Strokestown

Irish_Phil · Member

Strokestown

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

The nearest I've ever eaten a serious meal while in the vicinity has been in Roosky (in 2002), but Michele has a recommendation in Termonbarry -- (Keenan's) which is about 1/2 way between Longford and Strokestown, along the N5.

http://www.keenanshotel.ie/

The one in Roosky was recently sold, but it was good: https://www.hotelscombined.com/Hotel/Flynns_Shannon_Key_West_Hotel_Rooskey.htm

Roy · Guru

Bob, Do you know what's become of the Shannon Key West hotel? We had a family reunion for my MIL's 90th birthday there in 2009. I agree with you, excellent food.

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Roy: http://www.longfordleader.ie/news/business/102198/Shannon-Key-West-Hotel-sells-for.html

It appears that they were a victim of The Crash, although they seem to have lasted for a while longer than many. hmm hmm

They don't seem to have their own web site and the few booking sites that claim to represent them keep returning "No Availability" regardless of what random dates in April, May or June that I tried . . . confuse confuse ???

Roy · Guru

I'll ask my brother in law in Longford when we stay with them this June. He was friends with the manager, who was managing Glasson Hotel and Golf Club last I knew (2012).

Irish_Phil · Member

Thanks Bob..

We will check Keenan's out. I will report back early June.

Phil

Irish_Phil · Member

I checked it out on-line switched my Booking to stay there.

It was a little more money but we can eat and sleep at the same place after flying sounds good to me.

Thanks

Phil

Michele Erdvig · Host

Aubergine in Longford has good food. Depending on time of year Strokestown can seem like a ghost town. The Percy French Hotel has decent food.

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Be sure to allow a couple of hours for Strokestown, as there is a lot to take in at the Museum and the house and grounds are quite remarkable.

Where are you heading to from there? The Castle ruins in Roscommon town are also remarkable. It was once the largest in all of Ireland.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z51uY9SbtqI

Also in Roscommon town: http://www.roscommontownheritage.com/roscommon-history-heritage.php

Along the road twixt Strokestown and Roscommon (N60) is the ruins of a Round Tower, which are a passion of mine, but may, or may not appeal to you: http://www.megalithicireland.com/Oran%20Round%20Tower,%20Roscommon.html

There is a really interesting IRA monument located at the junction of the N61 and at Shankill Cross, in Elphin, to the North of Strokestown, heading toward Boyle. http://32countyroadtrip.blogspot.com/2011/06/ira-monument-in-roscommon.html

North, along the N5, heading toward Knock and the N17, is Tulsk -- home to the very impressive Celtic ruins of Rathcroghan:

http://www.rathcroghan.ie/

Irish_Phil · Member

Wow ... so much info.

We are going to see family in Ballaghaderren then two days at Belleek Castle then two days Killarney then three days with in Cork.

Thanks for all your help !!!

Great job,

Phil

eilis · Newbie

The Famine Museum has a lovely cafe right on site. We had a wonderful lunch there. I think you will enjoy it!

Irish_Phil · Member

Thanks

I will be there next week.

Can't wait.

:)

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Enjoy! smile

Hope you have a GREAT trip! biggrin biggrin

Please drop back by and let us know how it went -- We LOVE Trip Reports.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Let the countdown begin! I know you are getting excited about your trip. Have a wonderful time.

Irish_Phil · Member

WE stayed at the Keenan's hotel and it was great.

The food and the bar are top notch. We did alot of walking and tried to shake off the jet lag.

We went to the Famine Museum but it made me so angry I had to leave about 1/2 thru.

I know there were many issues beyond the potato crop that caused the famine but seeing facts, figures and correspondences that effected the loss of so many lives was overwhelming. If it occurred anywhere else it would be called genocide but that would be rude to say about the government of Ireland in the 1840s.

The Strokestown Museum has a great book and tells the story about how the family that owned and mismanaged the estate allowed it to get into the despair it became which caused hundreds of deaths.

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Did you at least see the pistol that purportedly killed major Mahon? Sad bit, that. By all reports, after inheriting the nearly bankrupt estate, he actually PAID many of his tenant's passage, rather than merely evicting them. In many respects, he would have been an almost 'Model' landlord (for THAT time), but rumors of him using 'Coffin Ships' (largely untrue) doomed his reputation and resulted in his assassination. hmm hmm

That's NOT to imply that he was an innocent victim, of course. He was very much a man of his time, determined to salvage his inheritance -- and he certainly was quite willing to evict when he FELT it suited him.

This is interesting, as it may finally resolve the issue -- one way, or the other!: confuse confuse http://www.thejournal.ie/missing-famine-strokestown-roscommon-1437721-May2014/

Michele Erdvig · Host

Yes, The Great Hunger, as it is also called was a bad, bad time in Ireland's history. However, I think it is a good thing to have a museum that remembers what happened so that we know of the history today. Similar decimations happened in the US with Native Americans and with other groups around the world. As the quote goes: 'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.' Keep in mind that England ruled Ireland in the 1840's. So it was not actually a government chosen by the Irish, but a foreign power.