The picturesque village of Turlough in Mayo is nestled along the north bank of the Castlebar River. Described by Samuel Lewis in 1837 as a “wild romantic district”, Turlough is a landscape of outstanding natural beauty and heritage, filled with opportunities for exploration and enjoyment.

Turlough’s history is a rich and varied one. The agricultural landscape that has developed around the abundance of rivers and lakes that define this part of Mayo is crammed with the story of its people and its places.

In this audio guide, we will journey back to the days of Ireland’s patron saint, Patrick, who is said to have visited here. We will also discover stories of the two great lordly families of the area, the Burkes and Fitzgeralds. We will witness the impact and influence of the Turlough Park estate on the local community, and follow the development of its great house and gardens. We will explore the folklife collections in the newly constructed Museum behind the great house. We will walk the streets and fields of Turlough village, exploring the diverse community which formed its population–a community that once boasted religious houses from no less than four different faiths. Along the way we will encounter everything from legendary figures to industrial labourers and even Ireland’s most notorious duellist.

All this and more make up the story of Turlough, one of the true hidden gems of County Mayo.

Welcome to Fore, County Westmeath. Many places in Ireland are celebrated as ‘hidden gems’, and Fore is certainly one of those. This historic village began as an Early Christian monastery and later developed into an Anglo-Norman walled town on the edge of the Pale.

Today, it is a popular place to visit for its unique, picturesque setting, natural beauty, and rich history and heritage. Its ruins include the remains of two medieval parish churches, an anchorites’ (or hermits’) cell, three holy wells, the site of a motte and bailey castle, a medieval gaol, wayside crosses and one of the most impressive Benedictine Priories in Ireland. It was also a walled town, and two medieval gatehouses that once controlled access survive to this day.

These treasures, along with its lack of modern development and relaxed character, where the most persistent noise you will hear is the gentle toll of a church bell, make Fore a place of national—and some would say European—significance. And if you meet some of the locals during your visit, you will no doubt experience their sense of pride in their medieval heritage. So, step back in time with us and discover the Wonders of Fore.

Welcome to Streamstown Train Station on the Old Rail Trail. For just over a century this train line was used by locomotives carrying goods, animals and people. This station has a rather intriguing history connected to a Grand National-winning racehorse, the 1916 Rising, Ireland’s War of Independence, and the Civil War.

Welcome to Crosswood Bog - Tales from the Turf, part of our series of Old Rail Audio Guides produced with Westmeath County Council. Discover the story of a living landscape.

Welcome to Stories from a Sacred Landscape: Kilcrumreragh Monastic Site, part of our series of Old Rail Audio Guides produced with Westmeath County Council. Kilcumreragh Monastic Site, better known locally as Kill, is a truly ancient holy site with a long and fascinating history.

Hear the story of Ireland's most adventurous saint with the St Brendan's Way Audio Guide.

Travel through time with the Tinryland Audio Guide

Welcome to our audiobook, ‘Places for the Living, Places for the Dead: Archaeological discoveries on the N25 New Ross Bypass’. This audiobook tells the story of the remarkable archaeological discoveries that have revealed the story of a landscape through time.

Encounter megalithic tombs, ogham stones, holy wells and stone forts as you explore the Kilmovee Heritage Trail. Where millennia of Mayo’s memories are written in stone.

The quiet village of Kilmovee on the borderlands of Mayo and Roscommon is surrounded by a peaceful landscape full of stone walls and hedgerows. It is a scene that has remained largely unchanged for centuries. However, in these fields and along the quiet boreens, you can find many echoes of the past. Clues that this was a place of significance over centuries and where you might find a story around every corner. This audio guide will introduce you to some of these tales.

Discover these tales that span millennia on our Kilmovee Heritage Trail Audio Guide. Together we’ll encounter centuries of stories – from a Neolithic court tomb to famous saints, a medieval cashel and intriguing legends. Throughout the guide, you will also hear from local residents who share the heritage, folklore and traditional Irish music that the village is known for.

For the full episode, and for links visit our website at https://www.abartaheritage.ie/kilmovee-heritage-trail/

Hear the story of Ireland's most adventurous saint with the St Brendan's Way Audio Guide.

In the heart of Dublin’s vibrant Liberties, you can find a centuries-old place that links the city’s past with its present; St. James’s Church & Graveyard. Located virtually across the road from the famous Guinness Storehouse, hundreds of thousands of people pass by the gates of St James’s every year. Still, very few know the intriguing story of this hallowed place. This audio guide, produced with Dublin City Council and featuring historian Cathy Scuffl, will introduce you to some of the many tales of this story-filled place.

This audiobook tells the story of a remarkable archaeological site that was discovered in a quiet lowland setting, near the border of Counties Leitrim and Roscommon in the mid-west of Ireland. The audiobook features many of the experts who used a variety of different techniques to help to shed light on this complex wetland archaeology site.