Ireland

The Proleek Dolmen

Proleek Dolmen, near Dundalk In part 1, I took you around the Proleek Wedge tomb and told of the Irish legend that surrounds it.

A short walk away on the same golf course is what is quite possibly Ireland’s most photographed dolmen. A dolmen is a type of single-chamber megalithic tomb, usually consisting of two or more vertical megaliths supporting a large flat horizontal capstone or “table” in a “tripod” type style. This one is named the Proleek Dolmen. Irish linguists suggest that Proleek means “the Death Stones,” or the “Dinner Stones.

You may wonder why there are so many small stones on top of this monument. Well, an interesting bit of folklore here says that if you are successful in tossing three consecutive pebbles up to the top of the capstone, without any rolling off, you will get a wish. Another version of the legend states that whoever manages the feat will be married within the year.

@phoenixrosedsgn part 2 #Megalithic #monuments Proleek #Dolmen near #Dundalk #Ireland #Legend #History #tomb #discoverIreland #exploreIreland #travel #tourism #irl ♬ Fantastic sad music background music(842811) – COLOR MUSICA
The Proleek Dolmen is a north-west facing structure which dates from c. 3000 BCE stands at around 3.5 metres (over 13 feet tall), this huge megalith has a capstone 3.8 metres (12.5 feet) in length and weighing at least 40 tons! That’s one impressive balancing act!

The dolmen has been aligned so that it’s opening points toward the peak at Sleive Guillon so it can take advantage of the setting sun of the summer solstice. (Of course, it’s January and almost sunset so the sun is on the wrong side…but it’s stunning nonetheless).

P.S. I want to rename it the 3 sisters who hold up the moon… what do you think? Proleek Dolmen, near Dundalk
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Cahir Castle

Exploring Ireland is always a fun thing -especially when I have companions to go exploring with! Today, I’ve headed to Cahir Castle. I’ve been here before with my friend A; and on my own, and this time I decided that Mr.🐟 would love to see this impressive castle – so in the car we went and a couple hours later – arrived to Cahir, and the gorgeous castle.

Untitled
View of Cahir Castle in Spring with the road to the right.

Cahir Castle was first built in wood in 1142 by Conchobar Ua Briain, King of Thomond, on what was then an island in the River Suir, and replaced an older stone ring fort (Irish: Cathir) at the same location. This “stone fort” lent its name to the castle and later, the town that grew up around the castle (Cahir).

The Castle grew in two parts, with the side nearest the main street and bridge being built about the 13th century when the original fortress was granted to James Butler, newly created Earl of Ormond, for his loyalty to English King Edward III. The Butler family became very powerful, and in the 1500’s (about 200 years later) added in the section of the castle which now houses the Audio-Visual presentation. By 1542 when the first of the Barons Cahir was created, and during the Tudor – Elizabethan era, the Butlers in Ireland sided with the Catholics.

Cahir Castle / Swiss cottage Co. TipperaryView of castle from inch field / park area

Despite being thought of as rather impregnable (It had stood strong for nearly 400 years) in 1599, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, the castle was beseiged by Robert Devereux, the Earl of Essex before finally falling to heavy artillery that was used against it for the first time. Sir Charles Blount was put in charge of the castle and area for a year – until Lord Cahir joined with the Earl of Tyrone in 1601 took it back (he was charged with treason and later freed). In 1627, Cahir’s son-in-law, Lord Dunboyne, shockingly murdered his distant cousin, James Prendergast, at the castle in a dispute over an inheritance. Dunboyne was he was tried for the killing but acquitted not long after.

Untitled inside the great hall

During the Irish Confederate Wars it was besieged twice more, in 1647 and 1650. Out of “date” design wise, the castle fell into ruin in the late 1700s before being partially restored (the great hall) in the 1840s. While mostly disused, the castle then remained in the Butler family line (Lord Cahir) until 1961 when the last Lord Cahir died and the castle became the property of Ireland. Tours and visits are currently run by the Office of Public works (OPW).

Cahir Castle, County Tipperary; Ireland

A short Tiktok of my third visit is below (note that the outside area only was open during covid and the photos above are from the other 2 visits).

@phoenixrosedsgn lets explore #Cahir #Castle #Tipperary #Ireland #free #opw #staycation #history #travel #tourism #thingstodo #midevilcastle ♬ Wasted by the Water (Original Club Mix) – Joe & Cahir

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Emo Court House

Emo Court, located near the village of Emo in County Laois, Ireland is a grand home built in the Georgian period. It and the grounds are currently run and managed by the OPW and have free entry. There’s a lovely little cafe on site (we stopped here for lunch) and a little stroll while on the way back from visiting County Cork.

Emo Court, Co. Laois

The same designer of the Customs House in Dublin, Emo Court house was designed by the architect James Gandon in 1790 for John Dawson, the first Earl of Portarlington. Started in the 1790’s, construction on the home was paused when the first Earl died. From there, due to money issues, construction was started and stopped several times before the building was completed in the 1860s. The house was in it’s prime between 1860 – 1900, but when World War I started in in 1914, and in 1918 the Easter Rising and subsequent War of Irish Independence, the Earls of Portarlington vacated the premises to return to England.

The house remained closed up and unoccupied until it was sold in 1920 to the Irish Land Commission. At the time the estate (home and grounds) which extended over nearly 20 square miles, had the land parceled out to to local farmers but the house remained empty. Finally in the 1930’s, the Jesuits bought the house, a portion of the land and opened a religious training school on the site, which lasted until 1969. Major Cholmeley Harrison then bought the property in 1969, restored the house and lived in it as his private residence before turning it over to the Irish Office of Public Works (OPW) in 1994. The home and grounds continue to be managed by the OPW today, and entry is free.

@phoenixrosedsgn Emo Court House and grounds,Co. Laois. #grandhome #georgian #Ireland #tourism #staycation #explore #opw #free ♬ I Wanna Be Rich – Chereh Sputswe

New Life goals: Having a house (and maid?) on fantastic manicured lands like this….Ha!

Emo Court, Co. Laois

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