Page 196 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Ireland

194  IRELAND REGION B Y REGION

0 Craggaunowen
Road map B4. Kilmurry, Co Clare.
Tel 061 360788. Open Easter–mid-
Sep: 10am–5pm daily. & 7 limited.
- = ∑ shannonheritage.com
The Craggaunowen Project,
known as “Craggaunowen:
the Living Past” and designed
to bring Bronze Age and Celtic
culture to life, is a shining
example of a recreated pre-
historic site. The centre was
created in the grounds of
Craggaunowen Castle in the
1960s by John Hunt, a noted A woman in peasant costume spinning wool at Craggaunowen
archaeologist who had been
inspired by his excavations at retrace the route which legend w Killaloe
Lough Gur (see p198). The says St Brendan took in a simi lar Road map C4. Co Clare. * 950.
“Living Past” experience is vessel across the Atlantic in the @ n May–Oct: Brian Ború Heritage
about the arrival of the Celts in 6th century (see p31). Centre, The Bridge (061 370788).
Ireland and their farming and ∑ discoverkillaloe.com
hunting methods.
In summer, people in costume q Mountshannon Killaloe, birthplace of Brian Ború
sometimes act out particular Road map C4. Co Clare. * 240. (940–1014), High King of Ireland
trades, such as spinning or n East Clare Heritage. Tel 061 (see p38), lies close to where the
potting, or serve as guides. In 921351. ∑ mountshannon.com Shannon emerges from Lough
addition there is a description of Derg, and is the lake’s most
how com munities lived in the This village on the banks of prosperous pleasure port. A
ring fort, a typical early Christian Lough Derg (see p189) seems 17th-century bridge separates
homestead. You can also see to have its back turned to Killaloe from its twin town of
a fulacht fiadh, a traditional the lake but is never theless a Ballina on the opposite bank.
hunter’s cooking hole where major angling centre. Solid Ballina has better pubs, such as
meat was prepared. 18th-century stone houses and Goosers on the waterfront (see
The complex includes part churches cluster around the p329), but Killaloe is the main
of a togher, an original Iron Age harbour, along with some pubs. boating centre (see p345) and
timber road that was dis covered Mountshannon is well placed offers more of historical interest.
in Longford. The most eye- for exploring the lake’s western Killaloe’s grandest building
catching sight, however, is the shores, with plenty of scope for is St Flannan’s Cathedral, built
crannog (see p37), a man-made walks and bicycle rides. Fishing around 1182. Its richly carved
island enclosing wattle and boats are available for hire, Romanesque doorway was
daub houses – a style of defen- and in summer you can go by once part of an earlier chapel.
sive homestead that survived to boat to Holy Island, the site The church also has an ancient
the early 1600s. of a monastery founded in the Ogham Stone (see p38), un usual
Another exhibit is a leather- 7th century. The ruins include because the inscrip tion is
hulled boat built in the 1970s four chapels and a graveyard carved in both Nordic runes and
by Tim Severin. He used it to of medieval tombs. Ogham. Outside stands St
Flannan’s Oratory, built around
the same time as the cathedral.
The Brian Ború Heritage
Centre, on the bridge, has an
interesting exhibition on
the history of Brian Ború and
from here you can walk along
a small section of the old
Killaloe Canal. You can also
arrange for local fishermen
to take you out on the lake.

e Bunratty Castle &
Folk Park
Bicycle hire and boat trips at Mountshannon See pp196–7.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp299–300 and pp316–18

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2)
Date 14th November 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm