Heritage & Ancestry

Discover the origins and meanings of Irish surnames from County Tyrone – O’Neill, Quinn, Donnelly, Devlin and more. Includes a practical guide to tracing your Tyrone ancestry.

Cobh, County Cork, was the last piece of Irish soil millions of emigrants ever stood on. Here’s what the town still holds — and why St. Colman’s Cathedral still dominates the skyline today.

Hy-Brasil appeared on European navigational maps for over 500 years before vanishing from cartography in the 19th century. Discover the real history of Ireland’s most enduring phantom island — and the west coast it left behind.

Discover the Irish townland your ancestors called home. A step-by-step ancestry research guide for the 70 million people worldwide with Irish roots — all free resources included. Plus get weekly Ireland stories free in our newsletter.

Slieve League in County Donegal rises to 601 metres — nearly three times the height of the Cliffs of Moher. Everything you need to know before you visit.

Charles Fort in Kinsale dates back to the 1670s and is one of the finest star-shaped fortifications in Ireland. Here is everything you need to know before you visit this County Cork landmark.

Kinsale in County Cork is one of Ireland’s most rewarding coastal towns. This guide covers getting there, the historic forts, colourful streets, food scene, harbour walks, and the best times to visit.

In 1324, Dame Alice Kyteler became the first person in Ireland to face a witchcraft trial. She fled Kilkenny before sentencing. Her maid was burned in her place. The house where Alice lived is now one of the city’s most-visited pubs.

In the woods outside Lismore, there is a grand Gothic gateway — towers, battlements, an ornamental bridge — built in the 1840s. Behind it: nothing. Arthur Kiely-Ussher spent everything on the entrance and had nothing left for the house. Ballysaggartmore Towers is one of Ireland’s strangest and most compelling free attractions.

Ballysaggartmore Towers in County Waterford look like a ruined castle — but they are actually an entrance gate, built in 1850 for a mansion that was never completed. Here is the full story and how to visit.