CRAIC-ING DAYS OUT

Here are some of the places you should factor into your next Northern Ireland trip…

Dunluce Castle

Perched on a rocky promontory, this ruined castle, once fought over by the warring McQuillan and MacDonnell clans, is one of the most dramatic sites along the Antrim coast and is conveniently located near to Bushmills distillery. Though modern-day visitors often swarm for photo opportunities of the inspiration behind the House of Greyjoy in Game of Thrones and the castle in C.S. Lewis’s Narnia, its haunting atmosphere fired imaginations long before either. One enduring tale is of the Banshee of Dunluce, the ghost of the daughter of the Lord of McQuillan, who died while trying to escape the castle with her lover, and who, it is said, can still be heard crying out. discovernorthernireland.com

Fermanagh Lakelands

An area of indisputable beauty, this region of glimmering rivers and lakes is home to 154 islands. Hidden attractions amid the isles include the mysterious stone figures dating back 2,000 years on White Island, and the two-faced (one male, one female) statue of a Celtic deity found on Boa Island. Meanwhile, on the island of Devenish, you can see relics from the island’s position as a centre for learning and literature in the Middle Ages in the ruined church and priory. fermanaghlakelands.com

Ardboe Old Cross

If you are planning a visit to Lough Neagh – the largest lake on the island of Ireland – then it’s worth seeking out this cross, which dates from the 10th century and is one of Ireland’s oldest High Crosses. With 22 panels depicting scenes from both the Old and New Testaments, it’s a wondrous sight to behold this six-foot cross stood on the same site as it has done for a millennium. discovernorthernireland.com

Navan Fort

In County Armagh, this large earthwork site is believed to have been the first capital of Ulster and would once have been the setting for elaborate pagan rituals and ceremonies before Christianity reached these shores. It’s also a place steeped in myths and legends. Its Gaelic name, ‘Emain Macha’ refers to Macha, the goddess of war and fertility, who is said to have traced the outline of the former stronghold of Celtic hero Cú Chulainn here with her brooch. Today, visitors can also meet some of the resident ‘Celtic’ clan who later made it their home. visitarmagh.com/places-to-explore/navan-centre-fort

Derry

Lisa McGee’s Derry Girls has introduced the City of Derry to a whole new generation of people, so it’s fitting that a huge mural celebrating the show’s main characters can now be seen on a walk around the ramparts of the city’s historic walls. The walls were built during the Plantation of Ulster and played a key part in the Siege of Derry, and you can hear all about this era of the city’s history as well as its founding by St Columba, (or Colmcille), the city’s patron saint, and the later Troubles and Peace Process on a guided walk around the walls. bogsidehistorytours.com