Our home country- Ireland.

1. Our home country- Ireland. Wicklow, Dublin, Antrim & Tipperary. By Michelle, Joy & Claire.

2. Glendalough, County Wicklow.GleannDá Loch -meaning valley of two lakes. • While renowned for it’s magnificent scenery, Glendalough is also full of a rich and varied heritage in terms of history, monuments, archaeology, architecture, landscapes, geology, parks, flora, fauna, wildlife habitats & mining history. • It was carved out by glaciers during the Ice Age and the two lakes, from which Glendalough gets its name, were formed when the ice eventually thawed. • The Valley is home to one of Ireland’s most impressive monastic sites,which was founded in the 6th Century. • In around 1042 oak timber from Glendalough was used to build the second longest (30m) Viking longship ever to be recorded, known as the ‘Sea Stallion’ • There are nine different walking trails and a waterfall. It is also the host to walking and garden festivals, parks and gardens, and retreat centres.

3. Bray Head & Cliff Walk, County Wicklow. • Bray Head is a 791 foot hill which dominates the end of Bray promenade. The stone cross at the top of the hill is an iconic feature of the town, and was placed there in 1950. • A chair lift was erected in the 1950’s which ran from the promenade to the a restaurant near the top of Bray Head, however it was removed in the early 70’s. • The Cliff Walk is one of the highlights of walking in Wicklow for both tourists and local residents. • This linear walk takes you along the stunning coastal path, from Bray to Greystones, the neighbouring town. • The distance of the cliff walk is 7km and takes approximately 2.5 hours. • The slate sea-cliffs have also been established as a minor rock climbing location since the 1970’s.

4. Phoenix Park, County Dublin. • It was founded in 1662, and is one of the largest enclosed recreational spaces within any European capital city (1,752 acres). • It has many large areas of Greenland and tree-lined avenues. • The park is open to the public all year round. There are many special features, including Áras an Uachtaráin, Dublin Zoo, Papal cross, Monuments, Deerfield Residence, Magazine fort, Victorian flower garden and tea rooms. • The park is also host to many public events, such as marathons, motor racing, cricket, concerts and festivals. It also hosts charity events such as “Darkness Into Light”. • The park is a sanctuary for many mammals and birds and a wide range of wildlife habitats can be found, most especially in the ‘Furry Glen’ which has a series of short walks centred on a small lake. • The Irish government are currently lobbying UNESCO to have the park designated as a world heritage site.

5. Galtee Mountains, County Tipperary. • It is the highest inland mountain range in Ireland, with the highest peak standing at 3,018 ft. • The area has been affected by two major periods of Glaciation. • The rounded summits were formed due to the higher parts of the mountain being above the ice. The constant freeze-thaw action on the higher rocks gradually wore them down to form the stony, scree covered summits we have today. • Glacial action also caused the formation of cirques on the higher slopes, which are now occupied by five corrie lakes. • The Glen of Aherlow is a picturesque valley nestled below the mountains, it is a popular destination for walking and trekking holidays. People travel from all over the world to witness the spectacular views and experience the different walking trails.

6. The Giant’s Causeway, County Antrim. • The Giant’s Causeway is a natural rock formation located in northern Ireland. • The formation consists of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, most of which are hexagonal. • It was formed as a result of ancient volcanic eruption which happened around 50 million years ago. • The columns form huge stepping stones, some as high as 39 feet, which slope down to the sea. • It is an excellent place to spot sea birds and some rare plants also thrive in the rock formation. • Is the only heritage site in Northern Ireland. • The discovery was announced to the wider world in 1693 and became popular with tourists during the nineteenth century