Ireland's glorious past.

Unlike the UK, Ireland has very few quaint houses or villages. With the exception of the landed gentry, houses were of very poor standard, often built of mud or turf which doesn't stand the test of time. However, Ireland is full of ruined abbeys, friary's  monasteries and castles.

We must have viewed Roscommon Castle hundreds of times from the road, but never had time to stop and view it properly. Last week we made time as we had to go to Roscommon to get bread.

It is even more imposing than we had thought set in fourteen acres of grounds,

complete with a natural lake,

home to many waterbirds, and a swallow hole.

The castle itself is Norman, built in 1269 by Feidhlim O'Connor , king of Connaught.

We were very impressed with the ruins, and also with the access to it. Someone has put great thought into making the whole area wheelchair friendly

unlike Roscommon Abbey.

This is in fact a ruin of a Dominican Friary, built around 1290-1300.

Effigy  of the King of Connault.

What makes this particular Friary so interesting is the Royal effigy of O'Connor which is one of only two Royal effigy's in Ireland.

It's just a shame that it is impossible to get to if you are a wheelchair user.
The main purpose for our visit to Roscommon was to buy the next three weeks bread.

Molloys bakery has been in existence for nearly a hundred years and we can truly say it's the best bread either of us have had since childhood. We used to make all our own bread but were finding that the flour was too variable, sometimes the loaf would be spot on, other times it would be only OK, so when a friend recommended this bakery to us we tried it and have stuck with it. We have to go to Tesco every few weeks to stock up with Organic butter, so we kill two birds with one stone, besides exploring a place we haven't been to before.

Most of our apples have now been picked, we had a good crop of Russets, and even the Bramley tree decided to give us fruit. As Russets don't store well we have been making

Dorset Spiced Apple cake, if you can resist eating it the same day as it's cooked it improves,

the flavour becomes more intense and it remains a very moist cake. Apple crumble has also been on the menu, made with oats and flour the crumble is moreish.
Things are beginning to quieten down in the garden, we have probably had the last of the beans and peas, and are now onto winter veg.

P.S.B making up for lost time.

One thing we forgot to plant at the right time was purple sprouting broccoli, so we took a chance and sowed in the tunnel, it is now two foot high, I just hope it's not too warm in there for it and that it will still sprout.

My last two pieces of pottery started life as mugs, but then I changed my mind and they will be soup bowls, I have made two matching mugs as well but as yet they have't been carved or the handles affixed, next week hopefully.