After a short flight from London, we made it to Ireland! We arrived in Shannon, picked up a rental car and set off on the narrow roads for Killarney. Coming from the hectic energy of London, it felt like we had gone from one extreme to the next. We were happy to see the countryside with vast fields of green and rolling hills. Killarney was the perfect base to explore the stunning scenery of the area.

Our first full day was spent in Killarney National Park, visiting highlights along the Ring of Kerry. Ireland’s first National Park has an abundance of lakes, woodlands, and historic sites. Our first stop was Ross Castle. This 15th century castle is an example of an Irish Chieftain’s stronghold in the Middle Ages. Set on the edge of Lough Leane, it also boasts quite a view!

Continuing on, we found the ruins of Muckross Abbey. The old Franciscan friary was founded in 1448 but then raided and rebuilt many times after. The nearby graveyard was used for burials of local chieftains, Gaelic clans and poets. When viewing the headstones, some were surprisingly recent!

Down the road from the Abbey is Muckross House, a 19th century Victorian mansion with a unique history. After the original owners went bankrupt, a Californian mining magnate purchased the property as a wedding gift for his daughter. She later died, but her husband donated the estate to the Irish Nation and Killarney National Park was created. There were cute jaunting cars available for hire to explore the grounds and the gardens were particularly beautiful.

After touring the interior of the house and visiting the gift shop, we made our way over to Muckross Farm. It was like stepping back in time to discover the farming traditions of rural Ireland. The lovely ladies working here demonstrated baking bread over the fire and churning their own butter. They also had a blacksmith, woodworking shop and schoolhouse. Our favorite stop of the day!

Rounding out a fun afternoon, we hiked out to Dinis Cottage for coffee and scones. By this point it had started to rain, but we dared a trip out to the Old Weir Bridge. Halfway there, the clouds opened up in a torrential downpour. Now we understand why Ireland is so green!

We’ll finish up the Trifecta’s Irish adventure in the next post…

Categories: Nature, TravelTags: Ireland, national park, Nature, photography, Travel