Bantry, Mizen Head and Kinsale

Bantry, Mizen Head and Kinsale

Mizen Head. Most southerly point in Ireland

When I awoke this morning and saw the rain falling softly on the harbour outside my window, I was wondering how much of today's planned trip was going to  be visible. My thought was to go to Mizen Head,  which is the most southerly point in Ireland and it's only  about 40 minutes outside Bantry. When I was telling the lady in the breakfast room, she didn't like my chances and suggested I waited for another day. However I didn't have that luxury of time, so once again I decided to take the plunge.

But first I wanted to have a look around in Bantry. It seemed a lovely little  town when I  drove in last night, but I'm always concentrating on finding a hotel, so am a little distracted. BTW, my hotel last night was great - The Maritime Hotel if anyone goes to Bantry!!

The first thing I saw in town was the statue of St Brendan.

Statue of St Brendan

My Melbourne friends and family may remember that my first teaching appointment was St Brendan's Flemington so he has always had a special place in my heart. Also, he is the patron saint of travellers, and he helped get Mary and Nicky (my Dublin hosts) out to Australia!

St Brendan is very big in this part of the world, especially Dingle too, where there is a legend that he actually built a boat and and sailed significant distances -  some even suggest he got to America. It's reconised as a good story more than anything else, but he has serious currency over here.

The next statue was Theobold Wolfe Tone who  tried to unite Ireland

Theobold Wolfe Tone

I had to have a cup of coffee after all that historical stuff... in the main street..

Bantry town

Then I walked up to the Church to light my candle... have had a few extra people to add to my prayer list over the last few days...

St Finbar's Church Bantry

And of course I couldn't resist taking a pic about the Sisters of Mercy on the noticeboard...

Sisters of  Mercy in Bantry

View of Bantry harbour from my hotel room window

So, after my little tour and being fed and watered, I decided to risk it once again  and head off for Mizen Head. It actually looked like the rain was clearing a bit, and once again the Gods were smiling on me, because although it was still overcast, the weather was great and I was able to see the views and take my pics.

One slight problem was that the visitors centre at Mizen Head was closed for the winter, so I wasn't able to go down and climb across the little bridge they have to the island. But the drive was still very pleasant and once again I had beautiful scenery along the way.

This is the bridge I couldn't cross (saved from Google images!)

Mizen Head Bridge

So once again I had to stop continually with my trusty camera and see what I could capture. Here's a few samples..

On the way to Mizen Head

On the way to Mizen Head

Mizen Head

Mizen Head - couldn't get any good pics unfortunately

Another couple were there, so "Cheese!"

On the way back from Mizen Head

On the way back from Mizen Head

Mizen Head road

 It was a lovely journey and although it was disappointing that I  couldn't get down to the point, the trip was beautiful anyway. As I mentioned in the photo caption there was another young couple there and they just jumped the fence and went in, but I was a bit reluctant to do that. Especially as they were leaving just as I got there and I was on my own there... There's nothing so eerie as being on your own at the end of Ireland!!!!

My target for accommodation tonight was Kinsale and the road from Mizen Head to Kinsale took about and hour and a half. I hadn't had any lunch, so I stopped for some in Skibbereen

Skibbereen

I went via Clonakilty and got into Kinsale about 4pm which is just about an ideal time. Dusk was just starting but it was still well and truly light enough to go for a walk and take some more pics... once again I chose a hotel opposite the water (I'll worry about the Mastercard bill when I get home!). It's lovely and again I have a window facing the harbour. I think mid week  in the nearly winter is not the busy season! And you do get reasonable rates too....

Anyway, it was a lovely sunset, so I'll leave you with a few pics of Kinsale at dusk!

Kinsale across the harbour

Kinsale across the harbour

Kinsale across the harbour

Kinsale Village

1601 Galleon Mast

Yachts in Kinsale Harbour

So, yet again, I have had a beautiful day. Although it did not look promising this morning it turned out to be ideal weather for this tourist! With only a few days left, I'm treasuring every minute and trying to embed the images into my mind and heart so I can carry them with me when I return.

And how enriched will I be then.

Hope some of it has rubbed off for you too!

Killarney to Kenmare and The Beara Peninsula

Killarney to Kenmare and The Beara Peninsula

Killarney Lakes

Well, I should've kept my  mouth shut about the weather. Today was gloomy and overcast and the weather deteriorated as the day progressed. But, as I said last night, I'm still way ahead in terms of what could've been!

I had a wonderful sleep last night after my  shortened version on the night before. So I awoke feeeling refreshed and ready to go...

My plan today was to go to the Beara Peninsula. I had already decided to skip the Ring of Kerry because I had already seen it twice and wanted to experience something different.

So the journey began with the drive to Kenmare. It was a windey road that hugged the lakes to start with then gradually climbed into the mountains.

Ladies view Killarney Lakes

The road from Killarney to Kenmare

It was also the start of the road to the Ring of Kerry, but I stopped at Kenmare and had a nice coffee and a walk around.

Main Street of Kenmare

Interesting plaque near the Church

Went into the Church and lit a candle... prayed for all my usual intentions..

Holy Cross Church Kenmare

Then I set off for the Beara Peninsula.

Unlike yesterday, with blue skies and sunshine, today was grey and overcast, with more chance of fog than sunshine!

This pic sums up the weather

I had read that the Beara peninsula was a place of outsanding beauty, so I was looking forward to seeing the views, but alas and alack, often the views were shrouded by the fog and the mist, but  I still saw lots of lovely scenery.

Beara Peninsula

Beara Peninsula

The internet is very slow here tonight, so I won't upload too many pics.

I had some good advice from a lady in the gift shop in Kenmare, and she told me it was really worth taking the windey road at the bottom of the Peninsula, because the views were beautiful. I was a bit worried about the fog, but it seeemed that the fog was less dense the nearer I came to the coast.

So I took the road less travelled and it really was beautiful. There were not a lot of options to stop and take pics because it really was a little one lane road. I was very lucky that I didn't meet any oncoming traffic - in fact I virtually had that road to myself...

This is what the road looked like

Viewfrom the Beara Peninsula

View from Beara Peninsula

View from Beara Peninsula

I actually ended up going the wrong way at one stage today, because I thought I was moving on back to the  main highway, but I ended up going so the opposite end of the Peninsula. But it was lovely when I got there! I had plenty of time today so it was not a bother, but it just shows what happens when I don't rely on my little Miss Gaby Garmin. I was just following the WAW signs, but one said WAW north and one said WAW south and I was just a little confused...

Anyway, tonight I am in a lovely little town called Bantry staying in the Maritime Hotel and my room looks out over the water. By the time I got here it was getting dark again and the last part of my  journey took place in rain and mist. So I guess I am experiencing the real Ireland now. All that sunshine was just pretend!

Might quit will I'm ahead now... Internet is very sluggish here. I guess we're out in the sticks so should be grateful I have a connection.

Another lovely day in Ireland.

Crossing the Shannon and the Dingle Peninsula

Crossing the Shannon and the Dingle Peninsula

Dingle Peninsula

Didn't get a lot of sleep last night, by the time I had celebrated  with my relations then came home and wrote up the blog. And I knew this morning I was going to cross the Shannon River by ferry to save 100 miles or so of driving. The trip only takes 20 mins and I've done it before, so I knew what to expect. The ferry goes on the hour, so I needed to get to Killimer by 10am, meaning I needed to leave by 8.45am. That was a big ask...! But I made it.

Once again I have jagged a beautiful day. I cannot believe how the sunshine is following me around Ireland. Even if it rains from now on, I'm still ahead!

So you line up the car in  a queue and then just drive off at the other end. I hopped out of the car to take a few pics on the ferry, but I have to admit it was a bit breezy out there in the middle.

Here's the ferry..

Just about to drive on to the ferry

Looking to the other side in Kerry

That's my car in the middle - Susie Suzuki

looking back towards Clare

In the middle...

It was a lovely calm day (thank you Jesus!) and the trip was uneventful and before you know it you're on the other side in a different county.

We landed at Tarbett, then the next town along was Listowel - home of Tadgh Kenneally (Sydney Swans player for those who don't know!)

Stopped in Tralee (home to Mary Catlin) and had a coffee at  the pub. I love the pubs for meals and coffees because they're always warm, they have good wifi and great toilets!!!

Tralee

Tralee

Tralee

That was all lovely enough, but once again the spectacular was about to begin...

Today was task was to drive the Dingle Peninsula, and what a pleasurable task  it proved to be.

I took the mainstream road into Dingle from Tralee, and that was only medium spectacular. I meant to take the WAW route, but I had a car up my bum and missed the turn off, but it still had lovely views...

On the way to Dingle

On the way to Dingle

On the way to Dingle

On the way to Dingle

Dingle town is a pretty place. It's a fishing harbour with quaint little shops.  Had a nice lunch, once again in the pub, where I also caught up with all my emails.

Dingle Harbour

Dingle Harbour

Dingle Harbour

Map of  WAW

I had saved up the most spectacular for after lunch - The Slea Head  Drive, which goes  right around the Dingle Peninsula.

I have done the Ring of Kerry twice, and, sure, it's lovely, but Dingle leaves it for dead. Each turn in the road reveals another amazing view, and once again Iwas jumping in and out of the car to try to capture the beauty... almost impossible though!

You have a mixture of pastoral and magnificence of nature..eg..

Slea Head Drive

Slea Head Drive

I'll just add the pics because words cannot really describe the "wow" factor that is just an everyday occurrence in Ireland.

Slea Head Drive. Mountains of Ring of Kerry in background

Slea Head Drive

Slea Head Drive

Even Jesus had a great view..

Shrine on the road...

Then we turned the corner..

Slea Head Drive

Slea Head Drive

Bay made famous by Ryan's Daughter film

Info about Ryan's Daughter

Always grab someone to take my pic...

Slea Head Drive

Slea Head Drive

It's so hard to really describe the beauty that just confronts you around every bend. Especially on such a glorious day as this...  Hope the images just give you some idea of how magical this place is.

So I eventually landed back in Dingle and it was about 3.30pm.

Big decision coming up...  Do I go on to Killarney for the night or do I just bunker down in Dingle? Given my Glencolmcille experience I have to admit I'm a bit wary of getting into a town a bit late.

But I knew Killarney was a big town with many hotels, so I decided to soldier on!

So.... I took the plunge...

And that provided me with one last highlight for the day...

On my way into Dingle I had noted there was a turn off to Killarney, but looking at the map it looked like it crossed the mountains... again, flashes of my Glencolmcille experience confronted me. Iwas thinking maybe I should take the road back to Tralee and then take the main road to Killarney...

 But once again, I decided to take the risk and follow the WAW signs. I am discovering that this is usually a good move. (On the trail this  afternoon,Gaby Garmin did not even know these roads existed and often had me floundering in the middle of nowhere - but the  WAW roads are pretty good in this area in the world, and very well signposted!)


Anyway, I took the WAW plunge and had the most beautiful drive between Dingle and Killarney. The first part followed the coast line and reminded me very much of the Great Ocean Road -  except better!

Between Dingle and Killarney

Then we followed the Lakes around for quite a bit. Far from being a scary experience, it was the most delightful drive  and brought me into Killarney about 4.45pm which was still just light, so gave me the opportunity to find some accommodation.

Once again Gaby Garmin was my second best friend as she showed me all the options that were available for hotels. I had already googled a few and knew what I was looking for, so she took me straight there... through a traffic jam in Killarney on a Sunday night...!!!

Following the Lakes into Killarney

Following the Lakes into Killarney

So, I'm staying at the Holiday Inn at Killarney, which is a chain I have used  before in York and maybe somewhere else..?? It's comfortable and it's warm and it has wifi!

Today's scenery was once again just beautiful. Each place I have been from France to Belgium to England and Scotland has brought it's own unique beauty and I feel so privileged to have experienced each one of them.