Irish towns and cities: interesting facts

Once known as “The City of Sieges" due to all the battles in the 1600s, this poetic city is the country's third-largest.

Irish revolutionary Wolfe Tone was captured in this Donegal town.

The name of this county town comes from the Scandinavian "Waesfjord". In Gaelic, however, it is called Loch Garman.

1577, Irish rebel Lord Rory Oge O'More set fire to this town, the largest in Kildare.

The Battle of the Boyne took place near this town in County Louth.

It is possible to see Snowdonia from the local hill here, on a clear day.

In the First Desmond Rebellion in 1569, Irishmen unsuccessfully besieged this inland city in the province of Munster.

Lying on the River Corrib, this west coast city was built under King Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair in 1124.

This town in Co. Cork hosted the Eurovision song contest in 1993.

This city's O'Connell Bridge is wider than it is long, the only such road bridge in Europe.

This Dublin satellite town is the 5th-largest settlement in the country.

The Norman invasion of Ireland began in 1169, near this Wexford village.

Founded by the Vikings in 914 AD, this south-eastern city is Ireland's oldest.

This Co. Meath town, dating back to 1172, is the ninth-largest settlement in the republic.