Land of the Little People

Welcome to Bruff, Ireland! The church is the first thing you see when you enter town.

And of course, cows. Fields and fields of cows.

First stop of the day was Lough Gur. Most signs in Ireland are written in English and Gallic is written underneath.

The lake forms a horseshoe shape at the base of Knockadoon Hill and some rugged elevated countryside. It is one of Ireland's most important archaeological sites.

Mute swans are to be found all year and Great Crested Grebe are amongst the attractions for bird watchers.

Lough Gur has been a place of continuous habitation for at least 5,500 years since the arrival of the Neolithic people and represents in microcosm each of the different ages.

The remains of at least three crannogs are present, and the remains of Stone Age houses have been unearthed dating back to 400 BC (the house outlines are known as "The Spectacles").

A thatched roof cottage.

In 1847 the water level was lowered by 5 feet and on the shore so many objects were discovered that have found their way into most museums in western Europe.

The legends and faery tales that have grown up around the Lough and the area are rich and complex. Gearold Iarla the enchanted son of one of the Earls of Desmond and Aine, his mystical mother figure largely in local lore.

Gearoid mystical powers caused his father to show surprise; something Aine had warned him never to do. Gearoid disappeared beneath the water at this mistake and every 7 years he rides around the lake on a white horse of the silver shoes. When the shoes are finally worn out, the glory of the Desmonds will be restored.

A number of ring forts are found in the area, with one sitting atop the hill that overlooks the lake.

Hailey walking through a wetland. In the tree line, you can see a small area of Bourchier's Castle.

The lake is sheltered by limestone hills, this tranquil place of pre-historic mystery..

At the far end of the lake are the ruins of a Norman castle, Black Castle, which is reached by a hill-side walk along the east side of the lake.

This is probably the place where the Earl of Desmonds secured his authority in 1573 after casting off his English apparel and donning Irish garments on his return to Munster from London.

A gradual shore-line is present, with a shallow section of lake reaching up to the maintained lawn.