Sweet Adare

Sweet Adare
Oh! sweet Adare, oh lovely vale!
Oh oft retreat of sylvan splendour
Nor summer sun, nor morning gale
E'er hailed a scene more softely tender.
Aubrey deVere

For this post I decided to liven things up and get away from the every-day cares of life and concentrate on a few pictures that are nice to look at and conjure up for me at any rate, a feeling of wellbeing whenever I visit the lovely village of Adare. This is not going to be a history lesson or anything like it but hopefully it will contain some little snippets of interest for some, who knock across this post on the web.
My introductory picture left is of the “usher” at Adare Manor; a most cordial and pleasant gentleman that one would ever wish to meet. I mention it here as my photograph belies his jovial and gregarious manner for all who make his acquaintenence.
My second picture below is a John Hinde postcard entitled: Desmond Castle on River Maigue, Adare, Co. Limerick, Ireland. John Hinde produced these postcards in the nineteen fifties and sixties when colour was just about to make its appearance on the postcard scene and one would have to say that the one reproduced here is very pleasing indeed.
The first thing to catch the eye is the three beautifully groomed young ladies who give this scene a heightened sense of colour and contrast. Did they just happen along being in the right place at the right time; or were they positioned here for the photograph? Are they sisters, as it would appear all three had the same hair stylist? The ruins of the old Desmond Castle are reflected in a still pool on the low waterline of the river; we can just about make out the outline of the castle; hidden as it is in a forest of vegetation. Is there a hint of autumn in the leaf colour? With conservation work being carried out on this old ruin in recent years, should you wish to capture this scene today, you would find it much changed and perhaps not quite as appealing as we see it here.
On the reverse of the card is carried the following information:
“DESMOND CASTLE, ADARE, CO. LIMERICK:
The wooded banks of the river Maigue close to the village of Adare provide many pleasing sylvan vistas, good fishing and historic sites. The Desmond Castle which was erected in the 13th century saw many a struggle for possession. Cromwell ordered its dismantling in 1657, but the estates remained in the possession of the Fitzgerald family until 1721 when they were purchased by the Quinn family, ancestors of the present owner, the Earl of Dunraven.”
The Fitzgeralds came to Ireland with the Anglo-Norman invasion of 1169 and the branch of the family referred to here came down the centuries as the Earls of Desmond – hence the Desmond Castle at Adare. And although Cromwell ordered its dismantling (a refined description for having it blown up) the Fitzgerald’s held on to the estates, which is no great surprise either as most Irish families of possessions hedged their bets when taking sides in any conflict; it being quite normal to find brothers in opposition in territorial wars. Cromwell came to Ireland with his army in 1649 and carried out a bloody war in the short time that he commanded his forces while on the field so to speak. And by all accounts he didn’t have it all his own way either, with O’Neill from the north giving him a bloody nose at Clonmel. His personal activities in Ireland lasted but nine months before returning to England, that being said, his influence in Ireland you could say is with us to the present day.
We see where the Quinn family purchased the estates; they were later to become the Earls of Dunraven, with the family seat being Adare Manor. Adare Manor (pictured right) and manor grounds are today an upmarket hotel and golf course; (President Clinton having an overnight stay here.) it being sold on to Irish/American interests. If you behave yourself, keep out of the way of greens, golfers, weddings, etc., and desire a look around the manor grounds and perhaps have a reasonably priced meal in the “Coach House Restaurant” (not the manor you will understand) then I feel certain you will be made welcome – I was.
I show in my third picture the manor house; the original house incorporated into the very impressive building that is now in evidence. What is unique about this building is a declaration in large carved lettering in stone, spanning the western facade,in recognition of the workers who built it.The engraving and preparation of the large blocks of stone had to be carried out in the workshop in advance of the construction of the great house and it is for this reason it is seen to have been an exceptional piece of engineering for the period. Some very nice carvings of heads, gargoyles, etc., all of which are the work of a local stone mason who had a workshop in the locality is a feature. To the right of the picture can be seen a large Cedar of Lebanon which is the subject of my fourth and last photograph for this post.
This picture (right) is a close-up of Cedrus libani, Cedar of Lebanon; it is stated to be the oldest specimen of its kind in Great Britain and Ireland. By any standards this is an impressive tree and I have been in the company of relatives from America who hugged this tree for an embarrassingly long time.
“The Hillier, Gardener’s Guide, to Trees and Shrubs,” inform us that it was introduced in c1645. When they say ‘introduced’ they mean to this part of the world; the specimen that we have at Adare manor is no doubt one of the first, if not thee first. If you have the good fortune to see this tree,(and if you’re interested in exceptional tree specimens then you should.) it might be no harm to keep in mind that it arrived here just about the same time as Cromwell!
The lovely village of Adare with its thatched cottages and quaint old-world appearance is congregated with leisurely strollers from home and abroad throughout the summer months. It has in the past been given the accolade of being Ireland’s Tidiest Town and although not repeated, it is not for the want of effort on the part of the hard working committee and local council that the ultimate prize has for the second time eluded them so far.
Adare and its hinterland is steeped in history, it is the territory of the poet Aubrey deVere; it is for G.A.A. fans the place of one of the greatest craftsmen to wield the camán in the persona of Mark Foley, and if you’re looking for a bit of “rhythmic trad” to raise the spirits, tune in to the melodious box of Adare’s own Derek Hickey. And finally, if you wish to party, look no further than the Fitzgerald, Woodlands House Hotel – they haven’t gone away you know!
This is Danny’s Quaint Ireland.
It is Cóipcheart ©Copyright Danny Quain, Cois Má 2008