Image: Tristan Hutchinson
The middle has a hard time when the extremes attract the extremes on the edges: the attractive coast in the west, on which from the rough Donegal to the climatically mild peninsula Kerry of the wild Atlantic has worked out; In the east the pulsating, culturally blessed Irish capital Dublin and the adjacent County Wicklow with the expansive mountain range and the paradise gardens. In between, a center spreads, which is often overlooked by visitors to the Green Island. The middle is definitely a golden one, which does not have to hide behind the “hidden heartlands” term, which is vying for tourists, as to be discovered.
Belvedere House: The remarkable architecture of the mansion, embedded in a lavish garden landscape, is one thing. The other, even more attractive, are the peculiar people who fulfilled the property from the middle of the 18th century. Robert Rochfort, the 1. Earl of Belvedere, served as a hunting lodge. The nickname “Wicked Earl” (low -sailing count) was no accident. He suspected his second wife Mary – at the marriage she was 16, he 28 – due to rumors of a Gspusis with his brother Arthur and had it locked up for 31 years in the former family residence. Arthur, sentenced to a fine that he could not pay, landed in prison where he died. Earl, eaten by jealousy and resentment, also liked his second brother George, who lived in the neighboring house. This still testifies to the so -called “Jealous Wall” (jealous wall), which Robert had built as a Gothic ruin in the middle of the park in order to spoil George and spare his view.
The lifeline that a later owner of the Belvedere House left behind are fascinating. Charles Howard-Bury (1883–1963), soldier, botanist, big game hunter, discoverer and mountaineer, brought up plants from his numerous trips-among other things in 1905-plants that enriched the garden. In 1921, the married and childless adventurer led the British exploration expedition, which should be scouting out routes to the summit of Mount Everest. He came across footprints at great heights, the Sherpas, which accompanied him, declared traces of the Yetis.
Kilbeggan Distillery: The towering brick lock shows the way to the source in the town of Kilbeggan, from which the “water of life” flows. Ireland’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery goes back to 1757. 200 years later, the Maischbottiche remained empty, the fermentation tubes dry, the brewing and copper boilers cold. At the beginning of the 1980s, the local residents of their historical heritage accepted themselves, restored and set up a whiskey museum. In 2007 the Cooley Distillery took over the license, fueled the distillery and installed copper kettle from 1800, which now result in the oldest functioning distillation system worldwide. Wetting the palate final with tasting rush includes, although the guided circular tour seems anything but dry.
Sean’s bar: Irish lifestyle touches in a legendary bar in Athlone. The Guinness Book of Records leads Sean’s Bar as the oldest pub in the Green Island. Even masonry and old masonry of a restaurant served as evidence, which came to light during restoration work and date from the time around 900. Even if it rained cobblers, it would mean that it would be a “lovely day” for the liquid bread called Guinness. As in countless other potions of the republic, musicians gather together into virtuoso packs. Fiedeln, Tin Whistles and squeezes fill the room with traditional rhythms, straps like “Dirty Old Town” or the moritat of “Molly Malone” hardly any session.
Clonmacnoise: The fact that in Athlone puts tourschinaks in Athlone that look like a cheap copy of boats from the Vikings is due to the past times. At the beginning of the 9th century, the looting hordes removed from the north, and on their raids they sailed inland on the Shannon. The Vikings forced the fuzzy rapid to carry their ships through Athlone. A Viking Tour now leads to the early Christian monastery complex of Clonmacnoise. The branch founded in the middle of the 6th century developed into a flowering spiritual, spiritual and cultural center. Feuersbrüste, Vikings, Normans and ultimately the English under their destructive military leader Oliver Cromwell are responsible for the extensive ruinous face. It has something mystical, striping around the remains of the cathedral, two round towers, small churches, burial plates and crosses. Three high crosses up to four meters tall upgrade up with their decorations carved in sandstone. They are copies – the protected originals are admired in the small visitor center of Clonmacnoise.
Birr Castle Demesne: Tragedy and success are close together in the town of Birr. On August 31, 1869, a country area ended: The eight-fold mother and worshiper Mary Ward fell as a passionate in front of the suddenly hopping steam cars, which was chopping at Birr Cousin from the Parsons dynasty and accompanied by his sons was. The 42-year-old is the first passenger killed in an accident in the history of motor vehicle traffic.
Said cousin, William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse, home as a technician and astronomer. In 1845 he had a gigantic telescope in the park of the property, the largest on earth at that time. The “Leviathan” baptized, 17 -meter long telescope with a diameter of 183 centimeters and a 3.8 -ton mirror allowed deep glances into space, which opened the eyes for the spiral structure of galaxies.
The castle, resident of the seventh generation, is denied to the public. A small museum is devoted to astronomical and botanical history, the extensive garden with the monstrous space watcher satisfies lustful visitors.
Irish Workhouse: In Portumna you immerse yourself in a dark Irish chapter: the system of workhouses that existed from 1840 to 1920, of which there were 163 throughout the country during this time. They served as a collecting basin for the poorest, which – separated by age and gender – had to work for food and logis. Families were torn apart, miserable hygienic conditions promoted the spread of diseases. The facilities were led strictly, the occupants felt more in a prison than in a charitable refuge. With the great famine, which broke out in 1845, when a mushroom destroyed the potato harvest, the misery tightened. A million people died, two million emigrated. The latter also advocated the English country lords, who were responsible for the care of the poor houses. They attracted money to the crossing to America with money because this was cheaper. Many did not survive the trip, which is why one spoke of “coffin ships”. The WorkHouse Center in Portumna is one of three workhouses that can still be viewed – even recommended welfare spoiled!
Info: Belvedere-House.ie kilegganwhiskey.com Seansbar. Ryanair Flies every day except Thursdays from Vienna to Dublin Ryanair.com
Source: Nachrichten
