Adare, meaning “ford of the oak”, is a beautiful village in County Limerick. It is designated as a heritage town by the Irish government.
The picturesque streets are lined with the original thatched cottages, built in the 1820s. A number of these are now used as restaurants, fashion boutiques, and arts and crafts shops.
Desmond Castle was built overlooking the strategically important Maigue river crossing in the early 13th century. Renovated since the 1990s, there are tours of the castle during summer months.
In 1230, the Trinitarian Order established its only Irish monastery in Adare. Restored by the first Earl of Dunraven in 1811, it is now used as the Catholic Parish church.
In 1316, the town’s Augustinian Priory was founded by John FitzThomas FitzGerald, 1st Earl of Kildare. However, the Augustinians were driven out during Henry VIII’s suppression of monasteries at the end of the 16th century.
Adare Manor, situated near the banks of the River Maigue, was the former seat of the Earl of Dunraven and Mount-Earl. It is now the Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort, which will host the prestigious 2026 Ryder Cup golf tournament.
The Franciscan friary, located inside the Adare Manor Golf Club, was founded in 1464. It is currently a state of ruin.
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