HISTORY AND CULTURE
Celtic Roots Studio
Located in the beautiful craft village of Ballinahown, Co Westmeath, is the Celtic Roots Studio, which combines a workshop and gallery space with an interpretative centre and display of historic artefacts made from bogwood. The studio is run by designer Helen Conneely, who uses discarded 5,000-year-old bogwood to carve and sculpt unique jewellery pieces. Helen not only stocks her own work but also the work of other Irish and European artists and craft makers. The studio offers a special engraving service, as well as classes on small-scale bogwood carvings where visitors can create their very own ‘wish stone’ to take these home with them.
Corlea Trackway.
In Longford lies one of Ireland’s most fascinating historical attractions, the Corlea Trackway. The Iron Age bog road, which crosses boglands close to the River Shannon, was constructed from oak planks in 148–147 BC and is the largest of its kind to have been uncovered in Europe. Inside the visitor centre in the town of Kenagh, an 18m stretch of perfectly preserved road is on permanent display.
Holy Island
Holy Island on Lough Derg and the River Shannon is one of the most famous monastic sites in Ireland. Its many attractions include a round tower, the ruins of six churches, a holy well, a unique graveyard with slabs dating from the 8th century, Bullaun Stones and a ‘bargaining’ stone where many a marriage was brokered. Local historian Gerard Madden offers boat trips to Holy Island from Mountshannon Pier and will keep you entertained and intrigued.