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Swords, Co. Dublin

Swords (Sord Cholm Cille in Irish) is a medium-sized suburban town to the north of the city of Dublin. The town can trace its origins dating back to 560, having been founded by Saint Colmcille (521-567). Legend has it that the saint blessed a local well, giving the town its name Sord meaning "clear" or "pure". However, An Sord also means "the water source" and could indicate a large communal drinking well that existed in antiquity.

Swords has a wide range of shops, banks, pubs and other businesses, including a large modern shopping centre, the Pavilions Centre, off the N1. The town now boasts the largest selection of nightclubs and pubs on the northside of Dublin outside of the city-centre.

Swords Castle is undergoing a significant redevelopment and is intended to become a centre of leisure and a tourist attraction. The body of Brian Boru was said to have been brought there after the Battle of Clontarf, though recent evidence would suggest that the destination was Swords Abbey, which lies slightly to the west of the Main Street.

Gardens

Beaulieu House, Gardens and Car Museum

Drogheda, Co. Louth

Beaulieu is a very special place, remarkable for its age, its history, and the fact that the same family have lived in the house ever since it was completed in 1666. The enclosed garden dates from a few decades later may have been designed by the ...

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Golf

K Club, The - Ryder Cup 2006

Straffan, Co. Kildare
Course Type: Parkland / Inland Links

Set amongst the lush countryside of Co. Kildare are two magnificent 18 hole championship golf courses within the resort that is to host the 2006 Ryder Cup. Both of The K Club's courses were designed by Arnold Palmer but each has its own character ...

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Self Catering

The Cottages

Bettystown, Co. Meath

Traditional thatched cottages were once very typical of this part of Ireland and, although the six that make up this beach-side hamlet look so immaculate that you could be forgiven for thinking they are new, they are actually about 300 ...

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What's On

Celbridge - Village at Lyons Farmers Market - Co Kildare - Fridays

The Village at Lyons

Celbridge, Co Kildare

Friday 10am-3pm

Delicious organic meats, vegetables, dairy products and lots more

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Tourist Attractions

Phoenix Park

Dublin 8, Dublin City

The Phoenix Park is over 700 hectares (1,752 acres) in area and is the largest enclosed public park in any capital city in Europe. Originally formed as a royal hunting Park in the 1660's and opened to the public in 1747, it includes lar ...

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Wedding Venues

Barberstown Castle

Straffan, Co. Kildare

Barberstown Castle has been occupied continuously for over 400 years and, despite its many additions - including a new accommodation wing - it has retained a sense of history. There are Church of Ireland and Catholic churches close by in Straffan ...

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