Killarney and The Ring of Kerry, Ireland

Killarney and The Ring of Kerry

Killarney is a town in County Kerry, southwestern Ireland. The town is on the northeastern shore of Lough Leane, which is part of Killarney National Park.

Killarney House and Gardens provide a break for urban explorers. Renowned Muckross House, with its 15th-century abbey ruins and massive yew tree, is just outside the town and well worth a visit and a stroll.

Here the gardens offer plenty of space – Explorason is off chasing a rabbit!

The camellias and azaleas are incredible.

Wild daffodils and other magnificent flowers poke their heads through the early Spring soil.

Here the grandeur cannot be missed.

The old house is a splendid example of yesteryear.

The earlier hurricane that ravaged through Ireland shows tell-tale signs of deprivation, as trees from 100 years ago are uprooted and thrust into the air like rockets launching into space.

But this is a great lesson in counting the rings in the trunks and telling the age of these magnificent beasts

Primroses are planed prettily in the garden.  Ireland may be suffering financially, but it is doing its best to restore and maintain history at quite a cost.

Beyond the house lies a lake and the Irish who don’t mind the weather pound their way along the pavements, ignoring the winds.

You can see by the scarf on Explorason just how strong the wind is!

Next, we drive along the Ring of Kerry.

Here the landscape harshly changes. I’m so glad I was privileged to see this or I would never have believed it with my own eyes.  Dry winter grasses make for the equivalent of a harsh dry grass on the opposite sides of the world – in Australia. But this is Winter.

It is burnt from the cold and bleakness.  Yet it holds a stark beauty.

Lakes and waterways are prevalent.

Mists roll in – adding to the mystique charm if the Ring of Kerry.

And then we stop.  We stop and we see green. Lush moss and it is in mounds.

It may be the wettest Winter in history for Ireland, but the beauty it has created is magnificent.

Resplendent of when Leprechauns danced the rock mounds, this is a magical area.

Your mind can really expound and visualize exactly why this is the ‘green country of the world’.

As we pulled the car aside to take a quick pic, it was incredible to find this goat head mounted in a tree.

I did not plant it – someone else has been here before – but what a great place to pull aside.

Mossy and eery!

Next came the famed Tunnel Rock – how long would that have taken a man from yesteryear to have chiseled out?

Amazingly soon after, we sat in a pub and saw Irish men from years gone by, actually creating this masterpiece!

The Ring of Kerry will present sheep, goats, and cattle if you look for them, but they munch on wild foliage that seems sodden by months of rain, so most right now are kept from the quagmire of muddy fields.

Ruined castles also can be found on the roadsides as you drive along.

Toward the end of the day, colorful old villages come to life amidst the rain washed streets.

All in all, you need to drive the Ring of Kerry if you come to Ireland.

Your eyes will be pealed to the mystic misty fields, and mashy hollows as you drive by.

It was definitely a visit I will never forget.

Time to go back to our hosts home to the warm fireside, and a hearty bowl of Irish stew – yum

For more information visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killarney

Questions and Comments

  • Have you been to Ireland?
  • What do you find fascinating about Ireland?
  • Did you get to visit Killarney town in Kerry?
  • How was the experience?
  • Do share your opinions with us below.

11 thoughts on “Killarney and The Ring of Kerry, Ireland

  1. Those are some beautiful pictures and great descriptions to go along with them. I hope one day to be able to visit Ireland. I just hope it is not raining when I get there.

  2. What gorgeous pictures – thanks for sharing. I shall be following you as you discover new places. I appreciate the fact that you see the beauty that is there, so often people just walk by.
    Lenie

  3. Sounds like you are enjoying Ireland! We traveled to the North for the first time last year, and found it fascinating, too. If you plan to travel other parts of Britain, have you considered joining National Trust? Discounts on most of the historic homes, palaces, gardens and parks… We used it lots as we drove through England and up to Hadrian’s Wall.

    • Was considering the National Trust – just not sure if there are mainstream places a child would want to see or not. I have checked out the map. What do you think. He wants to see Shakespeares home, Edinburgh Castle and more of the main tourist places. Appreciate your input before we buy. thanks Ruth

  4. Oh, how I love your pictures. I have been to England and Scotland a few years back, but have yet to visit Ireland. I love the rugged beauty of Scotland, so I know I would love that of Ireland as well. I so need to do. I have friends there that beckon me and do you pictures. Thanks for sharing. 🙂

  5. Hello; thanks for taking us along with you on your adventure. you do well to describe th landscape so i imagine your pictures are fabulous. am one of th blind bloggers. take care, max

  6. Lovely pictures. It’s a pity the weather wasn’t better for your trip. We did the Ring of Kerry this summer and we were very lucky with the weather. You get a whole different perspective when the sun is shining. I especially liked visiting the small towns and villages along the route.

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