Folly jolly to County Clare 10-13 June 2016

The weekend began on Friday 10 June at the Temple of Mercury, Dromoland Castle. In addition we spent time in the walled garden which has located within the former gateway from Leamaneh Castle . This structure is dated 1643 and was erected by Conor O’Brien and his wife the legendary Maire Rua. A branch of the O’Brien family owned Dromoland Castle and in c.1740 Sir Edward O’Brien had a gazebo erected from where he could watch his horses training.We looked across the fields at this delightful structure which was probably designed by John Aheron an eccentric Irish architect.

During the weekend we visited Ardnacraa well and O’Brien’s column at Liscannor and saw work in progress at the latest Follies Trust project as well as visiting the Cliffs of Moher (see Current & Future Projects).
On Sunday we went to Kilfenora to see the Cathedral and High Crosses. Then to Lisdoonvarna; outside Lisdoonvarna is the Spectacle bridge (NIAH 20300111) erected in 1875, ‘an elegant solution to the spanning of a deep river gorge by County Surveyor, John Hill’. From Lisdoonvarna we travelled up the coast past the beautiful beach at Fanore to Black Head lighthouse (NIAH 20400105). This square plan single bay two-storey lighthouse with a metal-framed glazed lantern was erected 1935-40. It has a flat concrete roof, rendered walls and a timber matchboard door set in a concrete plinth. Following the R477 we stopped at an interesting roadside well, Tobercornan, which once functioned as a main water supply for Ballyvaughan in time of drought.

The visit to County Clare was based at Inchiquin House which is managed by the Irish Landmark Trust. Everyone was able to dine at the house on both Friday and Sunday nights. On Friday we were joined by Conservation Officer for County Clare, Dick Cronin, and on Sunday night by Dr David Fleming, Chair of the Irish Georgian Society and his wife Kerrie.