The Quiet Man... Ireland
After a beautiful hour long drive, we arrived in the quaint town of Cong. Parking was easy and free. Once out of the car, the first thing we see? An ivy covered building made of rock. A wall surrounded it so there would be no exploring there...
Across the street, the Royal Abbey of Cong. A partially deteriorated building made of stone, the remnants have quite a history. Originally the church was built in the seventh century. Fire ruined a good portion but The High King of Ireland had it rebuilt, only to have much of it destroyed again by raiders. Throughout its history, the Abbey has been rebuilt and fallen into ruins several times. It is touted as one of the finest examples of early Gothic works. Impressively, much of the masonry still stands.
Such a serene sight… not wanting to invade a gentleman’s privacy, I didn’t take a picture of a man fly fishing in the river. He really looked to be enjoying himself. It is my understanding that this area is known for its underground river system. Colorful flowers lined the waters throughout the town.
So small we almost passed it by, the Quiet Man Museum is worth the nominal entrance fee. Located in a small house, relics from the movie fill each room. It is a close replica of the White O’Morn cottage seen in the movie. Though we didn’t stay overnight, the museum area includes a B&B full of memorabilia from the 1951 hit starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara.
Time for a little pick me up! We stopped in the cutest restaurant and coffee bar called “Butler & Byrne Food Bar”. It wasn’t quite lunchtime for us, so pastries and coffee sufficed but the full house of patrons seemed to be enjoying their meals. Little gifts and souvenirs filled the shelves! Tempting.. But, no room in my backpack!
It was shocking to realize how popular this movie is. The Quiet Man was our travel partners favorite old movie so it was a thrill to take him there. However, I completely expected to be the only ones visiting… Instead, the entire town was built around the making of the movie. With the town itself being so charming, I wouldn’t mind returning and spending a couple of days. It is my understanding that The Quiet Man B&B books up quickly so we’d have to plan it out for the future. What a great day!
