The medieval tower house of Knockelly Castle stands under cloudy skies. Victorian era farm buildings now flank it.

The interior of the tower house. It looks remarkably sturdy after all the years of neglect.

The stone spiral staircase is still mostly intact.

Some nice horsies now guard the grounds.

Touring Knockelly Castle today. It's got a lot of potential as a fixer-upper.
#MedievalIreland
#IrishTranquility
#HeritageWeek

A tower house stands under a mostly sunny sky.

Today's #MomentofTranquility: Ballynacarriga Castle. This fine tower house stands 4 stories tall, keeping watch over its surroundings since the 16th century (possibly the 15th century).
#MedievalIreland
#IrishTranquility

Stone carvings above a gothic doorway through which more gothic doorways can be seen.

Today's #MomentofTranquility: Clontuskert Friary in County Galway. Founded in the 12th century and restored in the 15th century after a large fire. Then came the Dissolution, a partial restoration in the 17th century, and the OPW took over in the 1970's.
#MedievalIreland
#IrishTranquility

Partly cloudy skies float over the expansive stone walls and towers of Kells Priory.

Today's #MomentofTranquility: Built by Geoffrey FitzRobert, who was not only a knight but a friend of the great William Marshall, Kells Priory sits along the medieval road from Waterford to Kilkenny. What stories these walls could tell.
#MedievalIreland
#IrishTranquility
#IfWallsCouldTalk

Looking through an arch at Hore Abbey as the setting sun lights up cloudy skies over grassy fields.

Today's #MomentofTranquility: A return to Hore Abbey. One of my #FavouritePlaces to wander around and think.
#MedievalIreland
#IrishTranquility
#HappyPlace

An arch in a stone wall opens to a graveyard set within the ruins of Bridgetown Abbey.

Today's #MomentofTranquility: Bridgetown Abbey. The ruins of this 13th century abbey in county Cork are a serious contender for one of the most tranquil sites in Ireland. There were no cars, no voices, no traffic. Just birds and a gentle river.
#MedievalIreland
#IrishTranquility

Hore Abbey sits under a darkening sky as the sun begins to set. Flowers grow from its ruined walls and a few gravestones dot the foreground.

Hore Abbey as the sun begins to set.
#MedievalIreland
#IrishTranquility

Clouds swirl and begin to threaten over the Rock of Dunamase (right). To the left and in the distance, farmers' fields lay quiet.

The Rock of Dunamase stands lonely watch over fields below.
#MedievalIreland
#IrishTranquility

A golden sunset reflects off the waters of Clew Bay.

An extra moment of tranquility today. This one's for @elittlechild.bsky.social, who I think could use a bit more today.

Sunset over Clew Bay.
#IrishTranquility

Kilcooley Abbey stands beneath threatening skies in this black and white picture.

Kilcooley Abbey.
#MedievalIreland
#IrishTranquility

The ruins of Kells Priory stand to the right under a mostly cloudy sky while a tree-lined River flows to its left.

Along the river walk beside Kells Priory, County Kilkenny. Beautiful and tranquil, it's an excellent place for reflection.
#MedievalIreland
#IrishTranquility

The setting sun lights the sky and shines through the gothic window of Kilmallock Dominican Friary.

The ruins of Kilmallock Dominican Friary lit by the sun as it begins to sit.
#MedievalIreland
#IrishTranquility

Timahoe Round Tower stands in the centre of the picture. A small church sits to the right. Ruins of an older church are in the foreground. Trees break the horizon under a partly sunny sky.

Timahoe's Round Tower has stood since the 1100s. It was built on the site of a monastery founded by Saint Mochua sometime around 600 CE. I wonder what the world looked like from those upper windows back then.
#MedievalIreland
#IrishTranquility

A large Gothic arch in a wall reveals another smaller wall with a Gothic arched window. A partly sunny sky is seen above green fields.

Gothic arches of Clontuskert Friary open to fields and sky today. This medieval monastery in county Galway dates back to the 12th Century.
#MedievalIreland
#IrishTranquility

Looking through Romanesque arches to see Gothic arches and the tower of Jerpoint Abbey under a clear sunny sky.

Jerpoint Abbey. Its combination of Romanesque and Gothic architectures from the 12th to the 15th century house some very fine medieval carvings throughout.
#MedievalIreland
#IrishTranquility

The ruins of Glanworth Castle stand in a grassy field under a cloudy sky.

Overlooking the River Funshion, 13th Century Glanworth Castle's ruins tells stories of the past. Originally a seat of Anglo-Norman power and influence, it's now part of a pleasant public walk.
#MedievalIreland
#IrishTranquility

Cashel's Medieval City Wall. 2 of the 4 13th century coffin lids that make up the Hackett Effigies and that have been inlaid into the wall can be seen.

#MedievalIreland
#IrishTranquility
#IfWallsCouldTalk

The ruins of Hore Abbey sit under a darkening sky as sunset approaches.

Founded in 1272, Hore Abbey was Ireland's last Cistercian monastery. It had a Gothic church, a tower, cloister, and living quarters for the monks. Today, its ruins are incredibly tranquil, a great place to think, and one of my happy places.
#MedievalIreland
#IrishTranquility
#HappyPlace