Adare Guide History & Heritage near the ruin of the Franciscan Abbey at least one time and a stone now marks the place. The local Methodist community holds an annual meeting on this spot.
Adare Methodist Church
dare Methodist A Church Black Abbey Road 061-396236
Adare Methodist Church and sister congregation in nearby Ballingrane form the Adare & Ballingrane Methodist Circuit, which is one of the most historic circuits in Ireland.
Adare Village Park/ Washing Pool In the heart of the village is a pretty oasis and gathering place in the shape of the public park. The land for the park, like a lot of Adare, was once part of the massive Dunraven estate. It has winding, tree-lined paths to go for a pleasant meander and benches to lounge on.
The first Methodist chapel in Adare was built around 1794 but the present church dates to 1873 when the Countess of Dunraven laid the foundation stone. There have been several additions over the years. John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church, visited the local area on several occasions from the mid 1750s to 1778. It is said that he preached under an ash tree The ‘washing pool’ - beside the park’s entrance - is a small triangular pool with access to a local stream. It was once a watering hole for animals and horses. But in the days before washing machines, the women of the village gathered here to wash clothes and exchange local news (and gossip no doubt!)
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Today, there are an estimated 14 million Methodists in America
Worshippers from this general area emigrated to the United States and established the church there. Today, there are an estimated 14 million Methodists in America. The weekly Sunday service is at 10.15am (Ballingrane at 11.45am). Without the benefit of detergents, they would have had to do their washing on ‘spittle stones’ on the stream bed or by pounding the clothes with wooden mallets. The pool was restored during the European Architectural Heritage Year in 1975.
The park is carefully maintained with trimmed green spaces and colourful flower-beds dotted around. A small tributary of the river Maigue also runs through it.
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In the heart of the village is a pretty oasis
A prominent feature is a lovely thatched wooden gazebo, which plays a part in village events and is a popular photographic background for the many weddings that take place in Adare all year round. Adare Village Park 14 |
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