Adare is often described as the prettiest village in Ireland. A regular winner
in the Tidy towns competition, Adare scooped the national title in 1976 and has
been a contender ever since.
The Third Earl of Dunraven built a street with thatched cottages and well trimmed
hedges at the gates of his early Victorian Manor in the 1820s. History had already
endowed Adare with an exquisite backdrop to further please the eye - an ivied
Norman Castle beside the river Maigue and the best collection of ruined medieval
friaries in Ireland. These include a 13th century Trinitarian monastery, a 15th
century Franciscan Monastery and a 14th century Augustinian Monastery.
Adare has an informative heritage centre, which uses models and audiovisual
displays explaining the history of the area. It is open from May to September.
