Go on a journey through time to explore the region’s turbulent historyAttractions to visit around Northern Ireland (Clockwise from top left): Navan Fort; Derry city walls; Belfast City Hall; Titanic Belfast; Belfast Castle. Photographs: Joe Dunne/Getty Images/iStock Sun Aug 23 2026 - 06:00 • 5 MIN READNavan FortNavan Fort. Photograph: Comparative Kingship Project/Queen's University Belfast Situated atop an Ice Age drumlin, Navan Fort is one of Ulster’s great historic sites and the perfect place to start your tour. In Irish mythology, it was the royal capital of the Ulaidh, the ancient people who gave their name to Ulster. Later it was the abode of Conchobar mac Nessa, king of Ulster, who reputedly had a warrior school here for his royal soldiers, the Red Branch Knights. One of his star pupils, Setanta, went on to become better known as Cuchulainn.Admission to Navan Fort is free, but access to the nearby indoor exhibition, audiovisual show and some reconstructed Iron Age dwellings, requires a ticket. visitarmagh.comArmagh Church of Ireland CathedralSt Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral, Armagh. The Charles Wood Festival of Music and Summer School opens on August 20th. Photograph: Getty Images A short journey away is Armagh city, where St Patrick established the Irish seat of Christianity. A transformative event in our history, the new faith dominated Irish life for more than 1,500 years. One of Ireland’s hidden gems, the city is a place of elegant malls and rich architecture. Head up the steep slope to explore where Christianity took root, on the hill now occupied by the Anglican Cathedral. A place of exquisite stained-glass windows detailing the life of St Patrick, it is also the last resting place of high king Brian Boru, while the grounds offer expansive views over the city. stpatricks-cathedral.orgThe Hill of the O’NeillRemains of Knox Hannyngton House, Hill of O'Neill, Dungannon, Northern Ireland, in a public park. The Norman conquest of Ireland subsumed virtually all of the country except for mid and west Ulster, an area dominated by the powerful O’Neills. A querulous clan that even the Normans found impossible to handle, they ruled from the Hill of the O’Neill in Co Tyrone until the 17th century. To view this, make your way to the hilltop above Dungannon, which offers panoramic views over much of Ulster. There is an admission charge to the multimedia exhibition at nearby Ranfurly House. Here we learn the history of the O’Neills, and a poignant story on the fall of Gaelic Ireland, the Flight of the Earls and the violently contested Ulster Plantation. hilloftheoneill.comThe Walls of DerryThe Derry City Walls. Photo by Joe Dunne 27/07/26