{"id":6085,"date":"2013-08-06T12:17:06","date_gmt":"2013-08-06T11:17:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.whatsonni.com\/news\/?p=6085"},"modified":"2013-08-06T12:18:21","modified_gmt":"2013-08-06T11:18:21","slug":"northern-ireland-attractions-on-a-par-with-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/2013\/08\/northern-ireland-attractions-on-a-par-with-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"NORTHERN IRELAND ATTRACTIONS ON A PAR WITH THE WORLD"},"content":{"rendered":"

FROM breathtaking coastlines to fortified cities and a vacant jailhouse, Northern Ireland\u2019s tourist attractions are on a par with many of the world\u2019s famous sites, according to the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB). <\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a>Full of natural beauty and fascinating places to explore, there is no need to travel around the world to indulge in history, catch a glimpse of stunning scenery or see some of the world\u2019s most captivating sites.<\/p>\n

\u201cNorthern Ireland is an enthralling place to visit with sites and attractions that are on a par with many of the world\u2019s famous tourist attractions,\u201d says NITB Destination PR Officer Pauline Gormley.<\/p>\n

\u201cEach one offers a unique insight into Northern Ireland, from its past and the time of the Ulaidh who were the people of early Ireland that gave their name to the modern province of Ulster right through to its future and political landscape,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have our very own breathtaking coastline along the North Coast route which is ranked among the top in the world, sites of important archaeological importance such as Navan Fort and the Beaghmore Stone Circle and places that are completely unique to Northern Ireland that can\u2019t be found anywhere else in the world including the Giant\u2019s Causeway,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

To help you discover more of what is on offer in Northern Ireland, NITB has compared some of the world\u2019s most famous attractions with those right on our own doorstep.<\/p>\n

Fortified World \u2013 Walled City of Derry <\/strong><\/p>\n

You don\u2019t have to travel to China to see an example of walled fortification as the city of Derry is one of the finest examples of a Walled City in Europe and the only remaining completely intact walled city in Ireland.\u00a0 Just like the Great Wall of China, the City Walls were built as a defence mechanism against invasion.\u00a0 Built during the period 1613 \u2013 1619 to defend against early 17th<\/sup> century settlers from England and Scotland, the Walls of Derry were one of the few fortifications that were never breached.\u00a0 They are approximately one mile in circumference and provide stunning views over the historic landscape.<\/p>\n

Breathtaking Coastline – Antrim Coast<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you are looking for a spectacular coastal drive then the Antrim Coast tops the list of the most breathtaking, sea-hugging routes in Europe, according to the Sunday Times travel section.\u00a0 The coastline is packed with stunning scenery including the Giant\u2019s Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, Dunluce Castle, Cushendall, Cushendun and the fishing village of Glenarm.\u00a0 The Antrim Coast has been ranked first in the list of the Six Best Coastal Drives which includes Biarritz to Bilbao, Naples to Tropea, Dieppe to Le Havre, Kalamata to Monemvasia and a round trip of Reykjavik.<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>On the Inside \u2013 Crumlin Road Gaol<\/strong><\/p>\n

Just like San Francisco\u2019s Alcatraz Prison, Belfast has its very own vacant jailhouse full of history and notable inmates.\u00a0 Closed in 1996, which marked the end of 150 years of imprisonment, conflict and execution, the Crumlin Road Gaol was designed by Sir Charles Lanyon, built between 1843 and 1845 and cost \u00a360,000.\u00a0 The jail was modelled on London\u2019s Pentonville prison and throughout its history it is estimated that around 25,000 prisoners were held here.\u00a0 It is now the only Victorian era prison to remain in Northern Ireland.\u00a0 In the Gaol\u2019s lifetime 17 men were executed by hanging and their bodies buried within the prison walls in unconsecrated ground.\u00a0 Today its cells are vacant, wings silent and the yards are empty, and historical and educational guided tours are running where you can hear about the history of the prison from the time when women and children were held within its walls through to the political segregation of republican and loyalist prisoners.\u00a0 The historical and educational tours of the Gaol run every day between 10am \u2013 4.30pm (Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day excluded).<\/p>\n

Political Power \u2013 Stormont<\/strong><\/p>\n

The White House is one of the world\u2019s most symbolic buildings but when it comes to political power houses Belfast\u2019s \u2018House on the Hill\u2019 is just as architecturally impressive.\u00a0 Home to the Northern Ireland Assembly, Stormont was officially opened in 1932 by the then Prince of Wales and is set in the grounds of Stormont Estate which is a public park with majestic lawns and forest paths.\u00a0 The great white Grade B listed building is made from English Portland stone and has six floors and six pillars at the entrance of the building, representing each county of Northern Ireland.\u00a0 It is open to the public between 9am \u2013 4pm Monday to Friday.<\/p>\n

Archaeological Importance – Navan Fort<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to Irish mythology, Navan Fort in Co. Armagh was one of the great royal sites of pre-Christian Gaelic Ireland and the capital of Ulaidh (where the name Ulster originates from).\u00a0 It was founded by the goddess Macha in the 5th<\/sup> or 7th<\/sup> century, around the same time of the construction of the Parthenon Temple in Greece.\u00a0 Archaeological excavations at Navan Fort have revealed that a 40 metre mound that is still present today on the site dates back to 95 BC when it is believed to have been used for a pagan ceremonial purpose.<\/p>\n

Impressive Bridge \u2013 The Peace Bridge<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Few bridges are as impressive as California\u2019s Golden Gate Bridge but if you don\u2019t want to travel over 5,000 miles there is a stunning suspension bridge located a little closer to home.\u00a0 The Peace Bridge was opened in 2011 and is a cycle and footbridge across the River Foyle in the city of Derry.\u00a0 The 235 metre bridge was designed by Wilkinson Eyre, who also designed the Gateshead Millennium Bridge in Newcastle upon Tyne.\u00a0 The inspiration for the bridge was Derry\u2019s iconic hands across the divide sculpture, conceived as two distinct structural systems that work in harmony.\u00a0 At the middle of the river both systems overlap, boldly interacting to create a single unified crossing \u2013 a structural handshake across the Foyle.\u00a0 It is illuminated at night and is fast becoming a major landmark in the city.<\/p>\n

Prehistoric monument \u2013 Beaghmore Stone Circle<\/strong><\/p>\n

Forget the standing stones of Stonehenge, the Beaghmore Stone Circle in Cookstown, Co. Tyrone was discovered during peat cutting in the 1940s and is a fascinating complex of early Bronze Age megalithic features, seven stone circles and cairns.<\/p>\n

It is possible that Neolithic occupation and cultivation preceded the erection of the burial cairns and ceremonial circles that can be seen on the site today.\u00a0 It is thought to have been a focal point for religious or social gatherings with some archaeologist believing the circles were constructed in relation to the rising of the sun at the solstice as a plea to the gods to help with crops.<\/p>\n

Man made reservoir \u2013 Silent Valley<\/strong><\/p>\n

Just like Hoover Dam, the Silent Valley Reservoir has become an important visitor attraction, attracting around 50,000 visitors per year who come to enjoy the peace and solitude of this mountain area with its unique landscape and varied wildlife.\u00a0 Situated in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Silent Valley features a dam ringed by dramatic mountain panoramas and the famous Mourne wall located in the U-shaped valley of Kilkeel river.\u00a0 The reservoir is the main water supply for most of Co. Down and a large part of Belfast.<\/p>\n

Film locations \u2013 The Game of Thrones<\/strong><\/p>\n

The stunning landscapes in the Lord of the Ring\u2019s trilogy captivated movie fans from around the world and saw them flocking to New Zealand to marvel in its breathtaking scenery.\u00a0 Now movie fans have also been flocking to Northern Ireland to tour the locations used in the filming of HBO\u2019s Game of Thrones, one of the most popular and successful fantasy TV series ever made.\u00a0 The series is shot on location in Northern Ireland and locations include the Titanic Studios, Tollymore Forest Park, Ballintoy, Shane\u2019s Castle, Inch Abbey and many more.\u00a0 It is already said to have contributed \u00a365 million to the local economy.<\/p>\n

Unique attractions<\/strong><\/p>\n

Northern Ireland is also home to many unique tourist attractions which can\u2019t be found anywhere else in the world. \u00a0Belfast is the birthplace of the world\u2019s most famous ship, the Titanic, and 2012, the 100th<\/sup> year anniversary of the sinking of the sink, saw the Titanic Belfast<\/strong> visitor attraction open which is now the most popular tourist attraction in Northern Ireland. \u00a0Located right beside the ship\u2019s construction site, Titanic Belfast tells the story of the Titanic from its conception in Belfast, to its tragic end and the discovery of the wreck.<\/p>\n

Also unique to Northern Ireland is Northern Ireland\u2019s only UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Giant\u2019s Causeway<\/strong>, which was formed due to intense volcanic activity 60 million years ago.\u00a0 It is steeped in legend with the most famous myth being that it was built by Finn McCool as a way to reach his Scottish rival Benandonner.\u00a0 The story goes that Finn fell asleep and the Scottish giant came across to find him.\u00a0 Upon seeing that the Scotsman was much larger than her husband, his wife Oonagh wrapped him up and passed him off as her baby.\u00a0 Benandonner began to wonder what size the \u2018child\u2019s\u2019 father must be and made his return to Scotland, tearing up the Causeway as he went.<\/p>\n

A short break in Northern Ireland starts from \u00a349 per room. To book a short break and find out more about Northern Ireland\u2019s world-class attractions visit discovernorthernireland.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

FROM breathtaking coastlines to fortified cities and a vacant jailhouse, Northern Ireland\u2019s tourist attractions are on a par with many of the world\u2019s famous sites, according to the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB). Full of natural beauty and fascinating places to explore, there is no need to travel around the world to indulge in history, … Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6085"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6085"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6085\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6090,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6085\/revisions\/6090"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6085"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6085"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6085"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}