August 4, 2013 - Bus Tour of the Ring of Kerry

Dianne wanted to see the Ring of Kerry and we are so glad she did so we booked a bus tour to Killarney where the ring begins. Below, the cathedral of Killarney.

Above, the green house is jokingly referred to as the “paint sell” house. There was a large hardware store similar to The Home Depot built in Ireland during its boom years but has since fallen on bad times with the recession and has closed most of its stores. They had a massive clearance sale when they closed and it is supposed that the owner of this house got a real bargain on the paint. Below, Edward with our tour mascot, “Finnegan!”

Odd. A flea market set up at a beautiful vista stop above. Note the now politically incorrect “blackhead” figures advertising Georgia peanuts.

Elaine and Joseph posing outside our Paddywagon Tour Bus.

Note carefully the goal posts below. There are goal posts (like football) and nets (like soccer). The sport is called Celtic Football. You get 1 point for kicking the ball through the uprights and 3 points for kicking it into the net. It seems to be a combination of soccer, rugby and American football.

An inlet from the Atlantic Ocean on the Ring of Kerry.

Edward and Elaine at some more cliffs on the tour. Not as dramatic as the Cliffs of Moher, but still impressive.

An Irish charity, The Jack & Jill Foundation. One of our favorite couples are named Jack and Jill so this is for them.

Irish Monks in a boat similar to the one in the Brandon Voyage. There was an Irish Monk who set out in one of these boats and it is believed that he landed in Newfoundland long before Columbus arrived in America. He was not sure where he landed but he did find land to the west of Ireland that was neither Iceland nor Greenland. Below, a small Irish village near Killarney with some brightly painted houses.

We cross a mountain pass through a mountain range before arriving in Killarney. The photos below are all taken from the top of the mountain pass. The Atlantic Ocean is on one side of the pass and an inlet of the ocean is on the other. Magnificent views. First the Atlantic Ocean.

Then the Atlantic Inlet side of the pass.

Edward and Joseph find their new best friend, a small lamb about 3 months old.

View of the Atlantic Inlet side of the pass.

Above, an Atlantic storm approaching. Below, a small set of rapids in a river on the way to Killarney.

Below, an area known as the “Ladies Lakes” on the ring. There is an upper, a middle and a lower lake.

Above, a panorama view of the lakes.

Below, a hike to a waterfall on the Ring in Killarney National Park.

The very narrow roads on the Ring. How would you like to come upon a giant green bus taking up most of both lanes?

Below, sunset on the Ring of Kerry. A very lovely tour of some beautiful country.