We woke in the morning to a grey day in Killarney. At least it wasn't raining. Breakfast was wonderful.
honey straight from the honey comb
We hopped on our bus. Eleanor was very excited for the day's trip around the Ring of Kerry. (Note for any knitters here: I knitted this white sweater and almost finished it before I left home. The sleeves were made on the air flights across the Atlantic and during our first two days in Ireland.)
Our first stop was at a small homestead which shows how people lived in Ireland during mid 1800s. I had read books about Ireland and particularly the Irish Famine. But here I saw it with my own eyes. Our tour guide Karl told us that as we drove through the countryside, we would notice many broken down buildings in fields. Most of those were once family cottages, but they were abandoned during the famine, burned down and ruined by landlords to keep their tenants from returning. (I will be posting some of these places which we noticed during our travels.)
It would have looked much like this when it was still inhabitable.
There were (and still are) Romani people living in Ireland in caravans such as this.
So. What is the Ring of Kerry? It's a road trip (and can also be a hiking trip) that follows the coastline in the southwest of Ireland. The views of mountains, lakes and beaches and ocean are incredibly beautiful. Some photos are a bit fuzzy because I took them through a traveling bus window.
Our three main stops on the tour were Waterville, Kenmare and Ladies View.
Waterville is a coastal village. Its main claim to fame is that Charlie Chaplin was a yearly visitor to Waterville and loved the excellent fishing opportunities and the anonymity of this quiet, small, out of the way village. I loved it for the beach and ocean and the lovely St. Michael's Church.
Eleanor and Charlie
Testing the waters of the wild and chilly Atlantic Ocean
My friend L loves the beach as much as I do.
Waterville is one of those places where I could have stayed for days or weeks (like Charlie Chaplin). I know that I want to take The Professor there some day.
I think this post is long enough! Come back soon for Kenmare and Ladies View.
8 comments:
...my father's family is from Ireland, but I don't where! Thanks for taking me along to see the sights.
I love that you were able to finish your sweater during your trip and wear it! I don’t know much about the famine in Ireland, but you must have come away with a pretty good idea of how the people suffered during it. Mary
Mary, Charles Egan has a trilogy of books about that time. The Killing Snows is the first book.
Tom, I'm sure you could find information via ancestry dot com. Or check census records.
That is nice that you could knit your sweater while on your vacation. You look like you are having fun on the beach!
Wow, that water looks frigid! But you two still look happy to have put your feet in it.
I've never seen honey served like that!
Some beautiful images of the countryside.
Such a beautiful country with beaches all around it. :) We just watched a Hallmark movie supposedly based in Ireland. It had a cottage like the one you showed. Love the beach photos. That's a perfect sweater for Ireland.
I have been thoroughly loving your vacation memories and pictures. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to visit Ireland and Scotland. One day........once my younger than me hubby finally retires......:) I have a college friend who lives in Ireland...he moved just before the first time the clown became our "leader" and he said he is staying over there. He absolutely LOVES Ireland. Have a good day.
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