chlairs blog

The Sydney evening skyline tonight.Shaq wanted to be in the shot.

BUNRATTY CASTLE,CO CLARE IRELAND Here is some history on Bunratty Castle I have copied from the Bunratty Castle folk park page. If your ever in the area,you should really check out the folk park.The summer time is the best.The locals dress up and work at the park.Its a fully functioning and working folk park.The banquets held in the castle are amazing.The food is all either grown at the park or sourced locally.The Banquet is a great experience,with great food and brilliant entertainment. Bunratty Castle The site on which Bunratty Castle stands was in origin a Viking trading camp in 970. The present structure is the last of four castles to be built on the site. Early History Robert De Muscegros, a Norman, built the first defensive fortress (an earthen mound with a strong wooden tower on top) in 1250. His lands were later granted to Thomas De Clare who built the first stone castle on the site. About this time Bunratty became a large town of 1,000 inhabitants. In 13

So yesterday was Little Christmas,or,Womens Christmas. Its the 12th day after Christmas,the day you take down the Christmas decorations,and the day when the husbands are left to do all the chores,and cook dinner for the wife. Its called womens Christmas because its the day the women get together and celebrate Christmas together,no kids,no husbands,no chores and no other problems to worry about for 1 day. So HAPPY WOMENS CHRISTMAS everyone.

Leamaneh Castle,Co Clare,Ireland Originally a simple 5 storey tower house built around 1480 by Turlogh O'Brien,King of Thomond. Leamaneh is derived from the irish "Leim an eich" or in English "The horse's leap". In 1543 it was surrended to Henry VIII by Murrough O'Brien, Turloghs son.For his loyalty to English traditions,laws,customs and for pledging his allegiance to the royal crown and their church,he was made 1st Earl of Thomond and Baron Inchiquin. The ruin we see today is the result of Conor O'Brien and his wife Mary McMahon extending the tower to a four storey manson in 1648. Mary was also known as Mary Rua (Red Mary),and was a formidable character who features in many folklore tales. Lord of Clonderlaw, Torloch Rua McMahon was her father.Daniel O'Neillan,of Dysert O'Dea castle in north Clare,was her first husband.He died young leaving his estate and wealth to his wife.She married Connor O'Brien in 1939,and her inherita