Georgia Hirst's must-see Ireland

It’s hard to resist falling in love with Ireland. Just ask Georgia Hirst, from the cast of the hit TV series Vikings!

Discover more at https://www.ireland.com

Cascading waterfalls, acres of rolling green pastures, the sparkling blue waters of the epic coastline… with such natural show-stoppers, it’s no surprise that more and more film and TV productions are choosing Ireland as their star location! Georgia Hirst (Torvi) from Vikings found it hard not to fall in love with her home away from home, so we got her to tell us where and what she loves to do in Ireland!

Fast Facts:
Take any monastic site from the Vikings period and a round tower connects them all. It’s widely agreed that monks used these as bell towers, but during raids, the monks would hide both themselves and their valuable chalices, crosses, and gold in the tower’s highest point. The Vikings counteracted this tactic by setting fire to the towers and either smoking the monks out, or burning them to death. You can see these towers at Devenish Island, Glendalough, and Clonmacnoise.

Far from being just rampaging warriors, the Vikings also brought civilisation to modern Ireland. It seems that the Norsemen were settlers by inclination. The 830s saw their first attacks on Ireland, and by 835 they were attacking the monastery at Clonmacnoise. A mere six years late in 841, the Vikings pulled their longboats out of Lough Neagh, signalling their decision to stay.

Ireland’s oldest city, Waterford, was founded and shaped by Viking settlers. At the heart of Waterford town, you’ll find the Viking Triangle, named after those who first settled there – take a walk around this historic centre and learn more about the Vikings in the three world-class museums here.

These Nordic warriors ruled Dublin City with an iron fist for almost three centuries before their demise at the hands of legendary High King of Ireland, Brian Boru, in the Battle of Clontarf. A walk around the city’s buildings, such as Christ Church Cathedral, gives evidence of their stronghold on Dublin. The bones of Brian Boru lie in the wall of the Church of Ireland cathedral in Armagh.

Place names around Ireland echo the island’s Viking roots – Wexford, Waterford, Strangford, and Carlingford, for example, are all derive from ‘fjord’, while names with ‘ey’ is a sign of Viking roots also, as ‘ey’ means surrounded by water, such as Dalkey or Ireland’s Eye.

The entire story of Vikings in Ireland told in colorful and interactive style, make a beeline for Dublinia in Dublin city. Also in Dublin, the Viking Splash Tour is a land and water ride at the hands of friendly Viking guides.

For more information, visit https://www.ireland.com/what-is-avail...

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