Attractions and Places To See around Claranagh - Top 11

The setting is done with great attention to detail, and it almost feels like a quick picnic in the mountains when you sit down at the rustic tables and look into the distance. The patterned cups and saucers give the place a cozy touch and make the whole thing that little bit more special. The view of the surrounding hills and the relaxed atmosphere invite you to take a short break - perfect for resting your legs and just taking a breather. The coffee house is not only friendly to cyclists, but even offers bike rental for the Ring of Gullion. Handy if you need an extra boost for the next stage! The surroundings are green and spacious, a nice mix of Irish idyll and relaxed hospitality. The owners seem to take the attention to detail seriously, which is reflected in the little things like the decorative elements and the cozy atmosphere.

The Ballykeel Dolmen, also known as the "Witch's Chair", stands alone on the edge of a green river terrace and invites you to take a look back into the past. With its three supporting stones and the imposing capstone, over three metres long, the dolmen looks like a stone sculpture left behind by a long-forgotten culture. The simple but distinctive tripod shape is a testament to the archaic construction that attracted people to this place over 4000 years ago. Excavations around the dolmen have uncovered the remains of a stone mound and Neolithic pottery that tell of the rites and customs of this early community. When you stand among the stones, you feel the mystique of the place - a place that inspires the imagination then and now. Nearby you will find other megalithic structures such as the Portal Tomb of Aughadanove, which together reflect the rich archaeological heritage of the region.

To be able to see the Ballykeel dolmen, you'll need to take a small detour from Mill Road onto Ballykeel Road. Here, you can view the Ballykeel dolmen and cairn, which is dated between 4000 and 2500 BC

Urney Graveyard is the location where Irish poet, songwriter, and teacher, Peadar Ó Doirnín was buried. Peadar was around in the 18th century however his poems were largely recognised in the 19th and 20th century. His famous poem Mná na hÉireann was composed by Seán Ó Riada and recorded by a number of 20th century artists including Kate Bush and Sinéad O'Connor. The graveyard has some interesting local legends attached to it, including that if you are buried in this graveyard you immediately go to heaven.

Due to its privileged location, this incredible Anglo-Norman castle can be seen from miles around. It is believed to have been built in the first half of the 13th century by Lady Rohesia de Verdun after her husband's death. According to legend, she promised to marry the architect who built her a castle in Roche. When this happened and the architect claimed her hand, she threw him from one of the windows, which is known as the 'murder window.'

This dolmen is a monument that has a tripod shape. At the southern end of a tumulus, its capstone is three meters long. It is dated between 4000 and 2500 BC.

On the picturesque Glendesha Road, off the well-known Carriver Road, a piece of typically Irish paradise opens up to you. You will be surrounded by rolling green hills that stretch on both sides of the road, creating a peaceful backdrop that pleases the eye and soothes the soul. This area is characterized by its characteristic Irish country roads, which wind like silver ribbons through the lush greenery. Hill after hill is lined up one after the other, each of them telling its own story, shaped by wind, weather and time. Every now and then you can discover old stone walls or peacefully grazing flocks of sheep, which complete the picture of an untouched, rural idyll. The wind carries soft songs from the woods, and if you pause you can hear the melodic chirping of crickets and the rustling of leaves. The air is fresh and clear, with hints of earth and the sweet scent of blooming wildflowers. The area invites you to linger, take a deep breath and allow yourself to be captured by the natural beauty and tranquility of this landscape. Every step along Glendesha Road is a pleasure, a discovery and a celebration of the beauty of Irish nature.

As you leave Carriver Road and head down Glendesha Road you will be delighted by some quintessential Irish country lanes and rolling hills on both sides.