Often referred to as the ‘prettiest village in Ireland’ this Limerick gem is a must-visit for a countryside escape full of culture and colour
The village boasts a lot of medieval heritage (Image: Getty)
A short drive outside of the city of Limerick lies a picturesque village with houses straight out of a storybook, a fairytale manor and the cutest of high streets.
Adare offers a true glimpse into 19th-century Ireland with its picture-perfect cottages with original thatched roofs, colourful buildings, beautiful ruins and the vast grounds of Adare Manor.
For those who like to see things on foot, there’s plenty of walking to be done as you take in the awe-inspiring sights this quaint village has to offer.
The iconic cottages were first built in the 1820s by the Earl of Dunraven as accommodation for those who worked on his estate. In turn, he created the most beautiful, quintessentially English village that now acts as cafes, shops and, for some people, their home.
Adare’s known for its signature traditional cottages (Image: )
The village was once known for tobacco crop farming on behalf of the Adare Cigarette Company, which lived on the estate.
It’s thought the company employed around 70 people, who lived in the cottages alongside those employed to work on the Dunraven Estate and in the Manor House.
At the heart of Aldare now lie a number of spots to wander through on a day of exploring, including the gift shops, fashion boutiques, crafts, local foods and plenty of spots for coffee and cake.
Amongst these is a Michelin Guide-recognised family-run restaurant housed in one of the cosy cottages – 1826 Adare.
The independent restaurant continues to wow customers with their casual dining, so much so that it’s voted as the top spot for food in the village. It boasts over 300 ‘excellent’ reviews, with visitors describing the place as having “high-quality food” in a “charming” atmosphere.
The house as we know it today was built in 1832(Image: silvester kalcik via Getty Images)
Drawing many people into the village is the breathtaking Adare Manor House, which was once home to an earl and now remains a golf club and five-star hotel. Its design is reminiscent of a French chateau, with special features of 19th-century Gothic architecture, with a whopping 365 windows and 52 ornate chimneys.
Alongside this, standing tall are the ruins of a once medieval castle, known as Desmond Castle, which is perched on the edge pf the village.
Its structure was erected with an ancient fort that dates all the way back to the 13th century and remained in the hands of the Earls of Kildare for up to 300 years.
The castle is ranked as the number one thing to do in Adare on TripAdvisor, thanks to reviews from visitors. One person shared: “We spent the day in Adare and decided to visit the castle. It was also included on our OPW Heritage Card.
“We were able to get a fascinating guided tour, engaging and interesting. There are enough of the castle ruins remaining to appreciate the size and grandeur and visualise life as it was.”
Another shared: “While this small castle will not blow anyone away in elegance or size, these ruins are truly impressive, especially with their unique history.
“For only six euro, you can get a private tour. When my wife and I went, there were only five of us. She got to open the castle door on the way in, and I got to lock it up at the end. The tour guide was funny and very informative.”