Our Holiday in Killarney (Summer 1999)

We actually began with a night spent in Cashel, near Tipperary (It was a long way!). Cashel is famous for the Rock of Cashel, which is an ecclesiastical fortress on top of a hill. It contains a small chapel and a larger cathedral (ruined) as well as a number of other buildings and we found it really fascinating. We joined the guided tour (something we don't usually do) and were glad we did. Our guide, who's name was Mairead (I've probably spelt it wrong) was quite brilliant (I overheard someone else say "The best guide we've ever had").

We then moved on to Killarney and spent the rest of the week in Co.Kerry. The scenery is wonderful and the name Emerald Isle is well deserved. Everything is so lush and green. TheSouth West of Ireland is mountainous and, although the mountains are quite small by world standards they are none the less spectacular for that. From the back garden of our rented cottage we could just see Carrauntoohill, Ireland's highest mountain.

You can see McGillycuddy's Reeks, the range that includes Carrauntoohill in this photo-montage.

Whilst in the area we spent an afternoon walking around Muckross Lake, one of the three main lakes around Killarney. You can see it in this photo.

We went to the Puck Fair at Killorglin, where a goat is crowned King for 3 days and displayed on a tower in the main street. The fair has horse and cattle markets and a street market and the pubs are open until 3 in the morning! We stood and listened to the music on the bandstand (sponsored by Guinness!, of course) and I was taken by the casual way in which the man next to me rested his glass of the black stuff on top of a parked police car.

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Whilst in the West of Ireland we took the opportunity to visit Dingle with its famous dolphin, Fungi. We sat on the shore on a wonderful afternoon watching the dolphin playing tag with the boats, and listening to the excited cries of the children (of all ages) who had gone out on the boats especially to see him. (They will give you your money back if you don't see the dolphin).

To get to Dingle we drove over Ireland's highest mountain pass, the Conor Pass which gave us some spectacular views (and some scary driving). Here's a panorama taken near the top.

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All in all I would very much recommend the West of Ireland as a place for a relaxed holiday. I would also recommend Tony Hawkes book, Travels Round Ireland with a Fridge. Well worth a few hours reading.