Visiting Killarney and Family.

I have been in Ireland for about a week now, and it’s been wonderful. I have lots of family here so it’s been very busy!!  I took the Irish Ferry from Holyhead in Wales over to Dublin, then heading right to Killarney to see the cousins.  My father’s first cousins live there, with lots of children and now grandchildren!  It was so wonderful to catch up with everyone after so long- though I had to be taught how to pronounce the Irish names! 

Our first day was exploring castles and ruins with two of the little girls. We had a great time looking at Ross Castle which has been restored inside the tower.  Lunch was at the beautiful Lake Hotel with another ruined tower beside it.  We also went to Muckross Abbey. It’s a beautiful old ruin with a graveyard beside it. It’s on the same grounds as Muckross House which has also been fully restored and has beautiful gardens to tour through.  Our final stop of the day was a lookout over Aghadoe, a beautiful view down over Killarney and the mountains near by.  There is also a small cemetery there with the ruins of a church that dates from the 10th century, though parts of it may be even older. 

All that was just one day! The next day my cousins took me through the Gap of Dunloe. It is a beautiful route from Killarney, most tourists start at Kate Kearneys Cottage. You can choose to hike or take a horse drawn trap for this part. Cars are frowned on, unless you are with a local!! 

The path winds along a pass between the mountains, it’s so picturesque with streams, little lakes and sheep grazing all along the way. At the top of the gap you pass into the Black Valley which was the last community in Ireland to get electricity. There is a steep drop along switch backs to the bottom where the village is. We stopped at Lord Brandon’s Cottage, which is an old ruin and the name of a little cafe where the tours can switch to little boats that go through the lake system back to Killarney. Though in the car we kept driving along the valley till we rejoined the main road. There were several viewing spots along as well that were spectacular. 

The family went out for dinner in town, and my cousins took me to a couple pubs in town to experience the Irish night life. Lots of live music and bachelorette groups all dressed up and enjoying the craic!

After a weekend with the family, it was sad to move along, especially waving goodbye to the littlest ones.  I’ve promised to be back soon, I can’t wait another 14 years to visit!!