Muckross Friary

3mi/5km south of Killarney in a lovely woodland setting, we come to Muckross Friary (15th C.: National Monument), one of the best-preserved Franciscan abbeys in Ireland. The church, with a massive central tower, contains a number of tombs. The very beautiful cloister is surrounded by arcading in different architectural styles, and in the center is a huge yew (a tree frequently found in monasteries, since it provided good wood for carving). Three flights of steps lead to the monastery rooms on the upper floor.