Irish Tourist Attractions

Ireland is full of tourist attractions some are easier to find than others. Mornington, at the heart of Ireland, is a splendid base from which to tour the relatively unexplored lanscape of the midlands and the Shannon basin. It is within easy reach of both Dublin and the West Coast.

Indeed, it is possible to travel to the Shannon by water from Mornington, as Lough Derravaragh is one of the Shannon lakes.
Tea times can be pre-booked for golfers and ghillies and boats arranged for fishermen.

Heritage

Athlone Castle Interpretative Centre.
Fore Abbey, Castlepollard.
Tullynally Castle, Castlepollard.
Dun-na-Si Heritage Park, (and Genealogical Centre), Moate.
Folk Museum, Newtowncashel.
Ardagh Heritage Centre, Ardagh.

Historical sites

Belvedere House and Gardens and The Jealous Wall.
Tullynally Castle and gardens.
Clonmacnoise, early Christian sites. From here early monks took Christianity back to Europe after the Dark Ages.
Loughcrew Megalithic Tombs. Loughcrew, Oldcastle, Co. Meath. Older than the pyramids. Guests can arrange to pick up the key from the bungalow at the bottom of the hill. This opens the gate into the tomb. During the summer there are now guides showing the tombs to the public.
Boyle Abbey.
King House, Boyle, Co.Roscommon.
Strokestown Irish Famine Museum.
Castletown House.
Hill of Tara.
Boyne Valley Visitor’s Centre.
Knowth, Dowth, Newgrange.
Glendalough Visitor’s Centre.
Trim Castle.

Gardens

Here are a number of fine gardens well worth visiting within easy reach of Mornington.
Ballinlough Castle, Clonmellon, Co. Meath These gardens have recently been reborn under the Great Gardens of Ireland Scheme.
Belvedere House, Mullingar - Restored 2000. A jewel in the midlands. Belvedere is a superb 160 acre estate on the shores of Lough Ennell comprising a wonderful 18th century hunting lodge, walled garden and landscaped park.
Grove Gardens
Lough Crew, Co Meath - A walk through centuries of garden and landscape fantasy. Close to Lough Crew neolithic cairns. Lough Crew is the location for a summer opera held each year.
Tullynally Castle, Castlepollard - Romantic Woodland and walled gardens created over three centuries.
Lakeview Gardens recently restored to their oldworld charm and atmosphere. Each area is filled with rare and unusual plants, many originating from the famous Shackleton Collection.
Larchhill Archadian Gardens Larchill is the only complete 'Ferme Ornée' in Europe-an ornamental 18th century farm and landscaped parkland.
There are a number of private gardens, which open to the public on a limited number of occasions. Ask for these when booking.

Places to visit

Bog Tour - Clonmacnoise & Offaly Railway.
The Seven Wonders of Fore.
Corlea Track Way, Keenagh, Co.Longford - a wooden track way found under the bog which is over 2,000 years old. The felling date for the timbers was 148 B.C.
Goldsmith Country - Glasson Museum and Heritage Centre.
National Stud & Japanese Gardens, Tully, Co Kildare.

Museums

An Dun Transport and Heritage Museum.
Locke’s Distillery, Kilbeggan.
Military Museum, Mullingar.
Tyrrellspass Castle Museum.
Athlone Castle Museum.
Ecclesiastical Museum, Mullingar.
Moate House Museum.
Castlepollard Local Museum.

Day Trips on the Shannon

Athlone Cruisers, Jolly Mariner Marina, Athlone.
Rosanna Cruisers, Athlone.

Walking Routes

Athlone Walking Tours, Deer Park, Glasson.
Mullingar Walking Tour.
Royal Canal Walking Route.