Having spent four days in the quiet North Kerry village of Asdee, the most memorable parts of this trip were the abundant montbretia, which added color to an otherwise grey and rainy visit to that corner of Ireland in early August. The other one is that I spent four evenings there and did not visit a single pub, neither daytime nor evening time. You see, it can be done. Wonders never seize.
The village of Asdee, situated at the mouth of the Shannon estuary, is very quiet and has little infrastructure.
These montbretia decorate many private gardens and roadsides.
While searching for charity shops, we passed this rather sad-looking Charlie Chaplin in the window.
The shore lines, once for strategic reasons are dotted with castle ruins. This left side of the castle shows the Men’s Beach. To the right of the castle, you find the Ladies Beach. Both are unisex these days.
The Shannon Ferry has just left the port.
In the town of Ballybunion, a coastal town and seaside resort in County Kerry, I saw this attraction. If you can call it one, that is. Former President Clinton preparing for a swing of golf. The plaque underneath reads:
President Bill Clinton
This sculpture was unveiled by Mr. Charlie McCreevy T.D. Minister for Finance
on the 5th of September 1998
to commemorate the golfing visit by the President of the United States of America
Some tidbits about Asdee:
* Jesse James’s father was born there. Jessie himself was an American outlaw, gang leader, bank robber, train robber, and murderer from the state of Missouri, USA.
*The last claim to fame for Asdee was the moving statues of Mary in 1985. 30 schoolchildren saw two Marian statues moving in the church at Asdee.