Shannon and the Midlands:Layout 1 02/05/2007 16:26 Page 155
CROOM Kilmallock was home to the powerful Earls of Desmond and the third
Southeast of Adare in wooded country on the banks of the River largest town in Ireland. The town also had a complex of houses and
Maigue you will find the pleasant town of Croom. Croom is home to early farming activity that dates back to around 4000 BC. The small
the Croom Mills Waterwheel and Heritage Centre, which explores the Kilmallock Museum features scale models of these Stone Age
working conditions for 19th century millers. Tel: (061) 397130. habitations along with a large model of the medieval town and other
interesting artefacts relating to the history of this fascinating town.
FOYNES Tel: (063) 98259.
This town, just 38km west of Limerick city, is the home of the “Irish
Coffee”, a brew which warmed flying boat passengers when the port of NEWCASTLE WEST
Foynes became the eastern terminus in the early days of transatlantic Newcastle West is a busy market town lying at the centre of
aviation in the 1930s. Learn more at the Flying Boat Museum. Tel: prosperous dairy country. The town takes its name from a 12th
(069) 65416. century castle, which now lies in ruins in the park beside the square.
The castle was built in 1184 for the Knights Templars, but later
GLIN passed to the Desmond Family. It had two halls, of which one,
Glin, an idyllic village on the banks of the River Shannon, is the seat Desmond Hall, is still complete. The Hall now functions as a cultural
of the Knights of Glin. The Knights are a branch of one of Ireland’s centre for the area staging concerts, exhibitions and lectures.
greatest noble families, the Fitzgeralds, and have lived in the area for
seven centuries. The 29th Knight of Glin, Desmond Fitzgerald, resides PALLASGREEN
in the eye-catching Glin Castle, which dates from the 1780s. The The village of Pallasgreen is located 20km from Limerick City. About
mansion houses fine examples of Irish furniture, fine art and antiques. 5km north east is the former stronghold of Castle Garde, which
Tel: (068) 34173. The original medieval castle of the Knights of Glin features a five-storey tower and is thought to be the oldest inhabited
now lies in ruins near the Glencorbry stream beside the village. house in the country. South of the castle, the Dead River and Bilbao
River meet to form a tributary of the River Shannon called Mulkear
KILCORNAN River.
Kilcornan is home to the enlightening Celtic Theme Park and
Gardens, Tel: (061) 394243. The park offers visitors a look into RATHKEALE
Ireland’s past with a fine example of an early ringfort, a stone circle, The second largest town in the county, Rathkeale was once an
a mass rock and a dolmen. The classically styled garden allows for a important Geraldine town. In 1709 around 200 refugee families from
panoramic view of the surrounding area. Also visit the nearby Germany settled in this area and today, names like Teskey, Switzer and
Stonehall Open Farm. Tel: (061) 393940. Little Orchard Adventure Ruttle still resonate. Rathkeale’s main street has some fine examples
Centre in nearby Crecora offers a superb range of activities. Tel: of Doric and Lonic doorways and its courthouse is from the early 19th
(061) 320292. century. A 13th century Augustinian abbey, now in ruins, can also be
seen in the town centre.
KILMALLOCK
Today, Kilmallock stands as a small country town in the fertile Golden
Vale. However, the scattering of outstanding medieval buildings
peppered around the town give us a clue to its prestigious past. The
buildings include the 15th century tower house of King’s Castle, a
Adare Heritage Centre
13th century Dominican Friary and Blossoms Gate, the only surviving
gate of the town’s early fortification. During the Middle Ages
Main Street, Adare, County Limerick, Ireland.
Tel: (353) 61 396 666 Fax: (353) 61 396 932.
Email:
info@adareheritagecentre.ie
www.adareheritagecentre.ie
A place of consequence
We look forward to your company
shannon and the midlands 155
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