Bus trip to Killarney – We grabbed a quick breakfast and headed to the scheduled bus pick-up point with 40-some others who signed up for one of the many day tours offered by the Up With People Ireland reunion crew. Our first stop was in the quaint town of Adare, thatched roof cottages, a beautiful park with gardens and an old Abbey. On to Ross Castle and a jaunty cart ride through part of the Killarney National Park. We moved on to Muckross Mansion then headed into the town of Killarney. We did a bit of shopping (a rain jacket) and headed over to see the Franciscan Friary before getting back on the bus to return to the University of Limerick.
The gardens, parks and flowers are so incredibly beautiful in Ireland. We found it to be the same in our short time in London. We have to believe it’s because of the mild climate and weather. It rains a LOT in Ireland! This is a community park in Adair.
Our Lady’s Abbey Girl’s School in Adare. This was closed when we were visiting, but a quick walk around just to see what we could see. The vast size and age of some of the buildings caused us to shake our heads!!
Ken loves to “take in” the doors especially in religious places. We imagine all the people who have walked through the doors over the years / centuries!!
Ross Castle located in the Killarney National Park. Again, the vast size of the place and the age of it!! Ross Castle is a 15th-century tower house on the edge of Lough Leane, in Killarney National Park, County Kerry, Ireland. It is the ancestral home of the Chiefs of the Clan O’Donoghue, later associated with the Brownes of Killarney. We had a short amount of time to walk around the castle grounds.
How in the world did they build these monstrosities in the 15th century??? Do you know what the 3 slits are for to the right side of this castle wall?
Another incredible view of the castle with the beautiful Killarney National Park in the background.
Kayaks and boats to rent. This might make a nice scene for a puzzle.
This is a “Jaunty Cart!” Our driver’s name was Cal and the horses name was _________. We had a lovely ride through some of the Killarney National Park. Ireland has a bit of a challenge managing the deer population as the only predator they have are fox.
Another view of Ross Castle.
Muckross House (Irish: Teach Mhucrois) is located on the small Muckross Peninsula between Muckross Lake and Lough Leane, two of the lakes of Killarney, 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) from the town of Killarney in County Kerry, Ireland. In 1932 it was presented by William Bowers Bourn and Arthur Rose Vincent to the Irish nation. It thus became the first National Park in the Irish Free State (now Republic of Ireland) and formed the basis of the present day Killarney National Park. (Wikipedia). We had tickets to tour this amazing house, unfortunately our time here was limited as we needed to eat lunch at this stop as well. The shepherd’s pie was incredible!!!
Next up was a drop off in the town center of Killarney. We were dropped at a shopping mall and we aren’t ones to enjoy shopping, but it gave us the opportunity to pick up a needed rain jacket. It rains in Ireland almost every day! Right in the town center is the Franciscan Church and Friary.
If you’re curious about the history and you have the time, read on! Otherwise skip to the next picture…it’s rather lengthy!
Killarney Donal McCarthy Mór founded the friary of Muckross for the Observant friars about 1448. Building continued for nearly fifty years. The friary was dedicated to the Holy Trinity. The community was legally suppressed in 1541, but the friars were able to remain in residence until about 1589, when two friars were killed during an English raid.
The Franciscans returned about 1600, again about 1612, and at least by 1639, having been driven out on the two previous occasions. The Cromwellians expelled them again in 1652. The friars withdrew to a place of refuge, probably Friars Glen on the side of Mangerton. About 1760 the few remaining friars moved to a cottage at Faghbawn, by the Flesk River. By now the community was reduced to two, yet the friars started a college in 1780 on the site of the present Scott’s Hotel in Killarney. This eventually grew into the Diocesan College of St. Brendan. The last friar, Fr J. FitzGerald probably left Killarney in 1849. When the Belgian friars came to Kerry in 1860, Fr. FitzGerald was Guardian of Waterford friary. He died at Athlone in 1880.
Belgian friars who were helping to re-establish the English Franciscan Province came to Ireland in 1858 to restore the ailing Irish Province to its former state of observance of the Franciscan Rule. After a short stay in Gorey, they moved to Killarney in 1860. Killarney Franciscan church was opened in 1867, the friary in 1879 and in 1902 this became the Novitiate House of the Irish Province and was so for many decades. The Postulancy for the Irish Province and the Custody of the Immaculate Conception of Britain is in Killarney. Today the Old Friary is leased to the Dioceses and the friars live in a New Friary nearby. (Wikipedia).
The flowers…we will do a post and photo dump of all the beautiful flower pictures we’ve taken along the way!! The shop owners really do their best to maintain a beautiful storefront. Such vibrant colors even when it’s a bit rainy!
