To End the Day

Our stop in Tramore, Co. Waterford was one of our unscheduled destinations as we really did not know where we would end our day. We called ahead to make reservations at Colneen House Bed & Breakfast which is located in charming town by the sea in southeast Ireland.

We were not aware, but April 24, 2016 was the Republic of Ireland census. The census is a detailed count of every person living in Ireland on that particular date. Census forms are delivered to every household in the state on the night of the census. Any property where someone might be present on that night also received a form which includes hotels, guesthouses, hospitals, and ships.  I am not sure how we were counted in this census but we did fill out a form.

The Bed and Breakfast was adorable and offered a wonderful breakfast; I would highly recommend a stay if in the area. We did not have much time in this town but did talk a walk along The Doneraile Walk. Enjoy some photos taken as we traveled to our destination for the night and ended this very exciting day. I also included some interesting finds in Tramore during our walk that night.  Both Dan and I very much enjoyed the Guinness signage from town to town.

To see Dan’s blog of our adventures in this town, click here.

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Killarney National Park, a Ladies View, and a Haunted Church

 

We continued our drive through Killarney National Park and found many treasures along the way. From a Ladies View, a haunted church, multiple leprechaun sightings, and of course, more sheep 😉

Ladies View

Ladies View is about 12 miles from Killarney on the N71 road as you go towards Kenmare. The view here is probably the best known of Killarney and is a major attraction for visitors. Queen Victoria’s ladies-in-waiting visited here during the royal visit in 1861. They were so taken with the view that it was named after them. The Irish Times ranked Ladies View as one of the most photographed places in Ireland

A Haunted Church

Derrycunnihy Church is 120-years old and sits about halfway between the famous tunnel and Ladies View on N71 in the heart of Killarney National Park. The old church has long since been abandoned but is currently going through renovations. Many years ago, a girl died when she was knocked off her bicycle outside the church on her way home.  It has been mentioned that a young girl dressed in white can still be seen wandering around outside the church late at night and if you ask the locals, they’ll tell you that she’s still trying to make her way home. There have also been many reports over the years that the ‘girl in white’ appears INSIDE passing cars. We did not meet this little girl, but we did manage to capture images of this stunning church.

Killarney National Park and Leprechaun Crossings

While hiking this area, we found quite a few breathtaking views which of course, included more sheep 😉

I hope you enjoyed the stop! I am thankful for my family and friends; stay safe everyone!

To visit Dan’s Blog about this area click –> here

The Ring of Kerry and Iveraph Peninsula, Ireland

I’ll start from the beginning and tell you the story of our travels on this day; I do have to apologize, the post I promised on the Gap of Dunloe will have to wait its turn. We started out every morning in Ireland with a traditional Irish breakfast which fueled us for the day ahead. Our goal was to visit the Dingle Peninsula and all areas in between.  Although the beauty of this place shined bright like a diamond, the rings I am about to comment on cannot be worn on your hand 😉

The Ring of Kerry

The Ring of Kerry is a 179-km-long circular tourist route in County Kerry, south-western Ireland. Clockwise from Killarney it follows the N71 to Kenmare, then the N70 around the Iveragh Peninsula to Killorglin – passing through Sneem, Waterville, Cahersiveen, and Glenbeigh – before returning to Killarney via the N72. – read more (wikipedia)

Ring of the Reeks

There is another ring inside the Ring of Kerry.  Widely known for cycle tours, the Ring of the Reeks boasts some outstanding beauty.  There are more official maps the outline the cycle route; the map below is Dan’s own account of the path we traveled.

Our first part of the trip included many narrow dirt roads within the Ring of the Reeks. We always had to ask each other, “What is down this road” as we turned down that path. The day started (and ended) perfectly; we felt important as we were led by two sheep along this narrow hilly road. It was almost like they were showing this beautiful area off (I don’t blame them). They eventually moved off the road; we said our goodbye’s and moved on.

The Iveraph Peninsula

The Iveragh Peninsula (Uíbh Ráthach) is the largest peninsula in Co. Kerry situated south of Dingle Peninsula (Corca Dhuibhne) and north of the Beara Peninsula (Béarra). It is flanked by both Dingle Bay (Bá an Daingin)and Kenmare (An Neidín) Bay and faces the Atlantic Ocean. The Macgillycuddy’s Reeks(Na Cruacha Dubha) in the centre of the Iveragh Peninsula include Carrauntoohill(Corrán Tuathail), at 1,038 metres (3,406 ft) the tallest peak in the country. ~ Ask About Ireland

The Iveraph Peninsula is a very popular destination.  The Ring of Kerry is one of the most beloved areas to visit in the Republic of Ireland.  The peninsula is also home to The Kerry Way.  The Kerry Way is a walkers’ version of the Ring of Kerry.  It is a 113-mile-long circular hiking train the begins and ends in Killarney.  It typically takes 9 days to complete.  Can you imagine the memories you would make on this hike? It makes me smile as I imagine myself completing this hike. Our travels on this day was to say the least awe-inspiring; we passed through Irish towns, valleys and hills, and even ran into a farmer tending to his flock of sheep with the help of his trusty four legged friends. It was quite interesting to watch the effort of these dogs and we welcomed this little break from driving. Fox are the main predators of the Sheep in Ireland and dogs/farmers will protect their livestock if needed; especially when there are so many little lambs. We did happen across a not so lucky fox which the farmer dispatched and hung it on the fence alongside this remote dirt road.

All this and we have not made it to Dingle yet? Yes! Ireland is full of beauty that filled our eyes and hearts with wonder. More sites to come as we traveled further onward down the Dingle Peninsula towards the adorable town of Dingle in County Kerry, Ireland.

Counting Sheep

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Our travels for this day included a ferry trip from Killimer to Tarbert, travels off the beaten path and just a few sheep. We made our way to our next Bed & Breakfast, Hillcrest Farmhouse. We stayed at Hillcrest Farmhouse B&B for two nights.  This B&B was a perfect place to spend two days and explore […]

Just Take That Turn

After spending some time hiking and exploring Slieve League with the time we had, we made our way to our next stop. Driving our way back through Donegal and following the coast heading south, we ran into some more breathtaking sights (Ireland was full of them).  During our time driving, we had always decided to “just take that turn” to see what was down the road which has never disappointed us. One of these roads took us down to Mullaghmore Peninsula and we stumbled upon Classiebawn Castle. As we laid eyes on this property, I caught myself pointing to the structure with my mouth open in awe.  The scenery was like a dream; post processing some of these images from this day was so much fun as I played with texture, filters, and color (which I love).

Classiebawn Castle is a country house built for the 3rd Viscount Palmerston (1784–1865) on what was formerly a 10,000-acre estate on the Mullaghmore peninsula near the village of Cliffoney, County Sligo.  It was designed in the Baronial style by J. Rawson Carrol, a Dublin-based architect, and is constructed from a yellow-brown sandstone brought by sea from County Donegal. It comprises a gabled range with a central tower topped by a conical roofed turret.

One of my favorite panoramic images came from this accidental run in. To this day, this image still adorns my desk at work and it takes me back to that spot in Ireland everyday… A little escape to Classiebawn Castle!

Our last stop of this leg of our adventure was Glencar Waterfall. Again, we did not have much time, but it was worth the stop; what a tranquil sight!

Glencar Lough (Irish: Loch Ghleann an Chairthe, meaning “lake of the glen of the pillar stone”), locally known as Glencar Lake, is a freshwater lake in the northwest of Ireland. Glencar Waterfall is located near the lake’s north shore on the Leitrim side.

This was the perfect birthday full of adventure and breathtaking scenery. I couldn’t have asked for anything more. See you all soon; have a wonderful week!

Downhill Demesne and the Mussenden Temple, Part 1/4

Downhill Castle was built by the eccentric Frederick Hervey, 4th Earl of Bristol and Lord Bishop of Derry. The building of this massive structure began in 1772 which continued with the rear courtyards until the early 1790s.

Downhill Demesne, the Mussenden Temple, the grounds encompassing the temple, and its manor house (Downhill Castle) is now a National Trust property and is open to the public all year, from dawn to dusk. I would highly recommend a stop if ever in the area; the grounds and what it holds are beyond beautiful.

In the feudal system, a demesne was all the land which was retained by a lord of the manor for his own use and occupation or support, under his own management, as distinguished from land enfeoffed by him to others as sub-tenants.

The Demesne also includes a dovecote, walled gardens, a belvedere, or summer house, built for the Earl-Bishop’s daughter and a mausoleum dedicated to his brother George, 3rd Earl of Bristol, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Travel along with us as we get closer to the remarkable structures that the property contains.

Peek-a-boo

Traveling in Northern Ireland – #DiscoverNI

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Our days were spent driving, hiking, and taking in the beauty that Ireland has to offer; we enjoyed every minute of the day.  On our second day in this area, we drove the Causeway Coastal Route until it became late enough that we headed back towards our Bed and Breakfast.  As mentioned in my previous […]