Off to Tralee today. Adare was our first stop. It was a town with a number of churches(not in ruins), thatched cottages, and a castle. We saw the inside of Adare Church which is the Church of Ireland and the R.C. Trinitarian Abbey.
The Adare Church is the old Augustinian Priory. There are many reminders of the old catholic priory. There was a cloister area that is completely enclosed. There are no doors into the centre which is a grassy area with trees and plants. We wondered how this was tended. The old refectory is now a school and parish hall. The inside was very nice in its simplicity. There were many antiques inside as well.
The R.C. Holy Trinity Abbey was two churches in one. The new church was built right beside the old one. The connecting wall was taken out. Inside it looks like a main church with a large chapel beside it. There are still lots of renovating going on. We were not able to see the entire abbey because of this. The inside was more ornate than the Adare Church.
Moving on to Askeaton. The castle there was closed due to all the renovations that are being done. When talking to a worker with the OPW we found out that the castle had been undermined during an attack. It was then set a fire. The castle then collapsed under its own weight. They are trying to save what is left.
We stopped at the Askeaton Abbey before leaving town. The tower had been destroyed by cannon fire. Most of the abbey had been destroyed. There were still some things of interest. This is where we talked with the OPW worker. On the wall of the abbey was a sign "No burials inside this abbey". The man said people still sneak in and bury their loved ones.
Our last stop was the Carrigafoylis Castle. So much had been closed over the last couple of days so that as we approached this castle with its side missing I said "We are open for your viewing pleasure". This castle was built in a different way than others we have seen. It was built with slabs of sandstone instead of rocks. It was thought to be impregnable in the 16th century. However it fell after 3 days when attacked by cannon fire. People are able to climb up to the top of the back part of the castle.
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