{"id":481,"date":"2011-10-10T21:07:42","date_gmt":"2011-10-11T03:07:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/engagingireland.com\/?p=481"},"modified":"2011-10-10T21:07:42","modified_gmt":"2011-10-11T03:07:42","slug":"ep-27-part-1-northern-ireland-and-donegal-top-10","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/engagingireland.com\/index.php\/2011\/10\/10\/ep-27-part-1-northern-ireland-and-donegal-top-10\/","title":{"rendered":"Ep. 27-Part 1-Northern Ireland and Donegal Top 10"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In the first half of a two part episode, we talk about some our top 10 places to see in the counties of Northern Ireland and in county Donegal. In no particular order, they are:<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_489\" style=\"width: 512px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/engagingireland.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/SlieveLeague_Web.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-489\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-489\" title=\"The Cliffs at Slieve League\" src=\"http:\/\/engagingireland.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/SlieveLeague_Web.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"502\" height=\"336\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-489\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cliffs at Slieve League<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>1. Slieve League<\/strong> \u2013 Take the route via Glengesh pass, it\u2019s worth it for the view. You can park at the lower parking lot or the upper parking lot depending on your fitness level, the weather and how long you have to view the site.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>If you drive to the upper lot, make sure to close the gate so you don&#8217;t let out the sheep.<\/li>\n<li>No facilities until you get back down to the bottom of the hill, where there are portable toilets.<\/li>\n<li>Make sure to stop at, Ti Linn, the coffee\/tea\/art shop down the road once you&#8217;re finished. \u00a0Family-owned and operated business. They have great local art.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_487\" style=\"width: 563px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/engagingireland.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/Glenveagh_web.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-487\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-487  \" title=\"Glenveagh Castle\" src=\"http:\/\/engagingireland.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/Glenveagh_web-1024x645.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"553\" height=\"348\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-487\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Glenveagh Castle<\/p><\/div>\n<p>2. <strong>Glenveagh National Park<\/strong> &#8211; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.glenveaghnationalpark.ie\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.glenveaghnationalpark.ie\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Admission to the National Park and Visitor Centre is free.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>Bus Tickets<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Cars are not allowed beyond the visitor centre however a shuttle bus service is available to take visitors to the castle and gardens.<\/p>\n<p>Adult\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 3.00 Euro (return)<\/p>\n<p>Concession\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2.00 Euro (return)<\/p>\n<p>Single Tickets are available at the Castle for 2 Euro<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>Castle Tour \u2013 you can only go through the castle w\/ guided tour (~30 min)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Adult\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 5.00 Euro<\/p>\n<p>Group\/Senior\u00a0 3.00 Euro<\/p>\n<p>Child\/Student 2.00 Euro<\/p>\n<p>Family\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 10.00 Euro<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>Garden Tours<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Garden Tours on request: Adult 5 Euro Concession 3 Euro<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>Walks<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Ranger-Led Hill Walks and All Other Guided Walks\/Visits:<\/p>\n<p>5.00 Euro<\/p>\n<p>All family events and shorter walks run by The Nature Team are free of charge.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>Hours of operation<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The National Park is open to the public all year round, apart from Good Friday and Christmas Week.<\/p>\n<p>Park open 10.00am &#8211; 6.00pm March &#8211; October<\/p>\n<p>Last admission 5.00pm<\/p>\n<p>9am &#8211; 5pm October &#8211; March (last admission 4pm)<\/p>\n<p>Those wishing to take the guided tour of Glenveagh Castle should note that during the summer months, demand can be high and, therefore, early arrival is advisable.<\/p>\n<p>Dogs are permitted in the park but must be kept on a lead at all times. Dogs are not permitted entry to buildings, Castle Gardens or park buses. (Guide dogs are permitted in all areas)<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_488\" style=\"width: 512px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/engagingireland.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/GriananOfAileach_Web.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-488\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-488\" title=\"The Grianan of Aileach\" src=\"http:\/\/engagingireland.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/GriananOfAileach_Web.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"502\" height=\"336\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-488\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Grianan of Aileach<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<p><strong>3. <\/strong><strong>The Grianan of Aileach<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>5 miles northwest of Derry (in County Donegal) near the base of the Inishowen Peninsula (between Derry and the N13)<\/li>\n<li>Views of Loch Foyle and Loch Swilly<\/li>\n<li>Where to pick up the Heritage Guide publication before you go.\n<ul>\n<li>Wordwell Books website has several guides for sale:\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.wordwellbooks.com\/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&amp;category_id=20&amp;page=shop.browse&amp;Itemid=13&amp;limit=20&amp;limitstart=20\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.wordwellbooks.com\/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&amp;category_id=20&amp;page=shop.browse&amp;Itemid=13&amp;limit=20&amp;limitstart=20<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Can be purchased at Donegal Castle, in Donegal Town (and possibly other places that we don\u2019t know about).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Wall dimensions &#8211; about 16 \u00bd feet high and diameter is about 77 feet.<\/li>\n<li>Constructed in late 8<sup>th<\/sup> or early 9<sup>th<\/sup> century of dry stone construction and abandoned around the turn of the 12<sup>th<\/sup> century.<\/li>\n<li>Reconstructed in the 1800s as an archaeological project and modeled on Staigue Fort on the Ring of Kerry.<\/li>\n<li>Now under the care of the Office of Public Works (OPW), who are working to further stabilize the walls.<\/li>\n<li>No entry fee\/no facilities<\/li>\n<li>There\u2019s a walking path that will take you to a cairn and a holy well near the stone fort.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_485\" style=\"width: 501px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/engagingireland.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/Carrick-a-Rede_Web.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-485\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-485  \" title=\"Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge\" src=\"http:\/\/engagingireland.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/Carrick-a-Rede_Web-1024x693.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"491\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-485\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>4. Carrick-a-Rede<\/strong><strong> Rope Bridge<\/strong><strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nationaltrust.org.uk\/main\/w-carrickarede\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.nationaltrust.org.uk\/main\/w-carrickarede<\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>It\u2019s a National Trust site so get your card if you\u2019re going to other National trust sites too.\n<ul>\n<li>View opening hours on website or in your National Trust Guide (which you\u2019ll get when you get your card) before you go \u2013 they vary greatly depending upon time of year. It is open most of the year \u2013 weather permitting, with the exception of pretty much the month of December)<\/li>\n<li>Admission to the rope bridge is \u00a35.60 for adults, child \u00a32.90, family \u00a313.70\/ Prices are the suggested Gift Aid entry fees.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_492\" style=\"width: 512px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/engagingireland.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/Dunluce_Web2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-492\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-492\" title=\"Dunluce Castle\" src=\"http:\/\/engagingireland.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/Dunluce_Web2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"502\" height=\"336\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-492\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dunluce Castle<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<p><strong>5. Dunluce<\/strong><strong> Castle<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.doeni.gov.uk\/niea\/places_to_visit_home\/historic-monuments\/dunluce.htm\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.doeni.gov.uk\/niea\/places_to_visit_home\/historic-monuments\/dunluce.htm<\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Parts of the castle date from the 14<sup>th<\/sup> century. Most is from the 16<sup>th<\/sup> and 17<sup>th<\/sup> centuries.<\/li>\n<li>After changing hands many times, the castle eventually was awarded to Cromwellian soldiers, who (by 1663) disassembled much of it to sell. \u00a0The castle was never returned to its former livable state<\/li>\n<li>Hours of admission are generally 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.\/Admission cost \u00a34 for adults and \u00a32 for children or seniors, maximum \u00a310 for a family (group rates are available)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_490\" style=\"width: 512px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/engagingireland.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/UlsterAmerican_Web.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-490\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-490\" title=\"Ulster American Folk Park\" src=\"http:\/\/engagingireland.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/UlsterAmerican_Web.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"502\" height=\"336\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-490\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ulster American Folk Park<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<p><strong>6. <\/strong><strong>Ulster<\/strong><strong> American Folk Park<\/strong><strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nmni.com\/uafp\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.nmni.com\/uafp<\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Located just a few miles north of Omagh<\/li>\n<li>We were pleasantly surprised \u2013 we really didn&#8217;t know what to expect from the folk park. The employees working in the various areas of the park were one of the main reasons for our enjoyment.\u00a0 They\u2019re very knowledgeable and great to talk to!<\/li>\n<li>Park open year-\u2018round\n<ul>\n<li>Between March and September (when most people from the U.S. are traveling to Ireland), hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.\n<ul>\n<li>The museum\u2019s website (at National Museums Northern Ireland) says you should allow about 3 \u00bd hours to go through all of the exhibits in the main building and areas outside.<\/li>\n<li>If you\u2019re the type of person who likes to take their time and really absorb all of the information at the exhibits, you might want to add an hour or an hour and a half to that time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Cost of Admission (Gift Aid Admission Prices)\n<ul>\n<li>\u00a37.15 Adults, \u00a34.40 Children (age 5-18) &amp; Students &amp; Seniors, Children under 5 free<\/li>\n<li>There are concessions for persons with disabilities, and there are family admission packages \u2013 they\u2019re listed on the NMNI website for the park<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_530\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-481-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/engagingireland\/EI_27_10092011_1.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/engagingireland\/EI_27_10092011_1.mp3\">http:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/engagingireland\/EI_27_10092011_1.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div><p class=\"powerpress_links powerpress_links_mp3\" style=\"margin-bottom: 1px !important;\">Podcast: <a href=\"http:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/engagingireland\/EI_27_10092011_1.mp3\" class=\"powerpress_link_pinw\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Play in new window\" onclick=\"return powerpress_pinw('https:\/\/engagingireland.com\/?powerpress_pinw=481-podcast');\" rel=\"nofollow\">Play in new window<\/a> | <a href=\"http:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/engagingireland\/EI_27_10092011_1.mp3\" class=\"powerpress_link_d\" title=\"Download\" rel=\"nofollow\" download=\"EI_27_10092011_1.mp3\">Download<\/a><\/p><!--powerpress_player-->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the first half of a two part episode, we talk about some our top 10 places to see in the counties of Northern Ireland and in county Donegal. In no particular order, they are: 1. Slieve League \u2013 Take the route via Glengesh pass, it\u2019s worth it for the view. You can park at [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[20,33,40,55,57,67,68,105,125,144,147],"class_list":["post-481","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-podcast","tag-carrick-a-rede","tag-donegal","tag-dunluce","tag-glenveagh","tag-grianan-of-aileach","tag-ireland","tag-irish","tag-northern-ireland","tag-slieve-league","tag-travel","tag-ulster-american-folk-park"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/engagingireland.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/481","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/engagingireland.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/engagingireland.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engagingireland.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engagingireland.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=481"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/engagingireland.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/481\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/engagingireland.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=481"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engagingireland.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=481"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engagingireland.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=481"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}