Killarney—Thursday

April 18th

The Paddywaggon Tour of the Ring of Kerry gave us what we wanted, a chance to enjoy the countryside. The tour guide was informative and easy going. Over nearly 5 hours we drove the 111 mile ring road, learning some Irish history and taking in the rugged landscape of the Wild Atlantic Way on the Inveragh Peninsula. I took way more pictures than I included, but you get a sense of the stark beauty of the coastline and mountains.

There were about 30 of us on this coach, three of us
from Killarney and the rest tourists from Cork.

There are many myths about how 
goats saved Killorglin from Oliver
Cromwell's army, but no one really
knows the origin of the fair.

Killorglin is inundated with hundreds
of thousands of music lovers and
revelers celebrating the crowning of a
goat. The fair is probably pre-Christian
but was documented in the 17th century.

Kerry Bog Village was one of our first stops and

provides a view of Irish life in the 19th century.

This is an actual peat fire and it has a lovely smokey aroma.

McGillicuddy was a prosperous farmer as you 
can see by the pictures above and below.

This is a normal laborer's cottage. Note the dirt floor.

This drinking establishment is one of 

the most spacious buildings in the 

village, of course.

Back on the road, it's all about the scenery.

Lambing season was clearly underway. I couldn't 
capture all the little ones but I tried.

Charlie Chaplin loved 

Waterville and vacationed

here in the summer.

Waterville harbor.

Our guide said these abandoned stone homes are
left because people who starved to death during
the Famine may have died in them.

I'm glad I wasn't driving, because...

...the landscape is dramatic.

  

This stone circle fort is 2000 years old.

Looking west. Next stop...Ellis Island.

There's a lamb resting.

Torac Waterfall about 5 miles outside
Killarney near the end of our drive.

This Morgan would have been the perfect ride
on the winding Ring of Kerry road.