Archaeology

Below is a list of some suggested tours which you can take at your leisure throughout the South Armagh Area and further afield.

Archaeology (Half Day Visit)

Travel to Lisnadarragh

• 09.30am Visit Lisnadarragh and visit the Wedge Grave
• 10.30am Visit Manaan Castle, Donaghmoyne.
• 11.30am Visit Lace Making Centre & Early Lunch at Carrickmacross
• 1.00pm Visit Inniskeen Monastic Site founded by St. Daig, only the Round Tower survives at a height of 42 feet, and nearby the Patrick Kavanagh Centre, Folk Museum.

Archaeology (1 Day Itinerary)

• 09.00am Depart Dundalk.
• 9.30am Arrive at St. Brigid's Church, Glassdrumman. This was originally an 18th century house, which became a church and crossed the border.
• 10.15am Depart for Creggan 'An Creagan' meaning the rocky place, is a little hamlet surrounding the picturesque Creggan Parish Church and Graveyard which is home to the famous O'Neill Family Vault, and adjacent Poets' Glen and river. Tours can be catered for at the Visitors Centre, at pre-arranged times.
• 11.15am Depart for Cullyhanna, to visit the Áras an Chairdineil Ó Fiaich Heritage Centre for a guided tour.
• 12.30pm Visit to the Dorsey (by arrangement).
• 1.15pm Lunch in Ma Keraneys, Crossmaglen
• 2.45pm Kilnasaggart Cross Pillar and Cross Slabs, and perhaps the oldest cross-inscribed stone in Ireland.
• Then on to Moyry Castle.
• 3.45pm Onward to Ballykeel and visit the portal grave. A fine so-called Tripod Dolmen with substantial remains of its cairn remaining.
• 4.15pm Depart for Killevy and the Killevy Old Churches.

Archaeology (1 Day Itinerary (Alternative))

• 09.30am Depart Newry.
• 10.00am Visit Ballymacdermot Court Tomb. Near Bernish Viewing Point 2 miles south of Newry.
• 11.30am Visit Clontygora Cairn.
• 12.30pm Onward to the Flagstaff amenity area.
• 1.15pm Arrive back in Newry for lunch and ½ day shopping or the Newry Town Trail.
• Overnight at Canal Court Hotel

Archaeology (Half Day Visit (Alternative))

• 09.30am Arrive at Slieve Gullion Courtyard Centre for scenic drive
• 10.00am Visit Slieve Gullion Cairns and Volcanic Lake at the top of Slieve Gullion. The two Cairns - North and South.

Archaeology (3 Day Itinerary)

DAY 1 - Armagh City

• 09.00am Beginning with the Dorsey (by arrangement).
• 10.00am Kilnasaggart Cross Pillar and Cross Slabs, perhaps the oldest cross-inscribed stone in Ireland.
• Then on to Moyry Castle.
• 11.00am Onward to Ballykeel and visit the portal grave. A fine so-called Tripod Dolmen with substantial remains of its cairn remaining.
• 11.45am Depart for Killevy Old Churches via Clonalum Cairns.
• 1.45pm Depart for Armagh City.
• 2.45pm Visit the Armagh County Museum.
• 4.30pm Visit the Church of Ireland and the Roman Catholic Cathedral.
• Overnight and one of the excellent B&B's, Guesthouses or Hotels in the City.

DAY 2 - Travel to Monaghan Town

• 10.00am Beginning in Monaghan visit the County Museum, which houses a wide range of historical subjects, including Archaeology, Folklife, Crafts, Transport and Coinage. Afterwards a visit to the Sundial.
• 11.30am The Garran Portal Tomb, Newbliss. 50 Metres behind a two-story farmhouse beside the Monaghan-Newbliss road.
• 12.30pm Killeevan an Early Monastic Site whose circular enclosure suggests a very early date. On a knoll opposite the entrance to the old church stop at the Georgian Mausoleum, locally known as 'The Turret'.
• Depart for Clones, for lunch
• 2.30pm In Clones visit the Round Tower, Mortuary House, a unique monument as it was carved from one piece of stone. Onward to the Mote & Bailey, Friary, High Cross. Why not visit the remains of the Plantation Castle, an early Weslyan Chapel, Canal Stores and the Lace Centre.
• 4.45pm Visit Scotshouse and the Worm's Cast - earthworks, dating from 200 - 332 AD when Navan and Tara were at their most powerful.

DAY 3 - Travel to Lisnadarragh (Ballybay to Lisnadarragh 11 miles / 17.6 kilometres)

• 09.30am Visit Lisnadarragh and visit the Wedge Grave.
• 10.30am Visit Manaan Castle, Donaghmoyne.
• 11.30am Visit Lace Making Centre and an early lunch at Carrickmacross
• 1.00pm Visit Inniskeen Monastic Site founded by St. Daig, only the Round Tower survives at a height of 42 feet, and nearby the Patrick Kavanagh Centre, Folk Museum.
• 2.30pm Depart for the Dorsey (by arrangement).
• 3.00pm Kilnasaggart Cross Pillar and Cross Slabs, perhaps the oldest cross-inscribed stone in Ireland.
• Then on to Moyry Castle.
• 4.00pm Onward to Ballykeel and visit the portal grave. A fine so-called Tripod Dolmen with substantial remains of its cairn remaining.
• 4.30pm Depart for Killevy and the Killevy Old Churches.