Wednesday, May 20th, 2026
This morning we walked along Lahinch’s promenade to the Celtic T-shirt shop. The Atlantic Ocean was really rough. We had to watch out for waves that came over the sea wall.
The Celtic T-shirt shop is family-centered. We met the artist who created the silk screen shirts we purchased. The shop opened early for us and we were appreciative of the owner making this accommodation!
This plaque was placed on a business wall adjacent to the Wild Atlantic Way on the 50th anniversary of a US B-24 Liberator’s emergency landing on the beach. The aircraft was running low on fuel and didn’t have radio contact.
We drove by the Ennistymon Cascades of the Inagh River. We could hear the water cascading across the rocks. It is the most photographed natural attraction in Clare. The river flows over a ridge of rocks toward the bay and then on to the Atlantic Ocean.
Our next stop was a visit to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park that sits on 26 acres.
This is the 15th century Bunratty Castle. The site where it stands was once a Viking trading camp in 970. This castle is the last of four castles to be built here.
The Folk Park adjoins the castle and portrays what everyday life was like in rural Ireland about 100 years ago. It is a living museum. The village has over thirty buildings that contain reconstructed farmhouses, cottages, and shops. We wandered the streets of Bunratty Village.
The Golden Vale is a 19th century restored farmhouse where a properous farmer and family would have lived.
In a restored Artisan home was the O’Neill Jewelry and Pottery store. You could buy handmade jewelry by Shirley O’Neill and her family had been making pottery for many years. Each piece is unique.
We stopped in the Doctor’s House.
We walked up to the Bunratty House which wasn’t opened. It was built in 1805
The gardens and pathways were well maintained. We walked the entire grounds.
The Ardcroney Church was part of the Church of Ireland. It was built in 1838 and was moved to Bunratty in 1998.
The Vertical Water Mill is a reconstructed 19th century. It is operational and uses a vertical waterwheel to turn the grinding stone. It uses traditional Irish engineering.
When we left the village we stopped by the Adare Manor Golf Club. As we approached we saw the Adare Desmond Castle from 1200 AD that is located on the edge of the village of Adare and sits on the banks of the River Maigue.
The castle is a beautiful backdrop to the 1st and 15th greens at Adare Manor Golf Club.
The Adare Manor Golf Club is an 18 hole championship course and will host the 2027 Ryder Cup. The Ryder Cup is held in September and is a match between Europe and the USA. There is a gate to drive into the Club and is manned by a well-dressed gatekeeper.
Martin talked to the guard and he let us through so our golfers could visit the Pro Shop.
Martin saw the owner of Adare Manor Golf Club and had his picture taken with him! JP McManus is a billionaire who also is a businessman and racehorse owner.
While our golfers were in the Pro Shop Martin drove the rest of us to the Adare Heritage Village. It is lined with traditional thatched-roof cottages. We had lunch in the cafe at the Heritage Center.
On our way to Killarney we made a stop at the Barnagh Viewing Point. It is a scenic spot with panoramic views. On a clear day you can see the fertile pastures of the County Limerick, Golden Vale and into the Counties Cork and Clare. It was an overcast day for us.
Newcastle West overlooks the winding River Arra. We drove through the town center and saw the Desmond Castle.
The Desmond Castle is a historic complex from the 12th century and located in the city center. It was built by the Earls of Desmond and was occupied until the 1930s. Its main feature is its two-story banquet hall.
It was early evening when we checked in to the Arbutus Hotel in Killarney. It was in a great location for exploring the city.
These are a few pictures from inside our hotel! The Arbutus Hotel was established in 1926 by Tim Buckley and his wife Julia. The hotel is still family run. They named it after the only tree native to Ireland, the Arbutus. Tim Buckley also liked that the hotel name began with an “A” because it would appear earlier in brochures and pamphlets!
Once we dropped our luggage we met others to begin exploring the city and find a place for dinner. As we walked we stopped and did our tradition of spelling Ohio with our arms.
Near the car park in Killarney was a mural painted on a gable wall by artisits Adam and Darren Warren. It illustrates Killarney’s past.
As we walked we were impressed with the workers who were scrapping, cleaning and painting the poles along the roadway in the evening.
We found a restaurant named Hilliard’s that opened in 2022. It once was a well-known department store. People would come from all around to shop here. It was a department store where you could buy anything and it was of good quality.
The Drapery department is where the new restaurant is located and the cocktail bar stands where the shoe department was located.
Our meal was delicious.
After dinner we walked back to our hotel. Left our coats in our room and went down to Buckley’s Bar which is part of the Arbutus Hotel.
Buckley’s Bar is a traditional Irish bar with live traditional music. The bar has oak paneled walls, a turf fire and serves bar food. We enjoyed a drink and listened to a trio perform. The musicians just sit at a reserved table and begin playing. The bar is known for having some of the country’s finest musicians drop in for an unplanned jam session!
After our drink we were ready for some sleep for tomorrow’s adventures.
