In the Fall of 2023 Grace Ormonde Wedding Style Magazine sent me on assignment to write about & photograph the beautiful Adare Manor, in Ireland. The idea was to create a feature on my extended weekend experience there, focusing on the manor as a Destination Wedding location for couples.
I was so thrilled to go to the land of my ancestors ! My grandparents on my father’s side were from County Clare, which is a stone’s throw from Adare Manor in Limerick County and I’d never been to Ireland.
It was a misty, rainy morning when we finally arrived, driving first through the quaint village of Adare and then up to the long driveway to the Manor. Adare Manor is a rare find, situated on 840 acres of sweeping Irish countryside. Through the rain and fog we saw the lights of the Manor welcoming us and we were greeted by a smiling man who knew our names and treated us like we were long lost family! Dressed in a top hat and grey morning suite, he ushered us through the arched entryway and into the Great Room, decorated with rich hues of red and orange, warmed by a blazing fire.
I felt a connection right away with the people and the mysticism of the land. My stay opened my heart to my ancestral roots and to understand how important it is to honor where you have come from, and to know where you're going.
Adare, translated from the original Irish Gaelic is Ath Dara, which means the ' Ford of the Oak'. A spot where the River Maige winds its’ way through the countryside of Limerick County, bringing life to the many ancient woods that once dominated this land. Adare Manor and the village of Adare share in this rich history, honoring the ancestry and linage of the original Gaelic people and the traditions of the Irish. Walking through the grand entrance, my heart was captured by the sense of history and loving care that brought this place, once home of the Dunraven Family, into the the modern day Manor I experienced. The motto of the Dunraven family is Qua Sursum Volo Videre which means 'I wish to see what is beyond'. ‘To see beyond ‘is what I try to do, as a photographer. To see, through my lens, the beauty of the people & places I capture, within each frame. Creating an image that is also timeless, in a perfect moment. Every morning, as the sun rose in the great expanse of my room’s panoramic windows, I was asked, once again, to see what is beyond. I loved breathing in the rich scents of the morning dew, and experience what mysteries this land would reveal. The manicured gardens & woodland trails delighted my senses as I journeyed through so many new experiences, from the culture and the food to the falconry and luxurious country living.Creating memories like a cherished photograph. CLICK here to see my full Feature on ADARE MANOR in Grace Ormonde Wedding Style magazine.
