The Ruins of Adare
We wanted to spend the morning of Good Friday in a quiet manner.
The religious orders of old liked to settle on good land beside a river, and no less than three groups of monks made the countryside of Adare their home during the Middle Ages.
PK had planned on attending the Trinitarian Abey otherwise known as the “White Abbey” in the centre of the village. It had been restored by the First Earl of Dunraven as a Roman Catholic Parish Church. D and I were attending the Church of Ireland services that afternoon at the Augustinian Priory (or the Black Friars’ Abey) which was founded in 1315 by John, Earl of Kildare.
So it was fitting that we spend the morning at the Franciscan Friary ruins in the demesne, beside the clubhouse of the Adare Manor Golf Course. We understand that full tours of the ruins of Adare are available through the Adare Heritage Centre during peak vacation times. In April though the best you can do (if you have anyone with mobility issues) is tour the Franciscan Friary Ruins.
After 1756 John Wesley paid several visits to Adare and the site of the tree where he preached is marked. Here perhaps? The quiet time that we spent at the ruins that Good Friday morning was absolutely fascinating.
Kaths quote: “Oh, God above, if heaven has a taste it must be an egg with butter and salt, and after the egg is there anything in the world lovlier than fresh warm bread and a mug of sweet golden tea?”-Fank McCourt
