Description: We were nearing the Burren, in fact you can see it in the background of some of the photos. We were on the lookout as always for anything that looked ruined and was more than a wall or two. Of course we'd stop for a wall or two if we didn't see something better, or it had been more than 15 minutes since the last ruin. We could see what was apparently a fairly large set of buildings with a round tower. As we approached we found out that they were much more extensive than we first thought. We went to the furthest set of buildings first, as there were a gaggle of tourists walking around the closest buildings. After a short walk between stone walls we climbed a fence and walked around the back. The sky was blue with fluffy clouds and some dramatic light that we took full advantage of. The single standing wall with a window and doorway was perfect for framing images of the sky and round tower. The rest of the building was not too interesting from the back.
We walked around the front and saw a number of tall windows slightly above eye level. There was no way to reach them, but they didn't open outside as they were dark. The entire building was inaccessible. All doors and windows were locked and barred, or too narrow to enter. I held up his camera and took several pictures through the window, trusting the auto focus and the flash to show something. Many of the pictures did not come out, but the few that did revealed a stone coffin in a small barred room. It makes one wonder who might be in there? Further down the wall, larger windows opened into the roofless nave of a church. The tops of the columns and arches could be seen.
We couldn't see more, we headed back to the main area and the round tower. There were many buildings spread over the grounds including the intact and leaning round tower. All of them had locked or barred doors, probably as the site was unstable and unsafe to walk around in. There was plenty to see in spite of the barriers. The graveyard was extensive and as usual, had a wide range of dates on the stones. The round tower was in very good shape and easy to walk around and examine. Several large windows allowed for cameras to be put past the bars to photograph the interiors of rooms. Below the graveyard an empty field held the remains of an old tractor with a liberal patina of rust. Looking over the fields, we could see the limestone top of the Burren as it met the green countryside. We spent a couple of hours here easily and could have spent more. This would be a good site to return to in different seasons. It is well kept, but not overly restored or polished. A good chance find!
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