in Sligo