Tuesday September 13th

We woke up to sunshine. However that did not mean it was warm. We are heading to Galway today. We headed inland via a town called Tuam.

 

We saw the remains of St. Jarlath's Wheel Monastery. It was started by St Jarlath when his chariot wheel broke at the site of the future monastery. There was not much left of the old building. The carved heads that were over the windows were interesting as was the architecture around the windows. While in town we tried to see the Mill Museum but it was not open.

 

Further down the road we found the Knockmoy Abbey. In order to see it we had to climb over 3 rock stiles and dodge more cow pies. We met three people leaving the abbey and one lady said "This was our penance." It was nice to see an Abbey instead of a Friary. We could even recognize the difference. The Abbey dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and founded for the Cistercians from Boyle in 1189-90 by Cathal Crovdearg O'Connor, King of Connacht. The church has a nave, chancel and a transept with two chapels. The nave is simple and austere, with little ornament except at the top of the pillars. In contrast, the rib-vaulted chancel has beautifully carved stonework with fine capitals and east windows. It has a 13th century tomb niche.

On the north wall of the chancel is a unique Irish medieval line-painting. The bottom of the picture shows an angel with scales (now almost invisible), Christ with his hand raised in blessing, and the martyrdom of St. Sebastian. Above is a scene from the medieval morality legend of the Three Dead Kings and the Three Live Kings. Under the Dead Kings was the inscription 'We have been as you are, you shall be as we are', while the Live Kings seem to be part of a hawking scene..It was commissioned probably around 1400 by Malachie O'Nollan and Conaire O'Eddichan.

 

Our last stop of the day was the Medieval Heritage town of Athenry. Athenry is one of the most notable medieval walled towns surviving in Ireland, owing its foundation to Meiler de Bermingham who built his Castle there c.1250.

Bermingham did not want Irish inside his town. He offered free land to anyone from Europe that wished to settle there. This came at a price however you were taxed heavily and never allowed to leave. This town was build at a cross road between Dublin and Galway and the north and south of Ireland. Bermingham made lots of money charging people to enter and exit his town as they passed through.

 

In the Medieval Heritage Museum we learned about life in the town and at the time in history. Charles got to wear some chainmail and various helmets. We learned about weapons of the time. How heavy some of them were. We saw a replica of a dungeon and heard of all the ways to torture someone. Lots more history to learn.

We have now settled in at Galway. It was a great day with little rain but strong winds.

 

Last Friday when we were leaving the Moyen Friary Charles started to pull out from where he was parked. Upon seeing a transport truck coming down the one lane road he quickly pulled back in. He thought the truck should have the right of way. Might is Right.