Dublin, Kilkenny, Killarney, Kenmare, Dingle
Ireland is lush green hills and delightful walking paths, Guinness beer, Cliffs of Moher, ancient stone castles, wandering sheep, and Celtic history. Travel Ireland by car.
Dublin
In Dublin we visited an old library, museum, cathedral, park, historical prison, and a brewery.
An incredible collection of over 200,000 manuscripts and books are housed within two levels of the Trinity Old Library. The book of Kells, an ancient Christian manuscript crafted by monks is located in a dedicated section. How these notable writings were artfully and painstakingly designed are visually described.
The National Museum of Ireland has free admittance. Within he Archaeology branch were some unique artifacts along with excellent representations of an historic Ireland from centuries past. Exhibits depict lifestyle from the middle ages, relics from excavated Viking settlements, metalworks, and noblemen’s jewelry. Most memorable were the bog bodies.
St Patrick’s Cathedral at 800 years old is the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland. With captivating floor tiles, stained-glass windows, and over 600 people buried on cathedral premises, it is the largest church in Dublin, and has an interesting past.
St Stephen’s Green is a park with over 25 acres dedicated to wildlife, landscaped gardens, sculptures, and insulated with trees from the surrounding city of Dublin. The pathway through the park provides for a pleasant stroll any time of day.
Dating back to the 1790’s, Kilmainham Gaol primarily held political prisoners from Irish uprisings. Thousands of prisoners were held in the disease-ridden conditions. Now a museum, the exhibits and cells create an impressive tour, with stories retold of famous political figures and executions.
A highlight in Dublin was the Guinness Storehouse tour including a nice pint of Guinness from the world-famous brewery. A bit of fun was actively participating in drawing our own Guinness to drink. For beer drinkers as well as non-beer drinkers it was interesting.
And, of course, we took a stroll through Temple Bar in Dublin.
Wicklow Mountains
Traveling south from Dublin were the Wicklow Mountains. I can best describe the area as having winding narrow roads, occasional sheep grazing, and wooded, green rich scenery. We would periodically stop alongside the road to simply gaze at the landscape.
Further southwest within the Wicklow National Park were the Glendalough monastery ruins. Dating back centuries, and surviving Viking assaults, the crumbling structures contain a tower, churches, cemetery, and decorative crosses. There were multiple walking paths in the woodlands. And around the nearby Upper and Lower lakes.
Kilkenny
Our destination of Kilkenny offered a nice break for an overnight stay, with a casual town walk, and the Kilkenny castle to visit.
The historic Rock of Cashel, located near Kilkenny, is over 800 years old with a cathedral, vicars’ hall, graveyard, and tower. The elevated rock is surrounded by lush fields and trees, adding to its solitary dominance. Within the hollow interior is a sarcophagus and a faded fresco painting. A video explained the historical occupants, significance, remnants of clan battles, and the Christian and Roman influence.
Killarney
We skipped the Blarney Stone and Castle, as it was a bit crowded. And decided a hike through Killarney Park was a better choice. Approaching the Muckross House was the indicator we were in the right location.
Before our hike, we visited the Ross Castle, which is situated on the edge of Lough Leane. It was a bit secluded, but worth the time to stop. The interior was amazingly well preserved, and the informative tour provided a glimpse into life 500 years ago.
Onto a long hike in Killarney Park. We ate lunch at a small sandwich shop along the water and caught a boat ride back to our car. We pushed on to spend the night in Kenmare.
Kenmare
This charming Ireland town had plenty of wool shops and pubs. We chose Kenmare because of its close proximity to the Ring of Kerry. Taking the advice of locals, we drove the ring clockwise, and started early to beat the tour buses. Along the narrow roadway, we stopped at the Ring Forts, the Skelligs Chocolate Factory, and had the best fish chowder in Portmagee. If lucky, and not a cloudy day, one could see the Skellig Michael Island, (filming of Star Wars Force Awakens) about seven miles offshore. It’s a drive that requires occasionally stopping to enjoy the scenery and a few sights along the coastline. We filled most of the day traveling the Ring of Kerry.
Dingle
It took a few hours of driving to reach Dingle from Kenmare where the pubs were inviting, and the nearby landscape suited for great hiking. Setting out early the next morning, we drove the 30 mile Dingle Peninsula. We stopped periodically to walk around the various sights, including a local farm to hold the baby lambs.
At the tip of the Peninsula is the Great Blasket Island. The nearby dedicated information center detailed an interesting overview of life for the few folks that lived on this isolated location. It was excellent!
Enroute to spend the night in Ennis, we visited the Cliffs of Moher. There was plenty of parking, a large visitors center, and paths that led to the cliffs for an imposing view. It was a clear day and the winds were gusty.
A must-see if on the Ireland west coast, with a glimpse into the unforgettable coastline and ocean.
Ennis
We chose Ennis for our overnight stay, with the plan to start out early the next morning for a three-hour drive back to Dublin. After a long day that started in Dingle, we spent the evening having a nice dinner and walking around the town. The next day we headed for Dublin.