ag tiomáint fáinne Mórchuaird Chiarraí
“The landscape in Ireland is just – I’ve never been in such a beautiful place with the lakes and ocean and everything.” – Travis Fimmel
People come from far and wide to Killarney to see the Ring of Kerry which is a feast for the eyes. Each turn brings beautiful vistas of lush rolling hills, sparkling lakes, sheep and cows grazing on a patchwork of green fields.
We spent two days in Killarney enjoying all that Killarney has to offer in addition to making part of the 179-mile scenic drive along the Ring of Kerry. Given the option to do it again I would do it by car in slow increments pulling over to the side of the road to truly enjoy the breathtaking vistas and not being restricted to larger pullouts suitable for a coach or a timetable. For sure I would include the Dingle Peninsula and a night in Dingle Bay but that’s for another time that I hope will happen.
As we took the jaunting car ride through the Killarney National Park, our jarvey talked about the native red deer and with the softly falling rain it would be a stroke of good luck to see them. Clearly, we were lucky that afternoon since we got a glimpse of a family of deer with babies.
Nestled along the edge of Lough Leane in the Killarney National Park is Ross Castle a 15th-century tower house and keep, ancestral home of the Chiefs of Clan O’Donoghue.
The sound of the bagpipes that we had enjoyed in Scotland gave way to the fiddle and the harp as we enjoyed an evening of song, dance and music with Gaelic Roots.
We had an interesting discussion in the differences in the dancing between Scotland and Ireland though all I can say is that we enjoyed both evenings.
Waterville (An Coireán) is a small coastal village located between the Atlantic Ocean and Lough Currane. Renowned for its angling and golf course and of course as the destination beloved of the famous Charlie Chaplin this coastal town offers beautiful vistas and activities for visitors who come to stay.
We stopped for a spot of tea and scones at a lovely cafe facing the water and walked along the shore a bit to get a feel for the town though we did not get to see the famous golf course.
The Butler Arms and its famous restaurant named after their esteemed guest Charlie Chaplin.
Glanbehy or Glenbeigh is a town surrounded by a horseshoe of hills and the Seefin mountains. It includes Rossbeigh beach and Coomasahran Lake and a number of important rock sites.
Several Fianna legends center around this area and Rossbeigh beach is reputed to be the site where two Fianna rode their white horse to the everlasting land.
Doire Fhíonáin or Derrynane is known as the oak wood of Fíonán’ Fíonán is a small village on the shores of the Derrynane Bay.
If you’re feeling adventurous, the Ring of Kerry cycling route is one of Ireland’s most famous with these converted train tracks forming a part of the cycling track.
One of my friends is a biking enthusiast and she recently did a trip in the US where she rode converted train tracks over a weeklong period. Perhaps one day she will venture to Ireland and cycle the Ring of Kerry.
Being in a big coach driving along the hair pin turns of the road doesn’t always allow you to stop when you want to so when you make a vista stop you make the most of it. This stop is at Coomatloukane.
In Irish Mythology these stones referred to as the Eightercua stones mark the burial spot of Scéine, the wife of the Milesian bard-magician Amergin who is said to have died at sea just prior to them invading Ireland.
Coomatloukane another breath-taking vista along our drive. At each of our stops there were local vendors selling homemade crafts and small souvenirs to the bus and carloads of tourists.
Sneem, the Irish town name, "An tSnaidhm", means "The Knot" in English. One explanation of the name is that a knot-like swirling is said to take place where the Sneem river meets the currents of Kenmare Bay in the estuary just below the village. A less common explanation is that Sneem is the knot in the scenic Ring of Kerry.
Sneem village comprises of two squares, North and South. A bridge in the middle of the village acts as a knot between the two squares. This was a sizeable town and our late afternoon stopping place. While we had skipped lunch the tea and scones from the morning were still holding me over, so I decided to indulge in what I was told was the best ice-cream in Ireland instead. This was of course after walking over the bridge and appreciating all that the town has to offer including some excellent shopping.
A special treat was in store was before dinner. A visit to the pub for a drink and a traditional story and music hour. The bartender was very patient and even though I don’t drink beer I quite enjoyed learning how to pour (build) that perfect Guiness. Since I gave away my beer, I made more friends at the pub that afternoon.
Since its founding in 1856, Sewell’s is the longest standing family-owned pharmacy in the country.
In addition to the shamrock and the Celtic harp, Bridgid’s cross is a national symbol of Ireland. Often woven from straw or rushes it’s believed to bring the blessings and protection of the saint.
There was a mystic selling these at one of our stops along the Ring. Darryl our coach driver purchased one and hung it in the coach to keep us safe and blessed through the rest of our trip.
Being born in India I am familiar with folk lore and superstitions. I loved adding to my treasure trove with the folk tales and legends across this journey.