Ireland 2007

Kenmare – Killarney – Ring of Kerry
Friday, Sep. 21., 14-19 °C, a.m. rainy, p.m. sunny, 167 km

The morning started off rainy. Torc Waterfall near Killarney was impressive after the rain. We had a look at Muckross House and Gardens and visited the Traditional Farms which was interesting as they had actors showing the life of the past and many farm animals. Once we started off on the Ring of Kerry the weather improved. At 1:30 p.m. we arrived in Cahersiveen and found a room at Iveragh Heights B&B with a nice view. We spent the sunny afternoon on Valentia Island, site of the first transatlantic cable. They have some beautiful cliffs and a view of the Skellig islands. We had a great dinner (Catch of the Day) at The Bridge Bar in Portmagee.

Ring of Kerry – Killarney
Saturday, Sep. 22, 18 °C, partly cloudy,178 km

We visited Cahergall Stone Fort, drove the Skellig Ring and walked the dunes in Derrynane National Historic Park. Then we had a look at Staigue Fort, stopped for lunch in the little village of Sneem and were back in Killarney at 3:15 p.m. Spent the night at White Oaks B&B.

Killarney – Dingle
Sunday, Sep. 23, 17 °C, partly cloudy, late p.m. rain, 139 km

The day started off cloudy. We hiked the Gap of Dunloe for 1.5 hours, then we toured the Dingle peninsula. In Dingle we stayed at Ashe’s Guest Accommodation. Dingle is known for the dolphin Fungie that lives in Dingle Bay since 1983 and still is a visitor attraction. We visited Dunbeg Promontory Fort and some Beehive Huts. The view from Slea Head in the sunshine and the waves were fantastic. It started to rain when we were back in Dingle. We had Fish & Chips at the Marina Inn where some locals were playing traditional music. At 9:30 p.m. we went to the An Droichead Beag Pub for their traditional music session.

Dingle – Listowel – Tarbert – Cliffs of Moher – Doolin
Monday, Sep. 24., 14 °C, a.m. rainy, p.m. sunny, 205 km

We crossed Ireland’s highest mountain pass, Connor Pass (456m) in the rain, then stopped at Blennerville windmill, the largest windmill still in operation in Europe. At 12 p.m. we boarded the ferry at Tarbert. Unfortunately we didn’t see any of the Shannon dolphins. At Spanish Point we saw impressive waves and at 2:30 p.m. we reached the fishing village of Doolin which is known for traditional music. We got a room for two nights at Churchfield B&B. Then we drove to the famous Cliffs of Moher which we saw in the sunshine but there was a strong wind. At 6:30 p.m. we were just in time to enjoy the end of an Irish Music Singalongs at the Gus O’Connor Pub in Doolin’s Fisher Street.

Doolin – Burren – Doolin
Tuesday, Sep. 25, 14 °C, a.m. cloudy, p.m. sunny, 113 km

Today we visited the bizarre landscape of Burren National Park. We stopped at Caherconnell Stone Fort and Poulnabrone Dolmen. Via Ballyvaghan we reached Black Head. Here we did a little hike with beautiful views to another stone fort on top of a hill. For dinner we went to McDermott’s Pub in Doolin and we watched the sunset from the end of Fisher Street.

Doolin – Galway – Connemara
Wednesday, Sep. 26, 14 °C, mostly cloudy, 227 km

Via Galway we reached the beautiful landscapes of Connemara. We drove along small roads along the coast. Stopped in Roundstone and at the John Alcock und Arthur Whitten-Brown Memorial at Ballinaboy, a sculpture of an aircraft's tail-fin. The British aviators made the first non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean from Newfoundland to Ireland in 1919. Around 3:30 p.m. we arrived in Clifden. Here we stayed at Baymount House, right in the center on Sky Road.