Programme of Events

• Explore Ireland • Plan trips and days out • Discover fascinating stories of inventions and ingenuity •

Have you seen the fossil ‘footprints’ at Valentia, which are some of oldest in the world? Did you know that the great telescope at Birr was once the biggest in the world? And that we have an astronomical observatory that is 1,000 years older than Stonehenge?

‘There are so many great places to discover!’

Discover these and lots more fascinating stories in a new Irish website, the ‘Atlas of Ingenious Ireland’. You can use the Atlas to see how many of the seven ingenious wonders you have seen, and to see at a glance what interesting places are near you.

The seven ingenious wonders chosen for the Atlas include such national treasures as: the fossil footprints in Valentia, the prehistoric astronomical observatory at Newgrange, and an elegant railway bridge over the Boyne River at Drogheda, that is a feat of engineering.

The new map also has museums, commemorative plaques, wildlife watching places, the top 10 astronomy and science sites, and Ireland’s best gardens. Sites run from the Giant’s Causeway in the north to the world’s oldest working lighthouse at Hook Head.

Each entry in the website has a photo, a short description, and a link for more information.

Use it to discover more about the many great scientific places around Ireland, and to plan outings, holidays and school trips.

Coming soon: you will be able to add your favourite places, so that the Atlas can become a comprehensive resource for everyone.