journal #4

Landing in Ireland

Journal 4

We started our day with a modified Irish breakfast in Kenmare, as too many of the full Irish breakfasts can really fill you up more than you want for traveling. We stayed at a place called Rockcrest House and it was wonderful. It had a great view of the mountains and was a short walk to town, downhill going to town and quite and uphill returning. For dinner the night before we went to Foley's and I think I've mentioned that information before.

By 9:15am on Sunday we were on the road to Killarney with a trip over Moll's Gap and into Killarney Park. I've done the entire Ring of Kerry before and it would have been great, but we didn't have an extra day for that, so we just did the downhill run from Kenmare into Killarney through Moll's Gap, and Ladies View. Still wonderful scenery.

The sun was wandering in and out as we traveled, but the day was quite comfortable. Our first stop was Muckross House and gardens. While Georgann toured the house (I had done this previously), Sarah and I walked around the gardens and found incredible plants, trees and an amazing rock garden. We decided to take a jaunting car (horse and cart) ride through the demense and were treated to the amazing Torc Waterfall. What a beautiful site. Riding through the forest with the cool air and mossy trees, just made me so happy. Pictures of that to follow. I can tell you that our horse's name was Molly and our driver was a ManU fan. Otherwise he was one of the more quiet drivers, but helpful and informative.

We opted to hold off lunch until we got into Killarney proper, and pushed on to Castle Ross. One of my favorite sites in Ireland, Castle Ross holds some special memories from my first trip. While it was threatening to rain ( more like light sprinkles) I sat and enjoyed the view while Sarah and Goergann explored, content to just soak it all in.

Then it was off to Killarney. When we arrived we discovered that some sort of music festival was happening on the main street, with musicians playing and tons of people dancing. It was great craic to watch. Killarney is a very commercial/tourist town, so other than a delicious lunch, and some window shopping, we were done and headed for Dingle, our final destination for day. I do have to mention that if you stay in Killarney overnight, the pub life is lively and on some of the side streets you can find a gem of a pub and great pub grub.

On the way we stopped at Inch Beach, for some fresh air and a look at one of Ireland's great blue flag beaches and a quick stop for a beautiful view of the coastline. We could see all the way across to the Ring of Kerry peninsula.

So tonight and tomorrow night we are in An Daingean, the Gaelic for Dingle. Dinner and pub time tonight, and a trad concert at the local church tomorrow night.