These famous stone circles are situated to the west of Lough Fea beside Davagh Forest. There are seven of these stone circles and alignments along with several cairns which date from the early Bronze Age. It has been suggested that the circles and alignments have some connection with astronomy but a more popular theory is that they may well have
served some function in fertility rites. |
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A 10th century cross situated on a rocky height on the shores of Lough Neagh. It is a national monument, which is believed to be the first high cross of Ulster. The cross stands 18.5 feet high and 3.5 feet wide. Its 22 panels depict various biblical scenes. Local legend has it that the cross was built with the help of
a ‘magic cow’ which stepped out of the Lough and provided workmen with lashings of cream, milk and butter for as long as they needed it. |
The area of Tullyhogue was of regal importance in Ulster before the 16th Century because it was here that the O’Neills were inaugurated as Chieftains of Ulster. Hugh O’Neills inauguration on 1595 was the last to take place at this historical site. |
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Here are the ruins of St Kierans Church,
Ballygawley with its very early cross. The
church is said to date from 1489 and was a Franciscan foundation. Directions: Signposted off A4 Ballygawley to Augher Road. |
Set in Altadavin Forest, this magnifi cent chair and well is carved from stone. Reputedly built for St Patrick on his journey through the Clogher Valley, the site attracts visitors throughout the year. The attraction is reputed to have mystical powers.
Directions: Outside Augher on the Aughnacloy Road. |
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Just north of Augher, off the B83, is the
Knockmany Forest, a government run forestry plantation on Knockmany Hill. At the top, look for the burial place of Queen Aine, Queen of Oriel, a 6th century kingdom whose centre was Clogher. The cairn is a passage grave dating from Neolithic times. This type of monument
consists of a stone-built passage leading to a terminal chamber, often cruciform in shape, and covered by a mound of cairn stones. The remarkable thing about this grave is its incised decoration, in patterns of concentric circles, zig zags and other designs, which are similar in style to the great earthworks in the Boyne Valley, County Meath.
This country, besides being a fisherman’s haunt, is well forested. The 19th century landlords who once owned vast tracts of land have disappeared, but their old estates, such as, Favour Royal and Fardross, gave their names to public parkland and forests where it is possible to camp and have picnics. Cairn open by appointment, contact Peatlands Park
on +44 (0)28 3885 1102.
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The O’Neill’s are coming!!! September
2012 will see the return of the O’Neill’s to Dungannon, the ancient Capital of Ulster and to Castle Hill with a gathering of the ‘Clan’ for the official opening of the newly refurbished Ranfurly House and Castle Hill Gardens. The £5.5 million Castle Hill Project is supported by funding from Heritage Lottery, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council and delivers on the Council’s strategy to provide a gateway to the historic hill and create investment confidence in the Market Square as the focal point for visitors and business.
Situated at the top of Dungannon Town’s Market Square, Ranfurly House, named after Dungannon’s influential Ranfurly family, was originally built in 1854 for the Belfast Banking Company. The House commands the site of the former entrance way into Castle Hill where the remaining twin towers of the Knox Hannygton House stand and where it is reputed, rests the remains of Hugh O’Neill’s Castle that was the focus of Channel 4’s Time Team in 2008, discovering evidence of early habitation on the hill, confirming the strategic importance of the site since the middle ages.
When completed the refurbishment and extension of Ranfurly House will provide a physical gateway to the important archaeological site of Castle Hill. The public garden space will be delicately landscaped and interpreted to balance visitor impacts with conservational requirements whilst profiling the features of this historical location. Ranfurly House will breathe new life as an Arts Centre, Visitor Information and Interpretive Exhibition Centre for Castle Hill. The Castle Hill Experience will tell the fascinating story of the ‘Flight of the Earls’ and the consequent ‘Plantation of Ulster’ through an interactive exhibition on permanent display in Ranfurly House.
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