Adare
 Repairing thatched roof cottage |
 Another worker - interesting to watch |
 The thatching is over a metal roof |
 Thatched roofs are good for 20 years |
 Holy Trinity Abbey Roman Catholic church |
 service in progress |
 Local pub and restaurant |
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Park across the street from the abbey |
Snuggled in a wooden and lush countryside setting, Adare is widely regarded as being Ireland’s prettiest and most picturesque village. Situated on the river Maigue, a tributary of the Shannon river, Adare (Gaelic name: "Ath Dara" - the "ford of the oak") dates back, at least, to the early 13th century. During its long history, Adare, as a strategic location, has been the subject of many conquests, wars and rebellions.
The old town of Adare, which stood on the northern bank of the river Maigue, near the Desmond castle, was destroyed during the 16th century wars. Almost all of the present village was built in the 19th century. The early developments were very haphazard but from about 1820, streets and buildings were laid out according to the, then, Earl of Dunraven’s design. He built houses and rented them, under various agreements, to his tenants, working on his estate lands.
Today, Adare village has a rich wealth of heritage, as well as architectural and scenic beauty. Two groups of world famous ornate, thatched cottages line part off the village’s broad main street, punctuated with beautiful stone buildings, medieval monasteries and ruins.