On your way to or from Irish Vacation House stop and enjoy... Lough Gur a Magical, Mystical Eden When you land at Shannon airport and head to Irish Vacation House you could drive East into Limerick city on N18 , north on Henry Street, then East on Sarsfield Street which runs into N24 and R512. R 512 goes off to the right to Lough Gur about 19 km. away. Before you reach the little town of Holy Cross you will see on your left Grange Stone Circle, the largest such sight in Ireland. The farmer named Tim Casey who lives across the street may give you a welcome ...
and his friendly cows may try to make you feel at home!
Then enter the world of ancient trees...
and massive rocks formed to create a sacred, embracing circle.
Created by Neolithic folks 4,000 years ago, it is breathtaking.
The circle was created to open to the sun at summer solstice! Here's a link to a panorama of the circle!
The Lough Gur Interpretive Centre overlooks the lake from the northeast. Built to simulate the round and rectangular huts constructed at the lake, they host displays and artifacts from the excavations at Lough Gur, one of the richest archaeological digs in Ireland.
Nearby we find an island, a humanly-constructed island or crannog, named Bolin Island. First a great ring of boulders was laid, and then brush and earth were used to fill the center. It was a safe space for a farming family to rest.
A wedge-shaped gallery grave with two chambers is found to the south of the lake. It resembles the model to the right. The sides were double-walled.
Near the entrance to Lough Gur we found Bourchier's Castle, presently occupied and not oven to visitors.
But nearby fields were abloom...
and the C-shaped lake gorgeous in its beauty
Lots of different birds kept us company including these two ducks, and gracious white swans!
Overlooking the lake, we found "the Spectacles," the foundation plans of two houses once overlooking Lough Gur.
But the "high point" of this scenic "Eden" was to be discovered by hiking up a fairly steep hill behind the Spectacles and turning to face the lake this is the marvel we saw! When you go to visit Irish Vacation House, save a morning coming of going to the airport, or just take a day to savor Lough Gur! There are some interesting books about the Lough Gur area. Mary Carberry chronicles life in the last half of the 19th century in a lovely farm family in her out of print, but occasionally available bok, The Farm by Lough Gur. Michael Quinlan has penned a three volume series of stories about life at Lough Gur from prehistoric times to historic times. They create fun imaginings about the adventures of the ages in this beautiful area. Chronologically they are A Place of Dreams - The Lough Gur People, The Sun Temple, and The Sun Shield of Lough Gur, published by the Lough Gur and District Historical Society. We purchased our copies at the Lough Gur Visitor's Center. The Illustrated Guide to Lough Gur, Co. Limerick, written by M.J. and C. O'Kelly is available from Shannon Heritage and at the visitor's Center. It provides an excellent map, many drawings, and details about each of the sites around the lake by the O'Kellys who worked with Sean O'Riordan in excavating these sites. Here's another find page about Lough Gur. Lough Gur is right on your way from Shannon Airport to
a fully-equipped self-catering Vacation House Save your time before the dates are filled! Directions to Lough Gur from Shannon Airport:
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