Adare (Ath Dara, "Ford of the Oak Tree") lies on the wooded west bank of the River Maigue, some 9mi/16km southwest of Limerick on the busy road leading to Killarney. With its thatched roofs and old gray-walled church, it has something of the air of an English village. The 14-arched stone bridge affords a very attractive view of the beautifully planted banks of the river and the old buildings in the background.
This annual two-week festival takes place in mid-July and includes dozens of concerts in a 2000-seat tent on the grounds of the Adare Manor. The repertoire focuses on symphonic and classical music, but some concerts featuring jazz or other contemporary styles are often included in the program.
Near the bridge over the River Maigue in Adare are the restored remains of a 14th C. Augustinian abbey, used since the 19th C. as a Protestant church and school. The cloister has been used since 1826 as a mausoleum for the Earls of Dunraven.
The Adare Heritage Center allows visitors to experience Adare's unique history from 1233 to present. The story is told through realistic model enactments and audio visuals in English, Irish, Italian, French and German.
Address: Adare Heritage Center, Main Street, Adare , Ireland
Early in the 18th C. many German refugees from the Palatinate were resettled in the district around Adare and Rathkeale, which then became known as the Palatine. They preserved much of their way of life until late in the 19th C., and German family names can still be found in the area.
The Roman Catholic parish church originally belonged to a Trinitarian abbey built in the 13th C. It reached its present size and form only in the 19th C.
7mi/11km southwest of Adare on the N21, on the River Deel, lies the little market town of Rathkeale, around which are a number of ruined castles. One of them, Castle Matrix (1440) has been restored; contains period furniture and objets d'art.
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Adare Manor
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Palatine, Ireland
Augustinian Abbey, Adare
Adare, Limerick
