Tired of monasteries and archaeological remains? Want to check out some 19th-century industrial espionage? Or monitor earthquakes? Or learn about the Irish inventor who electrocuted turkeys with the world's largest battery?
We Irish have a rich heritage of invention, discovery and industry. But it was seldom celebrated, apart perhaps from the linen industry and Waterford crystal. Visitors to Glendalough, for example, learn about the monastery, but not about the local lead mines. Some of that is changing, as our "tour of curiosities" will demonstrate.
Birr telescope
Built in 1845 as the largest in the world, it was the Hubble telescope of its day, enabling William Parsons to see further into space than ever before. Many brilliant young scientists trained on it, including William's son, Charles, who later invented the steam turbine and changed the world by making cheap electricity possible. (Telescope, gardens, science museum tel: 0509-20336).
Maynooth museum
Maynooth's new museum celebrates the amazing Rev Nicholas Callan (1799-1864). Callan, the college's science professor, invented the induction coil and self-exciting dynamo among other things, and made the world's largest battery and most powerful electro-magnet. His exploits were recognised by Encyclopaedia Britannica and a (literally) shocked community. Something of a showman, Callan tested his devices by electrocuting students and poultry. (Tel: 016285222).
Dublin delights
Animal, vegetable or mineral? Whichever your preference, these three Dublin treasures, which grew out of the 19th century's fascination with collecting things, will satisfy your curiosity. They are the Natural History Museum (tel: 01-6777444), Botanic Gardens (tel: 01-8374388) and Trinity College's geology museum (hidden in an attic, and a haven for fossil lovers; tel: 01-6081477). All are working scientific institutions that open their doors to visitors. For an alternative view of Dublin, try a bracing walk into the sea along the South Bull Wall. Built in the late 1700s, the wall is a triumph of marine engineering.
Lifeforce Mill
Mills were the power-generating stations of their day. Many have now been restored, including Cavan's Lifeforce Mill, which is driven by an historic water turbine made in Belfast in 1846 using designs which the Irish stole from the French inventor, Benoit Fourneyron. (Tel: 049-4362722).
Exploris aquarium
Strangford Lough (strangford, Norse for "violent") has a distinctive liquid landscape, with its numerous pladdies, or drowned drumlin islands, and is renowned for bird-watching. Exploris aquarium in Portaferry (tel: 048-42728062, a short ferry ride across the "violent" narrows from Strangford village), introduces visitors to the lough's underwater world.
Antrim coast
The 35-mile Antrim coast road starting at Larne is an engineering and geological wonder. Built in the 1830s to link the county's glens and villages, it takes you through ancient sea caves and past modern chalk quarries, prehistoric volcanoes and the Jurassic rock where Ireland's one and only dinosaur fossil was found.
The amazing Giant's Causeway, another geological wonder, is one of many interesting sites along Antrim's north coast. This lava lake, created 65 million years ago during violent eruptions as North America broke away from Europe, cooled slowly to form large columnar crystals (tel: 04820731159). Bushmill's distillery is nearby if you fancy something industrial after all that geology.
Magilligan, a vast complex of sand dunes encroaching into Lough Foyle, was where the Ordnance Survey began mapping Ireland in 1827. The army drew a line in the sand eight miles long and spent months measuring it with military precision. This was the baseline against which the rest of Ireland was triangulated and mapped. Small enclosures mark the line's start and end. Derry's Tower Museum (tel: 048-7137 2411) has the story and instruments used in the unusual manoeuvre.
Connemara mines
Connemara is not noted for its industrial heritage, but it has numerous marble quarries and old mines, including Glengowla lead and silver mine (tel: 091-552360). Worked in the 1850s, it is currently the only Irish mine with shafts and tunnels open to the public. Mining heritage centres are being developed at Silvermines, Arigna, Allihies and Bunmahon.
Valentia Observatory
This historic weather station is actually in Cahirsiveen (tel: 066-9472939). Today, it measures earth tremors, ozone levels and magnetic fluctuations. In the "phenological garden", they monitor climate change by logging the date when buds, leaves and flowers appear.
Public tours (Thursdays 11 a.m. -1 p.m.) include the release of a weather balloon. Valentia Island once boasted the first transatlantic telegraph cable, Marconi's wireless station and a slate quarry. Now it boasts 400 million-year-old fossil footprints (visitor access to these is being arranged at the Knightstown museum, tel: 0669476353).
Explosive Cork
Cork city has a strong industrial tradition. Visit its butter museum, broadcasting museum, and the enormous Ballincollig gunpowder mills (17941903), which made explosives for armies, mining and railroad companies. around the world (tel: 021-874 430).
Hook Head light
Finally, the world's oldest functioning light house is now open to the public at Hook Head (tel: 051-397055), explaining the engineering and technology involved in making the seas safe for sailors. Mizen signal station in Co Cork is also open, across an elegant metal bridge, and can be good for bird and whale-watching (tel: 028-35225).
Visitors are advised to check opening times and prices.
Mary Mulvihill is a science journalist. Her book, Ingenious Ireland, will be published later this year.
