We start our day from Limerick and head to the Ring of Kerry. This picture is just a typical town that you might see on the way.That is if it is a big town.
As we are traveling the landscape is getting more mountainous. The Ring has a 133 mile hiking foot path for those that are willing..
We traveled through the foothills of MacGillicuddy's Reeks and the Black Valley. We passed an old railway viaduct. Sorry I didn't take a picture it was pictuesque.
The weather is "not so pleasant" and you can't see the tops of the mountains.
A million years ago this land was gripped by the Ice Age and when the ice receeded some 10,000 years ago, it left corries or glacier hollows gourged out of the mountains leaving little bits of rocks everywhere.- (giving rise to the legends of giants throwing stones)
We are driving the Ring going counterclockwise [or as the Irish say: anti-clockwise] on the advise of a local. The guide book recommends that you drive clockwise because the busses do counterclockwise. Do as the guide book suggests. It is much easier driving because as you remember, we are driving on the left hand side of the road.(steering wheel on the right ) It is a bit scary for the passenger this way and you need to have great faith in your driver especially when the busses go by.
This is Cahersiveen-easy for you to say! A town of great historical and archaeological importance. This the birth place of Daniel O'Connell who was a political leader and known for his role for the right for Catholics to sit in the Westminster Parliament. During his time in 1815 he was challenged to a duel at the Dublin Castle for not apologizing to one of the Protestant members, John D'Esterre . O'Connell was regarded as " worse than a public nuisance"and they would have been glad to see him removed. D'Esterre was fatally shot and O'Connell felt so bad that he had killed him that he supported D'Esterre's daughter for almost 30 years till his death.
As we came into the end of the Ring we stopped at the Town of Portmagee. Across its bay you are looking at he Island of Valentia. We were going over there the next day as it was too late in the evening. Once you go over this bridge and travel around the island you can take a ferry back to the mainland. This island has many historical buildings form the cable era of the mid 1800's when the first Transatlantic cable was laid. On a clear day the Skelligs can be seen from the island. It is supposed to be the most spectacular sight in Ireland. The Skelligs are known for "that amazing home 7th-12th century village of monastic beehive dwellings and offering vertigo-inducing views."The book says it is not for those that don't pack a lot of Dramamine. ( I have a few of those friends that would pass on the trip.) And unfortunately we didn't go onto the island or see the Skelligs due to the fog the next day. We will just have to wait to see if we have some guest visitors that would like to go.
Another view of Valentia.
Sunset over Portmagee.
This is where we had dinner of fish and chips. What else would you have on a peninsula surrounded by the sea?
One of my favorite sights! I could hear them last night but I couldn't find them in the dark. They are saying good morning to me. :-)
Our bed and breakfast. 70 euros for both of us. I would recommend them..very nice.
So this is the first part of the Ring of Kerry. I had to break it up because of all the pictures. Look for Part 2 tomorrow..Cheerio :)
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