Family Mellmann

In the name of (more) “off the beaten path”, today we plan to see two relatively remote ruins.  The first is Athassel Priory outside of Tipperary (yes, that Tipperary).  From the apartment, it was just under two hours. The priory was so off-the-beaten-path that we had to park at the entrance to a private residence (off to the side and out of the way, of course) because there are seldom any shoulders on Irish roads and where we were, it was even single-track part of the time.   Once parked, we had to climb over a stone wall (clearly designed for humans to walk over…steps and all…but designed to keep the cows in.) and walk across a field.  No red carpets here. The largest medieval priory in Ireland, Athassel stretches over a 4-acre site. The priory dates back to the late 12th century when it was founded by the Augustinians.  Hubert de Burgh was prior at Athassel around 1221. The original buildings were altered and renovated over the next 300 years. The priory was burnt twice, once in 132