Ireland (Day Eight - the last day) - McDermott Castle, Fairy Woods, Boyle Abbey, and More

Today was our last day for sightseeing in Ireland. The next day we would be going Leixlip Manor and Gardens (which had incredible grounds to see! I wish I had known and we would have spent more time there, instead of just using it to be close to Dublin airport). Anyways, on this last day, the man at Drumhierney Lodge suggested we go see Lough Key Forest Park. The outline of the park is a little confusing, so here is a map of the park.

The park houses several areas of historical interest, but the biggest here is McDermott Castle, which is the heart of the featured history of the area. This is an infamous castle in the middle of the lake (or castle island on the map). Here is my photo featured of it:

And a zoomed in photo...

"There is reference to Castle Island in the annals of Lough Ce as early as 1184. During this time the park was called Moylurg and the Kings of Moylurg were the McDermotts.

The McDermott’s official residence was on The Rock, now called Castle Island. As space was limited on this small island they had another residence on the mainland where the Moylurg Tower stands today. The McDermotts ruled this area until the 17th century when it was granted to the King family from England under the Cromwellian settlement. The King family spent their time between the town of Boyle and Moylurg which they renamed Rockingham. One of the large mansions they built was called Rockingham House and was built where the Moylurg Tower now stands."

Source: https://loughkey.ie/lough-keys-evolution/the-history/

I've read from other sources that the island referenced from the 12th century was struck by lightning, caught on fire, and rebuilt during the 18th century to what we see today. 

The photo is blurry but a different angle of it.

There is a sad legend that goes with this castle. Supposedly, the daughter of the Chieftain McDermott, Úna, fell in love with a boy who her father didn't deem suitable for her (he was of a lower class). Her father kept her on the island to keep them apart, but the boy would swim to her every night so they could see one another. However, one night he drowned and died on his way to her. Following his death, she died of a broken heart. The two were then buried next to one another underneath two intertwining trees on the island. 

So if you're ever there (and you can tour the island, as far as I know. Either by appointment or renting a kayak and exploring yourself), perhaps you'll see the trees they're buried beneath.

This is the "temple" on the Lough Key map. It was locked but you can see the castle right behind it in the first photo. Also known as the fishing temple, the original intent was for this to be a place that the lady of the house would have tea and rest on the lakeside during her walks. It then turned into the featured name of being a sheltered place to fish during bad weather. 

"The Rockingham Church, formerly called St. Leonard’s Anglican Church, was built about 1875, when the hamlet of Rockingham was a thriving community. Largely abandoned by the 1940s, the building had deteriorated significantly by the mid-‘90s despite various earlier repair efforts. In 1995, the Friends of the Rockingham Church formed to save the building from destruction. Major repairs were carried out in 1999 and 2000. In 1999, the Townships of Brudenell, Lyndoch & Raglan designated the church a heritage site under the Ontario Heritage Act."

Source: https://rockinghamchurch.org/a-little-history/

I highly suggest checking out this article. It goes into the fine details of the construction and architecture of the church.

Shot from the inside.

One last angle.

This structure I had to reach out to the Lough Key Forest & Activity Park's FaceBook page because I couldn't find what this was on the map. They were very kind and let me know this:

"...that building was the stable yard for Rockingham House, it would have housed the horses and equipment eg carriages. there was also living quarters for grooms/stable hands etc..."

After we saw all the structures, we walked back to the shore then took a trail past the temple, on the way to the campgrounds.

Some beautiful nature shots of the trees. Ivy belongs in this part of the world - it makes everything look whimsical. 

This is where we entered, what I call, the Fairy Woods (ironically, not close to the fairy bridge on the map. This was still on the way to the campgrounds from the trail we were on). 

A fairy house village surrounded us on a portion of our walk. I'm not sure the story behind it, but it was very sweet and light-feeling. Perhaps a school had the schoolchildren place them up. Either way, it was probably one of my favorite surprises to see on the trip. Ireland is the heart of the Fae after all. 

I got a picture of these two sets of trees near the campground. I love the way the trunks are swirling, like a woman twirling her dress. The branches being gnarled in the first photo also helps the forest's primeval ambiance too. 

After this walk, we decided to head back to the car and leave the park. We took one stop on the way back, attempting to see the town of Boyle - which has connections to Lough Key's history. Unfortunately, I was six-months pregnant, tired, had seen a lot that day, and the parking was bad in the town, so we only saw one spot there - the Boyle Abbey.

I only got shots of the outside of the abbey, because it costed a fee to tour it (ha, like I was going to pay anything when I had seen several free abbey's already on my trip - but actually, it was only five euros a person and I understand they need revenue for upkeep. I was just exhausted and didn't want to tour the whole thing).

"This Cistercian monastery was founded in the twelfth century by monks from Mellifont Abbey under the patronage of the local ruling family, the MacDermotts. It was one of the most powerful of the early Cistercian foundations in Ireland and among the foremost in Connacht.

Cromwellian forces wreaked devastation when they occupied the abbey in 1659. It was further mutilated during the following centuries, when it was used to accommodate a military garrison. Despite all the violence it has suffered over the centuries, Boyle Abbey is well preserved and retains its ability to impress.

A sixteenth/seventeenth-century gatehouse has been restored and turned into an interpretive centre, where you can learn more about the abbey’s gripping history."

Source: https://heritageireland.ie/places-to-visit/boyle-abbey/

 

The last few angles of it.

And there it is, my last day of Ireland where I actually saw sights. We left the next day to Leixlip Manor (where I wish I had taken photos of their beautiful gardens, I was too busy enjoying them though). Then left back home early the next morning on Wednesday the 29th, June 2022.

I chose Ireland as my first country to visit because it felt so light, and I wanted that energy to be passed to my baby. It's captivating history, sites, friendly people, enchanting elements & landscapes, and amazing culture all continuously awed me. I hope the people there never take any of that for granted, and fight to preserve their culture and people in this incredible land. I have to go back someday - it's too perfect of a place not to. 

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get this series out, but at least we're finishing off 2023 with it done. Have a Merry Christmas - here's to a better New Year. 

Timeline:

Riverside Lodge - June 20th - 22nd, 2022

First Day - An Introduction to Ireland

Second Day - The Wicklow Mountains and Glendalough Tower

Springfort Hall Hotel - June 22nd - 24th, 2022

Third Day - City of Mallow and Bridgetown Abbey

Fourth Day - Blarney Castle, Gardens, and Grounds

Elements B&B - June 24th - 26th, 2022

Fifth Day - Quin Friary, the Burren, Lisdoonvarna and Beyond

Sixth Day - Cliffs of Moher and the Aillwee Burren Experience

Drumhierney Lodge - June 26th - June 28th, 2022

Seventh Day - Kilmacduagh Abbey

Eighth Day - This Blog

Leixlip Manor - June 28th - June 29th, 2022