Our trip to Portumna Workhouse and Killaloe, 3rd July 2013
One again the sun shone for us as 53 members headed off for a visit to our neighbouring counties of Tipperary and Clare.
Our first stop was at Portumna workhouse which has recently been restored and well worth a visit.
The tour of the workhouse was a stark reminder of the poverty , starvation and dreadful conditions that existed in Ireland during the years of the famine..Whole families were split up, never to see each other again. They slept on straw mattresses covered in rough rags.
It was a sad and depressing time in Irish history. We came away with a feeling of gratitude for the lifestyle we enjoy to-day.
We continued on our journey to the two picturesque villages of Ballina and Killaloe, the seat of Ireland’s High Kings for over a century . The most famous of these Kings was Brian Boru.
Then we boarded the “Spirit of Killaloe” which awaited us. We enjoyed an hour long cruise of the Shannon’s pleasure lake, Lough Derg.
We were now beginning to feel some hunger pangs, so it was regretfully time to leave the many lovely sights which Ballina/Killaloe had to offer and head west along the scenic route by the shores of Lough Derg to Nenagh and then on to the “Thatch” in Ballycommon. We enjoyed a fantastic 4 course dinner . The musical entertainment which followed was a lovely way to finish off a perfect day.
Chris O'Flynn
'In vacant or in pensive mood'
Many thanks to Chris for words and pictures
of her beautiful home county of Tipperary
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