Erynn's Travel and Food Blog: Tramore, Blarney, Ring of Kerry and Killarney

As we hit the road Tramore was shrouded in mist.

However early on in our day’s travel of 283 km the mist lifted and the sun shone through.

Lance was determined to kiss the Blarney stone even though he would need to climb the 125 steps to the top. His knee is much better but still dodgy.

Our tour arrived in Blarney early so we didn’t encounter too many other tourists.

A side note is that it is a requirement that we move seats on the coach each day. We began in centre right of the bus and have moved forward two rows each day and will move back two rows once we reach the front. It seems fair and it also means we get to chat to different people across the aisle.

As I said, Lance was determined to do the Blarney and we thought we could just take the stairs slowly. And slowly was how we did it because people were stacked up in the tower and were moving a step a minute. Which was great because the steps had such a steep rise that we could sit whilst waiting for the next move. The last ten or so steps up the tower got very squeezy and narrow, but we made it easily to the top.

The views were great as we shuffled along to the Blarney Stone. Two men were there to help you up and down. I can tell you that it was quite an awkward position. I was relieved to see bottles of spray and wipe on hand and they gave it a wash between each couple or person. But I did still put hand sanitiser on my lips afterwards.

Lance went first and I followed. We did it!!!

Coming down was equally precarious as the steps were damp and slippery. I was very careful and held the rail the whole way down and was relieved to get to the bottom.

Lance sat and people watched while I ventured into the garden. I say garden but it was more like large park grounds with Blarney house in the centre.

Of course I managed to get horribly lost, so lost in fact that I started to feel a bit panicky. There were signs saying exit that pointed to a pathway and then at the fork, nothing! Not a whisper of information. And the grounds were so large that I would only come across people every now and then, which did finally happen and they were much better than me and told me how to get out. In the meantime Lance had text me to ask if I needed a compass!

Blarney House looked more like somewhere that the Adam’s family would live.

Off we went again, this time heading for the Ring of Kerry in route to Killarney.

We could have taken a direct route to Killarney, but we would have missed the beautiful Ring Of Kerry.

As we entered Kerry the green grassy landscape became more rocky and somewhat barren. And then winding down the hill the forest almost took on a green glow and moss coated the trunks and roots of the trees. Small bubbling streams and rivers wound in and out and we did managed to see a wild goat, which in folk lore means I will have a baby within a year. I don’t know if I will make more money from the Guinness book of records or Woman’s Weekly for that one.

It was really worth the extra driving and reminded us very much of South Otago in New Zealand.

Arriving in Killarney, Ally informed us that horses have more rights than cars here. Which was fine with us as we were about to take a ‘Jaunting Car Ride’ around Killarney National Park, and when we were on the roads the cars did give way to us.

The park is closed to vehicles and only maintenance vehicles and jaunting carts can enter.

Patrick our Garvey directed us to our jaunting carriage and we were so lucky to get the front seat rather than being jammed in the back looking at the person opposite.

Our hour long ride took us through the park and to Ross castle. Patrick, Pat or Paddy, he didn’t mind which, was a charmer with a good sense of wit. He has 7 sisters and three brothers and only a few bottom teeth, but he does have the most beautiful blue eyes that sparkled with mischief.

We loved the ride and the clip clop of Tom the Irish draught horse made us feel like we were from another time.

I highly recommend a Jaunting Cart ride if you are in Killarney.

Now I know that I haven’t said much this holiday about the toilet situation and that is because everywhere has been clean and convenient. However one of our new friends got to their room at the hotel that afternoon and found that someone had left a deposit in their toilet! All of the house keeping staff had left for the day so they had to call someone in to clean the toilet! I know, how disgusting, who would do that and why hadn’t house keeping found it when they cleaned the room. Maybe the culprit had flushed it and it had snuck back round the bend into the bowl? We will never know.

Also I had a dilemma in the morning when I washed my hair. There was a silly little blow dryer that was wired into the wall. Every time I started drying my hair it lasted for seconds and then died. This happened several times and I was ready to throw the stupid thing through the mirror. In desperation I got the room fan and turned that on to see if it could dry my hair. Alas no luck. Finally I gave the dryer one last try and it would work on minimum power, about the same as an ant’s fart. It was quite a stressful start to the day.

We had a morning at leisure in Killarney and wandered the shops with a light rain trying hard to dampen our spirits, but to no avail.

Popping into what looked like a small cafe for coffee and scone we settled in to wait until it was time to return to the coach. Lance nipped off to the loo and when he came back he said that he needed to take me on a tour.

The back of the cafe was a rabbit warren of little nooks for eating and a variety of bars. One of the staff had seen Lance looking and asked if he would like her to show him around. It was a very cool place and we would have loved to have been there in the evening. It had a rich history, John Reidy returned from an adventure in Australia and took over the family business. He renovated in 1890 and incorporated a bar into the three shops of grocers, baker and hardware. The business has been passed down through the family and is still family owned.