DAY-29: The Ring Of Kerry
Day – 29: Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Starting Location: Kinsale, Ireland
Ending Location: Killarney, Ireland
Did we mention that it rains in Ireland?
Today following checkout from the MacDonald Resort we hit the road for the "Ring of Kerry".
The ring is a drive around the southwestern peninsulas of Ireland noted for its dramatic and picturesque scenery.
There's no way I'll remember all the little villages and towns through which we passed but hopefully some of my fellow SMARTists will help me out. I do remember stopping in one small town where a street market was ongoing, the fresh foods looked delicious (except for the hummus).
We passed through Moll's Gap en-route to Killarney. Seems that Moll was a noted bootlegger of days long passed. As we went through the gap, Pat realized that she had been there on a previous visit. How did she know you might ask? Well it's simple, an Avoca retail outlet is located at the pass so her memories likely had something to do with shopping.
Somewhere en-route we visited a house and near there we took a jaunty ride; so there were things we did, we just need to thread a story together. For example there was Ross Castle and the boats for cruising the lake.
The jaunty ride was an hour long tour through one of the parks associated with, you can guess, another castle. Our driver "Cal" for lack of a better name was well suited for his job and had clearly kissed the Blarney Stone a few times as he had the "gift of gab". Cal made the ride interesting describing the history or significance of the park, the castle and general area. As an aside Cal also gave us a bit of his life story which included multiple wives and life in New York. The horse, a most important player in this scheme works about five hours a day.
To some of us the Muckross House was simply another house, a big house yes, a decorated house yes, but still a house. As it would be, there was limited space available for the house tour; being officers and gentlemen Jack, Greg and I offered to stay back so that Sheila, Chris, Diane and Pat could take the tour.
The three guys retired to the coffee bar where we soon decided that we should head for the hotel and check-in. Kevin took us over then returned to pick-up Pat, Sheila, Chris & Diane.
Our hotel for two nights in Killarney was the Aghadoe Heights Hotel located about 2 miles from town. This was a somewhat modernistic looking building and offered suites with very comfortable accommodations.
For our evening in town, we opted for dinner at The Laurels Restaurant.
Upon leaving the restaurant strangely one of the street musicians here in Killarney turned out to be a busker we had seen in Edinburgh four weeks earlier. His claim to fame is based on his songs relating to Donald Trump. How strange, the same street musician in two different places in such a short time.
Following dinner the group split with three returning to the hotel while the others of us headed for Tatler Jack's Pub for a few pints and some local entertainment.
Did we mention that it rains in Ireland?
Today following checkout from the MacDonald Resort we hit the road for the "Ring of Kerry".
The ring is a drive around the southwestern peninsulas of Ireland noted for its dramatic and picturesque scenery.
There's no way I'll remember all the little villages and towns through which we passed but hopefully some of my fellow SMARTists will help me out. I do remember stopping in one small town where a street market was ongoing, the fresh foods looked delicious (except for the hummus).
Somewhere en-route we visited a house and near there we took a jaunty ride; so there were things we did, we just need to thread a story together. For example there was Ross Castle and the boats for cruising the lake.
The jaunty ride was an hour long tour through one of the parks associated with, you can guess, another castle. Our driver "Cal" for lack of a better name was well suited for his job and had clearly kissed the Blarney Stone a few times as he had the "gift of gab". Cal made the ride interesting describing the history or significance of the park, the castle and general area. As an aside Cal also gave us a bit of his life story which included multiple wives and life in New York. The horse, a most important player in this scheme works about five hours a day.
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| Sheila with "Cal" |
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| Nick with ... |
The three guys retired to the coffee bar where we soon decided that we should head for the hotel and check-in. Kevin took us over then returned to pick-up Pat, Sheila, Chris & Diane.
Our hotel for two nights in Killarney was the Aghadoe Heights Hotel located about 2 miles from town. This was a somewhat modernistic looking building and offered suites with very comfortable accommodations.
For our evening in town, we opted for dinner at The Laurels Restaurant. 
Upon leaving the restaurant strangely one of the street musicians here in Killarney turned out to be a busker we had seen in Edinburgh four weeks earlier. His claim to fame is based on his songs relating to Donald Trump. How strange, the same street musician in two different places in such a short time.Following dinner the group split with three returning to the hotel while the others of us headed for Tatler Jack's Pub for a few pints and some local entertainment.
It was then time to say "Good Night"!
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