DUBLIN to ENNIS

I spent last night in Ennis (Inis, meaning the IsIand), which is the main town in County Clare. It's not very big, because the county is not very populous. Nonetheless, there's a lot going on here historically. Ennis Friary was established in the 13th Century by the O'Brien's, and it grew to be one of the most important Franciscan establishments in the 15th century, when most of the awesome stone carvings were done. I've put up pictures of a few of the best carvings, showing St Francis, and some scenes from the Passion. I've also put up a seating alcove from the original 13th century section because I liked the idea of people snuggled into something like that while they listened to a sermon. The Church of Ireland (i.e. the Church of England) took it over while Catholicism was suppressed, but it fell into ruin in the 19th century because buildings like this are a tad expensive to maintain. There's a new Church just down the road. I found out the next day this is not an uncommon sort of story. 

Also in Ennis I saw more trad folk music in a pub called Knox's, and I really need to stop doing that, so I'm not a bit over it by the time the trad festival I'm attending starts on Thursday. 

In birding news, I have now seen hooded crows, which are menacing beasts, bigger than the carrion crows of London and much more charismatic. I have also seen rooks, in large numbers, whereas I only saw a few in the UK. Most of exciting of all was a guillemot, a seabird that I saw while on the ferry to Dublin a few days ago, and only just checked the picture. 

In terms of odd folklore here in Ennis, my favourite story is about Tom Steele, a Catholic emancipator who was mad keen on a local girl, and used regularly to stand in the middle of the Fergus River in Ennis on a rock, and see if he could get a look at her when she walked by her window. This behaviour did not go unnoticed by the locals, who remembered the rock after the man became famous in Parliament. It seemed to go quite unnoticed by the girl herself, however, and he never did get her, so he turned his attention to politics. Would the whole history of Catholic Ireland have been different if only she'd thought he was worth a go? maybe standing about on rocks just isn't the best way to get a girlfriend, not then, not now. 

Weather has been good for the Irish Summer, meaning that it rains just  bit in the morning, and a bit more in the afternoon, and it's clear in the evenings, which seem to last forever. I hope it stays like this the whole trip. I think I have been very lucky so far, not to have had torrential rain taking out days a time. Although, one dramatic storm would be nice, just for the memory.

I've added in a few more Dublin pictures relevant to the last post, as well. 

More soon, 

Steve.