The Midlands Places
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Roscrea
Every corner you turn in this charming town will offer reminders of its rich and sometimes turbulent past. Ancient castles, towers, and churches dot the town's skyline, proof of a heritage that dates to the 7th century. Roscrea is on the main N7 road between Dublin and Cork, making it ideal as a stopover en route to the south. The road cuts right through the remains of a monastery founded by St. Cronan. It also passes the west facade of a 12th-century Romanesque church that now forms an entrance gate to a modern Catholic church. Above the structure's rounded doorway is a hoodmold enclosing the figure of a bishop, probably St. Cronan.
For a real taste of some honest-to-goodness Tipperary home baking, try to catch the Roscrea Country Market held every Friday afternoon. At 1:45 a large queue forms outside the Abbey Hall for wholegrain scones and breads, apple and rhubarb tarts, fruit and sponge cakes, and homemade jams. Potatoes, vegetables, eggs from free-range chickens, and flowers are also on offer. The market has been running since 1962, and is open only for an hour—so get there early.
