The pictures give a flavour of the magic of Limerick/Tipperary’s best kept landscape secret.
Clare Glens has thankfully escaped mass tourism and was an artist’s delight on Wednesday last. The flood rich foaming Clare river, framed by the edgy sandstone and shale cliffs, gave an orchestra of sounds, woody smells and misty rainbow sights that was truly special.
The diversity of colour and layers of the wood from the mushrooms on the floor, to the chestnut and orange falling leaves, the sturdy dark green hollies and the stately tall pines and spruces, matched the diversity of the visiting body of students and graduates from across Ireland, Britain, U.S.A. Switzerland, Hungry, Africa and India and provided the perfect setting for reflection.
We later visited Glenstal monastery and were led by Br Anthony on a tour of spectacular Trees. These “Cathedrals of Nature” were in their autumn splendour, which was eloquently matched by Br Anthony’s account of their colourful history, their botanical wisdom, their structure and evolution. The themes of sustainability and the longevity of the woods as a place from which humans have so much to learn were reinforced, as several trees of hundreds and some of thousands of years of life’s experiences were met, sensed and savoured.
The afternoon concluded with a visit to the monastery chapel where the sounds of Gregorian chant from the fifth century were experienced as the evening light faded. 
