Ring of Kerry

Hi everyone!  Sorry for the blogging absence!  We have been to Tennessee to see my family, but I am back and I am going to get this trip done on here so I can move on to other things!!!

Monday found us driving the Ring of Kerry.  We got a later start than planned, but it worked out perfectly as we had no tourist traffic to contend with.  We also did the Ring backwards to help with the traffic and it was awesome!  First stop was the Lakes of Killarney.  We hopped out at a stop area and were awarded these amazing views!

See this man in the boat...he comes into play soon!

A loud thumping was heard and this woman pulled into the stop area by our car.  She had blown a tire and was on her way to an appointment.  She was so upset and kept trying to call himself (her husband!).  The BHW and his brother jumped in to help her out.  There was a lock on the wheel that we don't have here and the boys were trying to figure it out.  Then comes in the man from the boat with his catch and he helped out.  They got her on her way after she gave everyone a hug and told himself that some lovely American gents helped her out and she was on her way!

Here is the gentleman and his trout.  I said he was going to eat well tonight and he replied, "No, I had trout last night!"  

Our next stop was at Ladies View.  Queen Victoria's ladies in waiting stated that this was the most  beautiful views of Ireland, hence the name.  This is also where leprechauns cross! 

Ladies View

 Sheep were everywhere and I mean everywhere!!!  On the hills and on the roads even!  They all had colored splotches which we all think let everyone know who owned them!

The views were stunning!

Our next stop was the Staigue Fort which is a prehistoric ring fort.  There are two more on the Ring but this one is the most impressive and in a remote setting.  All of the ring forts have the same basic features. They are circular in shape and have drystone walls that were built between 500 B.C. and A.D. 300.  There is no mortar or cement used at all.  It is estimated that it would have taken 100 men 6 months to complete.  The walls are 12 feet thick at the base and up to 20 feet high.  There are two different beliefs on why they are here.  Most believe that people would have retreated here in times of tribal war.   During this time period, the people here were moving from a nomadic existence to settled farmers so the fort would have provided protection.  Others see the round walls as an amphitheater that would have acted as a place for the chieftains to meet for meetings or rituals.  It is amazing to go up to this massive wall and see how the stones were stacked and have remained this way for 2,000 years!

Jemma taking a rest while I give my spiel about the fort.  It was my goal to educate everyone!!

Jemma thought jumping off these ledges was fun!

 Since we were trying to not spend as much money as possible, we packed lunches and had picnics.  This became one of the favorite things we did!

These were the toilets way down the hill at a tiny house/shop.  I couldn't resist taking a picture!

Of course the kids had to play with the owners dogs!

 Next stop, the Derrynane House which was the summer home of Daniel O'Connell.  He was the grassroots movement leader who fought to gain equality for Catholics.  He was known as the "Liberator".    The signs all said no photographs, but the woman saw my camera and told me that if she didn't see a flash go off she would never know if I took a picture of not!  I love Irish people!!!!

The dining room

The table was carved by local craftsmen

One of the reasons he worked to achieve political ends without bloodshed was due to several things.  One was he witnessed the carnage of the French Revolution as he was educated in France due to the anti-Catholic laws that limited schooling for Irish Catholics in Ireland.  When he returned to Ireland, he saw more bloodshed during a rebellion in 1798.  He killed a man when he was challenged to a duel and this truly affected him.  He shot low so as to only wound the man, but he developed an infection and died.  O'Connell felt horribly guilty and was determined to make a difference in Ireland for the Catholics peacefully.  The picture above is the gun used in the duel and the black glove he wore when he attended Mass to always remind him of the needless loss of life.

The chapel

O'Connell was imprisoned for a time and when he was released, he was paraded down the streets as a hero in this massive    carriage that was built.  It has many symbols of Ireland such as the harp on the back.

Mom liked this pretty little tree in the gardens.  The house and gardens are now a national historic park.

An Irish palm tree!  Ha!

This is one leaf!!! I have no idea what this plant is, but the leaves are ginormous!

 One of my absolute most favorite memories of the trip was when we heard hammering in the woods behind us.  We asked Jemma what could be hammering and she got so excited and said, "It is the leprechauns making the fairies shoes!!!"  As you all know, that is how leprechauns get all their gold!  She was giddy and off she went to search for the leprechauns!

The BHW rustled the leaves and she just knew a leprechaun had run through!

Listening...

The path was covered in dirt here and we knew those tricky little fellows had covered their path to hide their tracks, but we had a very clever detective with us who found a tiny boot print in the picture below!

The path ended and Jemma was ready to trek through the dirt and mud.  We told her we couldn't as we didn't have our boots on.  She said that we would all have to wear our boots when we came back so we could catch the leprechauns!  That bit of time was absolutely priceless and I will never ever forget that complete moment of childlike joy!

We were off again and stopped at many sight seeing spots where you could pull off and have amazing views.

We tried to make it to the Skellig Experience Center but they had just closed.  A man opened the door and said we could run through very quickly as they were just cleaning.  Have I mentioned how much I love these people?!?  The Skelligs are two islands which are more like chunks of rock coming out of the Atlantic.  On the larger one, Skellig Micheal, monks built a monastery perched on a ledge that is 714 feet above sea level and reached by a still complete 1,000 year old stairway with 600 steps.   The monks built a cluster of six beehive cells and two boat shaped oratories in the 6th century.  These structures are still standing today.  The monks were self sufficient and traded seal meat, eggs, and feathers to passing boats for goods and animal skins.  The skins were needed to make vellum on which they copied their religious manuscripts.  They remained on the island until the 12th century and then moved to the mainland.  The only inhabitants on both Skellig Islands are thousands of seabirds that nest and breed there including puffins and gannets.  We didn't go to the islands.  It is a full day trip with lots of walking and stair climbing, but we did enjoy the cute town of Portmagee across the way for dinner and an oil change in Joe's car!  They were closing, but did a quick oil change for us as Joe had NO oil in his car.  The man said they normally charge 25 Euro, but told Joe to give him 12!  I love these people!!!!

Always a Delta Gamma!

Portmagee - we ate at the salmon colored building on the far left in the pub called The Fisherman's Bar.

As we finished dinner, we made our way around the end of the loop.  There was a spot that claims to have the best views in County Kerry.  Of course, we had to stop!  There was a bit of a hike, but it was a beautiful sight to behold.  The waves crashing along the cliffs with a gorgeous view of the Skellig Islands.  The fields on each side and the town behind us.  It was stunning.

These are the Skellig Islands.  Can you even imagine living there?

Mom waited at the first viewing spot while we trekked up a hill.  She had a lovely chat (as did we) with a sweet couple from England.

The moon was huge rising up over the fields

We had a beautiful drive home with glorious sights like this to end the day.