The Dingle Peninsula is the westernmost point in Europe and home to the reported prettiest town in all of County Kerry – Dingle. It is a cheerily painted town that provided the backdrop for the filming of “Ryan’s Daughter” with Robert Mitchum in 1969. It is also home to many fish and chip restaurants and the highest pub per person ratio for its 2000 residents;-) Come and make yourself at home.

The neighboring peninsula in County Kerry is home to Killarney, an attractive village adjacent to the ivy-covered Victorian mansion – Muckross House – and entrance to Killarney NP. Killarney is also a good starting point for ‘The Ring of Kerry’, which is a 110 mile coast-hugging road that provides breathtaking vistas of land, sea and sky! One can drive this or be really ambitious and walk the 120 mile Kerry Way. Even a portion (as done on this trip) will provide incredible views of green as far as one can see;-)

Muckross House was completed in 1843 for Henry Arthur Herbert and his Scottish wife. It sits close to the eastern shore of Muckross Lake and hosted Queen Victoria and her family in August, 1861. The additions and adornments added for the Queen’s visit basically bankrupted the Herberts and the house was sold in 1899 to a member of the Guinness brewing family. In 1911 it was purchased by an American and given to his daughter as a wedding present. The daughter died quite unexpectedly three years later and her husband was so distraught, he did not want to continue living in the house. At that time, her husband and her parents presented Muckross House and its Estate to the Irish Nation and it became Ireland’s first National Park on January 1, 1933.

Time is up for this visit! One must get back on the road and endure those incredible sights along a slight portion of that ‘Ring of Kerry’ – –

Another day – another port. Today is Cork, which hosts a great Jazz festival. Unfortunately, not this time of year;-( Having been here before (see https://egmagicbustour.com/2022/10/07/irelandbriefly/) , today would just be a wander around town kind of day. Sometimes those turn up unexpected surprises that are quite pleasing. This was one of those days as a turn to the right led us into The English Market. How fabulous with everything from fresh fish and vegetables to quite enticing bakery items.

Continuing the wander, Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral came into view. It looked so incredible from the street, it needed investigation. The site of the cathedral dates to the seventh century when a monastery was founded here. Buildings were added and the city of Cork grew around it. In 1864 the then existing cathedral was demolished and the present structure was built in its place. It just happened that an organ concert was taking place and it was fantastic!

Just a block away was the Elizabeth Fort. It was built around the early 1600’s to protect the English settlement from the Gaelic chieftains still in power in parts of Ireland. Unfortunately, by the time of completion, Queen Elizabeth had died! It still stands as one of the most important and best preserved urban artillery fortifications in Ireland. How could one not go and climb around in this?

What a fun, unplanned day. But, time to move on.

More of Ireland to see – like Waterford tomorrow;-)

E & G – enjoying the luck of the Irish everywhere we look.