Killarney, Ireland
We took the bus from Cork to Killarney so that we could go visit the Killarney National Park. We arrived in the late afternoon and stayed at the Kingfisher Lodge which is a quaint Bed and Breakfast located near the City Center.
We went to explore the town and grab some dinner and drinks. The town was busy because there is horseracing at the track for the next four days. We found a local brewery, The Killarney Brewing Company for dinner. Their beers were really tasty which is a nice surprise since most of the local brews have seemed thin and not full bodied. We tried 3 and all were very flavorful, we had the Red Ale since they were out of the stout.
While walking through the town we saw a cute pub called The Shire that was going to have some music that evening, so on our way back from dinner we stopped by. Also I am quite familiar with the Shire and thought was time to visit again ;).
We had a delightful time in the Shire and met some new and talented friends, John and Dejah, who were on vacation from Austin Texas. The music was by two very engaging musicians with a guitar and flute playing everything from traditional Irish music to Americana Country Roads. The group would invite people in the bar to join them and John and Dejah were invited. John and Dejah are very talented musicians and singers so that many of the patrons in the bar thought they were part of the band. The band had me play tambourine for Night Riders In the Sky and I played so well that they were embarrassed to ask me to come and play with them again. Mary Kay let them know it was my birthday so the entire pub sang Happy Birthday to me and gave me an Irish toast. After the band stopped for the night Geraldine the Flautist joined the four of us at our table for conversation and drinks. All in all it was an awesome way to celebrate my B-day and make new friends. We hope to get a chance to see them when we are in Austin in November.
The following day we took our tour of the Killarney National Park. We took the option to tour the park by horse drawn carriage called a Jaunting Car.
Our driver was Dan and he has been driving carriages for nine years and his family has had generations going back over 50 years that have driven the Carriages. Needless to say he knew the National Park extremely well and gave us great history and guidance in the park.
No vehicles except the horse drawn carriages and bicycles are allowed in the National Park Grounds.
Take a ride with us!
Killarney National Park contains many features of national and international importance such as the native oakwoods and yew woods together with an abundance of evergreen trees and shrubs and a profusion of bryophytes and lichens which thrive in the mild Killarney climate.
The distinctive combination of mountains, lakes, woods and waterfalls under ever changing skies gives the area a special scenic beauty.
The native red deer are unique in Ireland with a presence in the country since the last Ice Age.
Ross Castle sits on the edge of Killarney’s lower lake, Lough Leane, and was built by O’Donoghue Mór in the 15th century. It is the ruins of the castle but it's tower is spectacular, and sitting on the lake it makes a striking impression.
Might be time to return to the Carriage!
Pulling the carriage through the National Park is a lot of work for our horse Debbie, luckily Mary Kay brought an apple from breakfast and decided to treat her with the apple.
We returned back to the city and thanked Dan and Debbie and bid them a good day and farewell.