Ring of Kerry, County Kerry

After an 8 am breakfast, we drove about 90 minutes to the west to explore the historic "Ring of Kerry" - a circuitous route around the coastal southern county of Kerry that weaves in and out of small towns, between cliffs and valleys, across plains of grazing sheep and fieldstone walls, and alongside breathtaking views of the sea and estuary bays. We pulled over occassionally where the road allowed and snapped a few pictures, but the driving was intense - hugging the side of the road close enough to avoid mighty oncoming trucks and speeding cars, but staying far enough away to avoid a plunge down the side into the cold water.

About halfway through the trip (the ring in total is about 120 miles) we stopped at the Kerry Bog Village - a bit of a tourist trap that boastas recreated traditional Irish homes with thatch roofs. At the village, Jim got to live out his lifelong dream of petting his favorite dog breed - an Irish Wolfhound.

After a bit it was back on the road - luckily we have eluded the bicycles and tourbuses of the forthcoming holiday seasons. We stopped at Ross Castle and Muckross Mansion - both just south of Killarney (a relatively large town that marks the typical starting/ending point of the Ring). Ross Castle was quite a site - built in the 1400s. Muckross Mansion - built in the 1800s - was perhaps even more breathtaking because of its manicured grounds dotted with ancient trees, dazzling view of the inlet, and dozens of chimneys.

We made it back to our base in Kinsale (about 90 minutes from the Ring of Kerry) before sunfall. Then we went down for a great dinner at The White House down in town. Road work being done in advance of the tourist season has left only one road open into town: a steep, hilly twist that would not be wide enough for two small cars but for the three rows of paving bricks that have been added to each side (probably in hindsight).

Tomorrow we depart Kinsale for a trek up the west coast to Galway, but with stops at the Cliffs of Moher and The Burren on the way. Due to a clever use of a USB drive, some pictures from our trip through the Ring of Kerry are now available below!

VIEWS FROM AROUND THE RING OF KERRY




KERRY BOG VILLAGE (TRADITIONAL IRISH HOUSES)



ROSS CASTLE

MUCKROSS MANSION





For more about the Ring of Kerry, click HERE.
For more about Muckross House, click HERE.
For more about Ross Castle, click HERE.