Day 8 - The Ring of Kerry
Today we depart Killarney, Co. Kerry, and our hotel, Randles Court, to traverse the Ring of Kerry, also known as the Iveragh Peninsula. Regarded as the most scenic drive in Ireland, the Ring, for most folks as for us, begins and ends in Killarney. It comprises a 101 miles of scenic highway that follows the east cost of Dingle Bay, then turns southeast along the Atlantic, back along the west coast of Kenmare Bay and finally across Macgillicuddy’s Reeks to Killarney. 
Along the way we will pass through picturesque towns and villages, past some of the best beaches in Europe, loughs and mountains and some of the best fresh water and sea fishing to be found. By agreement, the tour buses, and they are legion, all travel in a counter, or anti-, clockwise direction. So, if you are driving an automobile, you should go in a clockwise direction unless you wish to get stuck behind lines of buses,
Our journey begins with a stop overlooking Lough Leane where we are greeted by a couple of the friendly locals. Though we were met with rain as we left our hotel, today has changed to a magnificent blue sky with billowy clouds. Our next stop is at Macken of Ireland, a local merchant, for a “free” Irish coffee, somewhat of a tradition for those touring the Ring. While the coffee was free, I must say the folks of Macken were rewarded handsomely for our stop,
As we turned back to the southwest at Killorglen, we began to encounter our first sighting of the fabled peat bogs and “hay stacks” of peat drying in the sun. Dried peat is a traditional method of producing heat throughout Ireland and on into Scotland. (You may remember my relating of the “smokey peaty” taste of Lagavulin single malt
whiskey whilst in Scotland. The peaty flavor comes from the peat fires used to dry the malted barley.) Along with the peat, we also were introduced to bog cotton. Bog cotton has sparse bowls of cotton that are used by the locals to stuff pillows and mattresses,
Continuing on, we began to encounter the inland mountains of the Ring, Macgillicuddy’s Reeks. And of a sudden, on the side of the road we came upon an actual Leprechaun! Of course, we had to stop and see if we could somehow trick him out of his pot of gold. Leprechauns being trickier than mortal men, we had to settle for a photograph...which cost me a contribution to his pot of gold! But then, who among you can honestly say they have a picture of a real Leprechaun?
The Ring of Kerry certainly includes more than can be described here, so I will leave the remainder of our journey to the camera,
The Ring of Kerry
Along the way we will pass through picturesque towns and villages, past some of the best beaches in Europe, loughs and mountains and some of the best fresh water and sea fishing to be found. By agreement, the tour buses, and they are legion, all travel in a counter, or anti-Our journey begins with a stop overlooking Lough Leane where we are greeted by a couple of the friendly locals. Though we were met with rain as we left our hotel, today has changed to a magnificent blue sky with billowy clouds. Our next stop is at Macken of Ireland, a local merchant, for a “free” Irish coffee, somewhat of a tradition for those touring the Ring. While the coffee was free, I must say the folks of Macken were rewarded handsomely for our stop,
As we turned back to the southwest at Killorglen, we began to encounter our first sighting of the fabled peat bogs and “hay stacks” of peat drying in the sun. Dried peat is a traditional method of producing heat throughout Ireland and on into Scotland. (You may remember my relating of the “smokey peaty” taste of Lagavulin single malt
whiskey whilst in Scotland. The peaty flavor comes from the peat fires used to dry the malted barley.) Along with the peat, we also were introduced to bog cotton. Bog cotton has sparse bowls of cotton that are used by the locals to stuff pillows and mattresses,
Continuing on, we began to encounter the inland mountains of the Ring, Macgillicuddy’s Reeks. And of a sudden, on the side of the road we came upon an actual Leprechaun! Of course, we had to stop and see if we could somehow trick him out of his pot of gold. Leprechauns being trickier than mortal men, we had to settle for a photograph...which cost me a contribution to his pot of gold! But then, who among you can honestly say they have a picture of a real Leprechaun?
The Ring of Kerry certainly includes more than can be described here, so I will leave the remainder of our journey to the camera,
Additional photos
Day 9 - Co Clare & Co Galway