Bunratty Castle & Cliffs of Moher
Friday, June 24, 2016
Adare, in the County Limerick, is known as Ireland’s ‘Prettiest Village’. It is famed for traditional thatched cottages (some of which was destroyed by fire before we arrived) built by a 19th century landlord. The town also consists of a number of medieval monasteries and a beautiful village park. Not even constant rain could put us of from exploring!
Bunratty Castle is a large 15th century tower house build in 1425 between Limerick and Ennis. Well preserved and restored, it is a prime example of a medieval castle. Take the time to go on the tour by a very well informed guide to review 15th and 16th furnishings, tapestries, and works of art capturing the mood of those times. An added bonus is the charming village street where one can stroll from house to house to see a blacksmith at work or a horse farrier in action. Banquets are held nightly for a true, real life medieval feast!
And then there are the famous Cliffs! Rising 390 feet out the ocean, the Cliff of Moher is a sight to behold – if the weather plays along! It is almost like stepping to the edge of the earth. Rugged cliffs, broiling ocean, thundering waves – all in one snapshot of the eye. It is one of the most visited destinations in Ireland with over one million visitors a year. Try the home made soup in the visitor’s center with freshly baked bread, specially when it is rainy and windy. The cliffs consists of sandstone and namurian shale and host over 20 species of birds.
FINAL STOP ON THE TOUR: GALWAY
The little booklet says it best, “Galway, a harbor city on Ireland’s west coast, sits where the River Corrib meets the Atlantic Ocean. The city’s hub is 18th-century Eyre Square, a popular meeting spot surrounded by shops and traditional pubs that often offer live Irish folk music. Nearby, stone-clad cafes, boutiques and art galleries line the winding lanes of the Latin Quarter, which retains portions of the medieval city walls”.
The city prominently display the crests or flags of fourteen merchant families that brought wealth and glory to the city during the middle ages. Many of the buildings they inhabited, is still in use as banks and other industries. Walking the three main streets, it is easy to visualize Christopher Columbus strolling along during his visit in 1477. Do not miss the Galway Cathedral, one of the newest churches in Ireland and known for the fine display of marble tiles from quarries across the country.
OH! FORGOT THE WHISKY!
No trip to to Ireland is complete without a stop at a distillery. In our case it was the Kilbeggan Distillery, situated on the River Brosna in Kilbeggan. Classified as a ‘small pot still distillery’, the license to produce the liquid gold dates back to 1757. Commercial use has stopped, but all the old machinery is restored and on display. In true Irish tradition, Kilbeggan is named after St. Becan, one of the 12 apostles of Ireland who founded a monastery in the area in the 6th century.
Thanks Ireland for a great time!! See you again soon, God willing.
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