Limerick

We enjoyed our time in Killarney, but this morning we left to go north. We stopped first in a pretty little town called Adare. The Trinitarian Priory is one of the first features of the town you notice. It was built for the Trinitarian order of monks in 1230 and believed to be the only monastery for that order in Ireland. The Priory was restored in 1811 and is now used as the local Roman Catholic Church.

Just across the street are some little cottages with thatched roofs.

A little further through town there is the Augustinian Priory, founded in 1316. It now houses the local parish of the Church of Ireland.

Finally, on the way out of the town center, there is a cool multi-arched bridge that was constructed between 1390 and 1410.

After our visit to Adare, we headed east to Lough Gur. Archaeological digs have confirmed settlements here dating back 6000 years, and the site includes the Grange Stone Circle, built around 2200 BC. It's referred to by some as the Stonehenge of Ireland, but in reality it better resembles the stone circles at Avebury.

Here we are with the largest stone, called Rannach Crom Dubh, which weighs more than 40 tons.

After our visit to Lough Gur, we headed up to Limerick for the night. This is Ireland's third largest city, on the Shannon River. We strolled down O'Connell Street, where many of the stores are located and stopped in to a pub for dinner. Afterwards, we found King John's Castle completed in 1210.

Here's the view up the river and out of town.

And finally, St. Mary's Cathedral, built in 1168, the oldest building in Limerick which is in daily use.

See you tomorrow!