Day 7 - Co Kerry & Ilnacullin Island
It is the seventh day of my time in Ireland, the 6th day of our tour, Monday, June 15th. This day we leave the fair city of Cork and head towards Killarney, 
Co. Kerry. Along the way we will make a stop at the town of Bantry and see lovely Bantry Bay. This day will be one of the less strenuous of the tour.
Bantry, Co. Cork, sits at the head of Bantry Bay on the southwest coast of Ireland. Due to the flow of the Gulf Stream, Bantry enjoys very mild weather which allows the growth of semi-tropical vegetation. Palm trees, imported from Australia, grow in profusion in the area. In the town square a statue of St. Brendan the Navigator looks out to sea.
The harbor of Bantry Bay is very deep and has, from ancient times, been a haven for fishermen and sea travelers. In 1689, a fleet of 7000 french troops sailed into Bantry Bay with a large cache of arms and money in aid of James II in his war with William of Orange.
Many of the soldiers and sailors died at the battle of Derry and at the Battle of the Boyne. Later, in 1697, troops of William of Orange were landed at Bantry. Due to it’s sheltered location, it became the base for the British Fleet in WWII.
Our short visit to Bantry ended and we boarded our coach for the afternoon at
Garinish Island (Ilnacullin in the Irish). Garinish Island is located in the harbor of Glengarrif in Bantry Bay in County Cork. The island comprises 37 acres and is known throughout the world to horticulturists and botanists for its gardens of rare beauty. The island was purchased approximately 80 years ago by Annan Bryce who commissioned the architect, Harold Peto, to design the gardens. In 1953, the island was bequeathed to the Irish government.
As we approached the island, we were greeted by seals that inhabit many of the small islets in the bay. They generally took little notice of us, only acknowledging our passage with a lazy raising of the head. Mostly, they just lay there and enjoyed their time in the sun.
The island includes a number of structures including Grecian and Italian Temples and an Italian Tea House. Each of the temples is the centerpiece for a surrounding garden. In the center of the island is a restored round Martello tower that dates from the Napoleonic wars. We strolled the grounds taking in the flora and then made a lunch stop at the little cafe on the island where I had a delicious bowl of a spicy bean soup and a grilled ham, cheese and tomato sandwich. The gruyere cheese gave it an interesting flavor.
With that, we boarded our ferry for the short ride back to shore and our waiting coach.
From Garinish Island, we would proceed on to our destination for the next several days in the lovely town of Killarney. Our journey would take us across the Caha Mountains into Co. Kerry. As we drove over the Caha Pass, we stopped to look back on Bantry Bay and Ilnacullin.
Descending from our mountain crossing, we came to the lovely town of Kenmare that sits at the head of Kenmare Bay. Just off of the town square is the Kenmare Stone Circle. Of Bronze Age construction, the circle consists of 15 stones surrounding a central dolmen made up of a burial stone with a large capstone.
Our mystical sides recharged, we departed Kenmare and continued to our final destination of Killarney. Tomorrow we would traverse the Ring of Kerry.
Bantry
Ilnacullin Island, the Isle of Holly
County Kerry
Co. Kerry. Along the way we will make a stop at the town of Bantry and see lovely Bantry Bay. This day will be one of the less strenuous of the tour.
Bantry, Co. Cork, sits at the head of Bantry Bay on the southwest coast of Ireland. Due to the flow of the Gulf Stream, Bantry enjoys very mild weather which allows the growth of semi-
The harbor of Bantry Bay is very deep and has, from ancient times, been a haven for fishermen and sea travelers. In 1689, a fleet of 7000 french troops sailed into Bantry Bay with a large cache of arms and money in aid of James II in his war with William of Orange.
Many of the soldiers and sailors died at the battle of Derry and at the Battle of the Boyne. Later, in 1697, troops of William of Orange were landed at Bantry. Due to it’s sheltered location, it became the base for the British Fleet in WWII.
Our short visit to Bantry ended and we boarded our coach for the afternoon at
Garinish Island (Ilnacullin in the Irish). Garinish Island is located in the harbor of Glengarrif in Bantry Bay in County Cork. The island comprises 37 acres and is known throughout the world to horticulturists and botanists for its gardens of rare beauty. The island was purchased approximately 80 years ago by Annan Bryce who commissioned the architect, Harold Peto, to design the gardens. In 1953, the island was bequeathed to the Irish government.
As we approached the island, we were greeted by seals that inhabit many of the small islets in the bay. They generally took little notice of us, only acknowledging our passage with a lazy raising of the head. Mostly, they just lay there and enjoyed their time in the sun.
The island includes a number of structures including Grecian and Italian Temples and an Italian Tea House. Each of the temples is the centerpiece for a surrounding garden. In the center of the island is a restored round Martello tower that dates from the Napoleonic wars. We strolled the grounds taking in the flora and then made a lunch stop at the little cafe on the island where I had a delicious bowl of a spicy bean soup and a grilled ham, cheese and tomato sandwich. The gruyere cheese gave it an interesting flavor.
With that, we boarded our ferry for the short ride back to shore and our waiting coach.
From Garinish Island, we would proceed on to our destination for the next several days in the lovely town of Killarney. Our journey would take us across the Caha Mountains into Co. Kerry. As we drove over the Caha Pass, we stopped to look back on Bantry Bay and Ilnacullin.
Descending from our mountain crossing, we came to the lovely town of Kenmare that sits at the head of Kenmare Bay. Just off of the town square is the Kenmare Stone Circle. Of Bronze Age construction, the circle consists of 15 stones surrounding a central dolmen made up of a burial stone with a large capstone.
Our mystical sides recharged, we departed Kenmare and continued to our final destination of Killarney. Tomorrow we would traverse the Ring of Kerry.
To Day 8 -