Friday, October 19, 2012

Burren National Park/Kilarney – Day 7

Day 7 – Monday, September 24:
Burren National Park (Killarney)  Left hotel at 9:15 AM 

The Burren National Park In County Clare, Western Ireland
The Burren National Park is visually stunning and quite unlike any other landscape. This vast limestone plateau is liberally sprinkled with ancient archeology such as this 4000 year old Poulnabrone Dolmen burial tomb. The Burren is a unique botanical environment and from May to August an astonishing array of Mediterranean and Alpine plants add a splash of color to this place of truly scenic splendour.

A quick glance at the Burren would leave you thinking it was just rock and little else. This however, is a very complex ecosystem. The habitats within the Park grade into one another, and often are inseparable, creating a mosaic of habitats that are hard to isolate. For example limestone pavement is often inter mixed with calcareous grassland and hazel scrub, or ash woodland on limestone pavement. All the major Burren habitats are represented within the park. Approximately 75% of plant species found in Ireland are represented within the habitats of the Burren. Included among these are 23 of Irelands 27 native orchid species.
Photo Orchid Grassland
Limestone pavement
Photo of Keelhill

http://www.celticcrystalireland.com/uploads/images/products/gree%20sh%20basket.jpg
Green Shamrock basket Price: €595.00 WHEW! nobody breathe!
Connemara Celtic Crystal Factory tour
Celtic Crystal was founded in 1972. This family-run business has been pioneering the incorporation of Celtic Designs and Gaelic Motifs into its ornate Irish Crystal and it is proud to claim leadership in this field.

Today, this tradition is continued by our talented and creative young Irish crafts people; reproducing the culture and history of Ireland by crafting the unique and intricate designs that are synonymous with Ireland’s Celtic heritage on very exquisite crystal pieces.

I didn't take too many pictures of the demonstration. We watched a young man carve into crystal, freehand and with no templates a perfect design--Amazing. They apprentice for 7 years. Then become a Master. This company has 5 Masters.

On our journey to the Cliffs of Mohr we visit another old 16 century Corcomroe Abby, nestled in the hills of Burren. It wasn't the greatest weather but it was so beautiful.
Corcomroe Abbey
Isolated  16th CenturyAbby
This well-preserved abbey is picturesquely sited among the grey hills of the Burren. It is best known for its lonely situation, lying close to another interesting monastic settlement, a group of three small early Christian Churches which nestle in the pass of Oughtmana and which are dedicated to St. Colman.
These early monks give us an idea of how they sought out isolated areas in which to build their churches, and then set about the task of becoming self sufficient and maintain themselves free from contact with outside society. 

The abbey acquired the name of 'Sancta Maria de Petra Fertili'-
'St. Mary of the Fertile Rock' which reflects the fertile nature of the Burren lands, which insured that here a Cistercian community could, by cultivation, provide itself with the necessary means of support. Corcomroe Abbey is said to have been built by Donal Mór Ua Briain, late in the 12th century and he was also responsible for several other important religious houses in Thomond which include St. Flannans Cathedral in Killaloe, St. Mary's Cathedral in Limerick and Holy Cross Abbey.
His selection of this site in the Burren appears to have been a prudent one for the abbey continued to function for the next 400 years, the last Abbot named in 1628, being Revd. John O'Dea, a Cistercian from the Irish College at Salamanca.


16th Century...just can't imagine!!
The abbey was built to a cross-shaped design with each transept having a chapel, the entrance to one now being unfortunately sealed off for burials, but the magnificent groined entry arches are still visible, which display some fine outer mouldings. Many other architectural features and motifs of interest may be seen. The choir is constructed in stonework of a very high quality, with the roof bearing some finely carved rib vaulting in the Romanesque style, while the capitals are decorated with leaves of the lotus plant and other botanical species. Further interesting images are displayed in the transept chapels which include human masks and dragons' heads carved with great ingenuity. In the north wall of the choir there is a tomb-niche holding a recumbent effigy of King Conor na Siudaine Ua Briain one of the very few examples remaining of an Irish Chieftain.


 


Amazing

Bordering Stone fences


Now on our way to the Cliffs of Moher. Traveled narrow
winding roads. But finally we arrived.
The cliffs consist mainly of beds of Namurian shale and sandstone,[8] with the oldest rocks being found at the bottom of the cliffs. It is possible to see 300 million year-old river channels cutting through, forming unconformities at the base of the cliffs.



The Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland’s premier visitor attractions. The cliffs are sheer magnificence towering 214 metres high over the ocean and continue on for 8 kilometres along the Western Seaboard of County Clare. O Brien’s Tower stands proudly on a headland on the majestic Cliffs. The Cliffs of Moher are home to one of the major colonies of cliff nesting seabirds in Ireland.

The area was designated as a Refuge for Fauna in 1988 and as a Special Protection Area for Birds (SPA) under the EU Birds Directive in 1989. Included within the designated site are the cliffs, the cliff-top maritime grassland and heath, and a 200 metre zone of open water, directly in front of the cliffs to protect part of the birds' feeding area. The designation covers 200 hectares and highlights the area's importance for wildlife. Interpretive facilities are present onsite to educate the visitor on many different aspects of the Cliffs.

We had lunch cafeteria style in the visiting center, with wide windows and lots of tourists we overlooked the views. The visiting center wasn't all that impressive. It had threatened to rain all day but we lucked out. The hill and steps were enormous to climb but well worth the huffing and puffing.

Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean
Our next stop was to catch a 20 ferry over the Shannon River. from Killmer to Tarbert and travel on to Killarney. While on the ferry we managed to catch up to the map we had been highlighting. We are just amazed the the trip is almost over.

Narrow roads
This mountain pass has 9km of unsurfaced road and is 15km from town. It divides the Purple Mountain from the MacGillycuddy Reeks. In this rugged defile are the Serpent, Auger, Cushvalley and Black Lakes which are drained by the river Loe.

Our next stop is an Irish Pub for a traditional Irish dinner with live music. Called Kate Kerney's Cottage.
Our next stop is an Irish Pub for a traditional Irish dinner with live music. Called Kate Kerney's Cottage. 
Irish dancers

Traditional Irish music
It was a very enjoyable evening. We also enjoyed a Guinness. VERY smooth. But after a long day it was time to head to the Dromhall Hotel, Killarney for two nights.


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