| (1) Ardeaglais Naomh Pádraig (St. Patrick's Cathedral)
In-Game Location: Baile Átha Cliath/Duibhlinn (Dublin)
Type: Religious
Significance: St. Patrick’s Cathedral is the largest and one of the oldest cathedrals in Ireland. It has been a center of worship for over 800 years and is closely linked to St. Patrick, Ireland’s patron saint. The cathedral is also famous as the burial site of Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver’s Travels, who served as its dean in the 18th century.
Construction History:
- 1191: Originally built in Gothic style on the site of an earlier church.
- 14th–15th centuries: Expanded and modified with chapels and towers.
- 17th century: Used as a military barracks under Oliver Cromwell.
- 19th century: Major restoration funded by Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness to preserve the structure.
- Today: Functions as the national cathedral of the Church of Ireland
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| (2) Coláiste na Tríonóide (Trinity College)
In-Game Location: Baile Átha Cliath/Duibhlinn (Dublin)
Type: Culture/University
Significance: Trinity College is Ireland’s oldest university, founded to promote Protestant education but later becoming one of the world's most prestigious academic institutions. It is home to the Book of Kells, a world-famous illuminated manuscript created around 800 AD. The college is also renowned for its Long Room Library, which houses some of Ireland’s most valuable literary collections.
Construction History:
- 1592: Founded by Queen Elizabeth I.
- 17th century: First college buildings constructed, including early lecture halls.
- 18th century: Expansion with the addition of the Old Library (1732) and the Long Room (1740s).
- 19th century: Iconic Campanile (1853) added to the main square.
- Today: A major center for education, history, and tourism in Dublin.
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| (3) Cnoc na Teamrhach (Hill of Tara)
In-Game Location: An Uaimh (Navan)
Type: Culture
Significance: The Hill of Tara is one of Ireland’s most sacred and historic sites, traditionally considered the seat of the High Kings of Ireland. It was an important center of political, religious, and ceremonial power from prehistoric times through the medieval period. Tara is deeply embedded in Irish mythology, linked to figures like the god Lugh, the warrior Cúchulainn, and Saint Patrick, who is said to have challenged the old pagan order there.
Construction History:
- Neolithic period (circa 3000–2500 BC): Earliest structures built, including passage tombs such as the Mound of the Hostages, older than the Egyptian pyramids.
- Iron Age (circa 500 BC–400 AD): Tara became a royal and ritual center, with the construction of large earthworks and enclosures.
- Early medieval period (circa 400–1000 AD): Recognized as the inauguration site of the High Kings of Ireland, featuring the Lia Fáil (Stone of Destiny), which was believed to roar when a true king touched it.
- 12th century: The importance of Tara declined after the Norman invasion and the centralization of power elsewhere in Ireland.
- 1798: Used as a rebel stronghold during the Irish Rebellion against British rule.
- Today: A major archaeological and mythological site, offering panoramic views of the Irish countryside and attracting thousands of visitors each year.
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| (4) Caisleán Bhaile Átha Troim (Trim Castle)
In-Game Location: Baile Átha Troim (Trim)
Type: Military
Significance: Trim Castle is the largest Norman castle in Ireland and was a key stronghold of the Anglo-Normans during the Middle Ages. It played an important role in controlling the surrounding region and symbolized English power in Ireland. The castle is also famous for being a filming location for the movie Braveheart (1995).
Construction History:
- 1172: Built by Hugh de Lacy, an Anglo-Norman lord, as a defensive stronghold.
- Late 12th century: A massive three-story keep (donjon) added, one of the most impressive in Ireland.
- 13th–14th centuries: Expanded with additional walls, towers, and a moat.
- 17th century: Partially destroyed during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland (1649).
- Today: A well-preserved ruin and one of Ireland’s top medieval tourist attractions.
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| (5) Teach Bhaile an Chaisleáin (Castletown House)
In-Game Location: Cill Dara (Kildare)
Type: Culture
Significance: Castletown House is Ireland’s first and largest Palladian-style mansion. Built in the early 18th century, it was designed to reflect the power and wealth of its owner, William Conolly, one of the richest men in Ireland at the time. The house is considered a masterpiece of Georgian architecture and played an important role in Irish political and social history.
Construction History:
- 1722–1729: Built for William Conolly, Speaker of the Irish House of Commons.
- Designed by: Alessandro Galilei (Italian architect) and Edward Lovett Pearce (Irish architect).
- Mid-18th century: Interiors decorated with stucco work by the Lafranchini brothers.
- 19th century: The estate declined after the Conolly family’s influence waned.
- 20th century: Used for various purposes, including a boarding school.
- 1967: Purchased by Desmond Guinness to prevent demolition.
- Today: Managed by the Irish Office of Public Works (OPW) and open to the public as a historic house museum.
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| (6) Gleann Dá Loch (Glendalough Monastic Site)
In-Game Location: Gleann Dá Loch (Glendalough)
Type: Religious
Significance: Glendalough, meaning “Valley of the Two Lakes”, is one of Ireland’s most important early medieval monastic sites. Founded in the 6th century by St. Kevin, it became a major center for Christian learning, pilgrimage, and scholarship during the early Middle Ages. Despite Viking raids and later decline, it remained a significant religious site and is now a popular heritage site and tourist attraction.
Construction History:
- 6th century: Founded by St. Kevin, who lived as a hermit before establishing a monastic settlement.
- 8th–10th centuries: Became an important monastic university, attracting scholars from across Ireland and Europe.
- 9th–12th centuries: Suffered multiple Viking raids, but the monastery continued to thrive.
- 12th century: A period of rebuilding, including the construction of the Round Tower (30m high), used for protection and as a bell tower.
- 13th century: The monastery began to decline as religious power shifted to Dublin.
- 1398: Destroyed by English forces under Richard II.
- Today: Preserved as an archaeological site, featuring ruins of churches, a cathedral, the round tower, and St. Kevin’s Cross, surrounded by stunning natural landscapes.
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| (7) Caisleán Chill Chainnigh (Kilkenny Castle)
In-Game Location: Chill Chainnigh (Kilkenny)
Type: Military/Culture
Significance: Kilkenny Castle is one of Ireland’s most iconic castles, symbolizing Norman power in the region. Originally built as a defensive stronghold, it later became a luxurious residence for the powerful Butler family, who lived there for over 600 years. Today, it is a major tourist attraction, showcasing both medieval and Victorian-era design.
Construction History:
- 1195: Built by William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke, as a Norman stone castle.
- 13th–14th centuries: Expanded with additional towers and fortifications.
- 1391: Purchased by the Butler family, one of Ireland’s most influential noble families.
- 17th century: Transformed from a medieval fortress into a Renaissance-style residence.
- 19th century: Extensive renovations in Victorian style, adding elegant interiors and gardens.
- Today: Managed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) and open as a museum with period-furnished rooms and art galleries.
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| (8) Carraig Phádraig (Rock of Cashel)
In-Game Location: Caiseal Mumhan (Cashel)
Type: Religious
Significance: The Rock of Cashel was the seat of the Kings of Munster before being gifted to the Church in 1101. It is one of Ireland’s most spectacular medieval sites, featuring Romanesque and Gothic architecture. The site is also linked to St. Patrick, who is said to have converted the Munster kings there.
Construction History:
- 4th century: Used as a fortress by the Kings of Munster.
- 1101: Donated to the Church by King Muirchertach Ua Briain.
- 1134: Cormac’s Chapel built, one of Ireland’s best-preserved Romanesque churches.
- 13th century: Gothic cathedral added.
- 15th century: Round Tower and Hall of the Vicars Choral built.
- 17th century: Destroyed during the Irish Confederate Wars (1647).
- Today: One of Ireland’s most visited historic landmarks.
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| (9) Magh Adhair (Adair's Plain)
In-Game Location: Bhun Raithe (Bunratty)
Type: Culture
Significance: Magh Adhair is an ancient ceremonial site in County Clare, historically used as the inauguration site of the Kings of Thomond, particularly the O'Brien clan of the Dál gCais. It was one of the most important Gaelic royal sites in medieval Ireland, comparable to Tara for the High Kings.
Construction History:
- Prehistoric period: Likely used as a ritual or burial site during the Bronze or Iron Age.
- Medieval period: Became the official crowning site of the O'Brien kings, who ruled Thomond (modern Clare and Limerick).
- 12th–13th centuries: The site was destroyed several times, including by the Normans and rival Irish factions.
- Today: Features a large earthwork enclosure, a sacred tree site, and a standing stone, all linked to ancient rituals. It remains an important symbol of Gaelic kingship and heritage.
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| (10) Caisleán Bhun Raite (Bunratty Castle)
In-Game Location: Bhun Raithe (Bunratty)
Type: Military
Significance: Bunratty Castle is one of the most well-preserved medieval castles in Ireland, originally built in the 15th century. It played a significant role in the power struggles of the O’Brien family, who ruled over the region of Thomond. The castle’s strategic location on the River Shannon made it an important fortress for controlling trade routes. Today, it is a major tourist attraction, offering insights into medieval life and showcasing reconstructed interiors from the 16th century.
Construction History:
- 1425: Built by the O’Brien family, who were lords of Thomond and descendants of the Kings of Munster.
- 16th century: The castle was expanded with defensive features, including a tower house and a large great hall.
- 17th century: The castle was partially destroyed in 1646 during the Irish Confederate Wars, when it was attacked by Parliamentary forces under the command of Sir General Michael Jones.
- 19th century: The castle was restored by the Vandeleur family, who purchased it in the early 1800s and refurnished it with period-appropriate furnishings.
- Today: It houses a folk park and offers visitors a chance to experience medieval banquets and tours of the restored interiors, including the great hall, kitchen, and living quarters.
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| (11) Sceilg Mhichíl (Skellig Michael)
In-Game Location: Cill Airne (Killarney)
Type: Religious
Significance: Skellig Michael is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Ireland’s most remote and mysterious landmarks. It was a monastic settlement from the 6th to the 12th century, where early Christian monks lived in isolation.
Construction History:
- 6th century: Founded as an early Christian monastery by Irish monks.
- 8th–9th centuries: Beehive-shaped stone huts (clocháns) built for monks.
- 10th–12th centuries: The monastery thrived, with small chapels and terraces added.
- 12th–13th centuries: The monks abandoned the island, possibly due to climate change and Viking raids.
- 16th century: Although abandoned, Skellig Michael was a regular destination for pilgrims
- 19th century: A lighthouse was built on the island for maritime navigation.
- Today: A protected archaeological site, accessible only by boat with limited visitor numbers.
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| (12) Mainistir na Maighne (Moyne Abbey)
In-Game Location: Iorras (Erris)
Type: Religious
Significance: Moyne Abbey is a Cistercian monastery founded in the late 12th century in County Mayo. It was established by the O’Malley family, one of the most prominent Gaelic clans in the region. The abbey is significant not only for its role in religious life but also for its place in the wider history of the Cistercian order in Ireland. It is a fine example of medieval ecclesiastical architecture and is known for its picturesque location and well-preserved ruins.
Construction History:
- In the late 12th century: The abbey was founded by the O’Malley clan, likely around 1170, as part of the broader Cistercian expansion in Ireland.
- 13th century: Moyne Abbey was developed with typical Cistercian architectural features, including a church, cloisters, and abbot’s residence. The abbey flourished during this period, as Cistercian monks were known for their focus on farming, scholarship, and monastic life.
- 16th century: The abbey was disbanded during the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII. It fell into decline after the monks were expelled.
- 17th century: The abbey was partially ruined, with many of its structures being dismantled or abandoned.
- Today: The ruins remain a popular historical site, with visitors able to explore the church nave, cloisters, and other parts of the monastic complex.
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| (13) Caisleán Charraig Fhearghais (Carrickfergus Castle)
In-Game Location: Charraig Fhearghais (Carrickfergus)
Type: Military
Significance: Carrickfergus Castle is one of the most well-preserved Norman castles in Ireland, strategically located on the Antrim coast near Belfast Lough. It played a key role in the defense of Northern Ireland and was involved in several significant historical events, including Viking invasions, the Anglo-Norman conquest of Ireland, and the English Civil War. The castle’s strategic position allowed it to control the important sea routes into the River Lagan and the Belfast area.
Construction History:
- 1177: The castle was founded by John de Courcy, a Norman knight, shortly after his conquest of East Ulster.
- Late 12th century: Early fortifications were built, including a keep and defensive walls.
- 13th century: Expanded and strengthened with the addition of stone walls and towers, giving it the appearance of a typical medieval fortress.
- 16th century: The castle was upgraded and fortified further to withstand cannon fire during the period of English military expansion in Ireland.
- 17th century: It played a role during the English Civil War, with royalists and parliamentarians both seeking control of the castle.
- 19th century: The castle was used as a prison during the Irish Rebellion of 1798.
- Today: Carrickfergus Castle is one of Northern Ireland’s major tourist attractions, offering a well-preserved glimpse into medieval military architecture with its keep, walls, gatehouse, and stunning views over Carrickfergus Bay.
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| (14) Ballaí Cathrach Doire (Derry City Walls)
In-Game Location: Doire (Derry)
Type: Military
Significance: The Derry City Walls are one of the finest intact 17th-century fortifications in Europe. Built to protect Protestant settlers during the Plantation of Ulster, they played a key role in the Siege of Derry (1688–1689). The walls are a symbol of the city and an important historical site.
Construction History:
- 1613–1619: Constructed by the London guilds as part of the Ulster Plantation.
- 1688–1689: Withstood the Siege of Derry by Jacobite forces for 105 days.
- 18th–19th century: Remained largely unchanged, making them unique in Europe.
- Today: A 1.5 km (1 mile) long walkway offering views of Derry and its history.
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