New guidebook on Ireland's Ancient East

The Wild Atlantic Way has been hugely successful and now Ireland’s Ancient East offers visitors a view of a different Ireland.

Neil Jackman, an experienced archaeologist and a director of Abarta Heritage, has put together Ireland’s Ancient East – A Guide to its Historic Treasures, the first guidebook to this new heritage route.

Published by The Collins Press (price €17.99), the guidebook highlights 100 sites across the region, including some in Westmeath such as Fore Abbey, which is known for its Seven Wonders (including the ‘water that will not boil’ and the ‘tree that will not burn’), and the Hill of Uisneach, which is almost perfectly in the centre of the island of Ireland.

Mr Jackman, who is known for providing accessible, jargon-free information, said: “The great difficulty when compiling a book such as this is choosing which sites to include and which to omit, as there are thousands of incredible places waiting to be discovered in Ireland’s Ancient East.

“These sites are some of my personal favourites, and are a mix of large, well-known attractions like the Rock of Cashel (Site 73) and hidden gems such as Gaulstown Dolmen (Site 90).”

Practical information about locations and what to expect from the visitor experience are included.

With easy-to-follow maps and specially commissioned photographs, this is the only guide you’ll need to discover the historic treasures of the east of Ireland.

Whether you’re culturally curious or a great escaper, you can take an immersive journey of discovery through over 5,000 years of Ireland’s history, heritage, archaeology and folklore.

Ireland’s Ancient East – A Guide to its Historic Treasures by Neil Jackman is published by The Collins Press, price €17.99.

It is available in all good bookshops and online from collinspress.ie.