A few days ago we traveled to Westport, a nice little 'destination' town along the west coast of Ireland. We booked 5 nights wondering if this would be a good place to settle As we've driven around we have discovered it's rather out of the way for doing the touring of the entire country we are hoping to do. Still seems like Athlone would be our best choice. However that won't stop us from seeing and doing as much as we can everywhere we go. There are lots of nooks and crannies tucked in around every corner. When we find great treasure locations I'll need to look up facts about the place for my own understanding as well as explaining to you what it is your are looking at.
Such a place is Murrisk Friary on south shore of Clew Bay in the shadow of Croagh Patrick (which is another great location which we will have to discover at a later date when we are physically ready to climb a mountain). But today was the ruins and graveyard of the Murrisk Friary. Here goes the history lesson - the origin of the name Murrisk is believed to be that of "muir riasc" a sea monster worshiped in pre-Christian times. The Augustine friars (Hugh O'Malley specifically) founded the Friary in 1457. One small house and chapel are all that remain (other that the souls buried here). At some point, it was dedicate to St. Patrick. The friars were driven out in the late 16th century during the reformation.
Adjoining the location is the famous, and very moving National Famine Ship memorial sculpture. This exquisite piece by John Behan commemorates the great famine of the 1840's and honors the "many emigrants from the Irish famine who died in the appalling conditions aboard the coffin ships on which they left Ireland".
Such a place is Murrisk Friary on south shore of Clew Bay in the shadow of Croagh Patrick (which is another great location which we will have to discover at a later date when we are physically ready to climb a mountain). But today was the ruins and graveyard of the Murrisk Friary. Here goes the history lesson - the origin of the name Murrisk is believed to be that of "muir riasc" a sea monster worshiped in pre-Christian times. The Augustine friars (Hugh O'Malley specifically) founded the Friary in 1457. One small house and chapel are all that remain (other that the souls buried here). At some point, it was dedicate to St. Patrick. The friars were driven out in the late 16th century during the reformation. 
Wow! How interesting; good stuff.
ReplyDeleteThat's cool!
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