Day 6
The Ring of Kerry
Then it was on to the Ring of Kerry, a tour of the Iveragh peninsula, starting out once again from our base in Killarney town. Killarney is a great base for touring all the peninsulas in the south west, the Iveragh, the Dingle and the Beara.
Our first town on this route today was the town of Killorglin, famous for an ancient pagan festival, the Puck Fair. A male mountain goat, known as a Puck, was captured on the mountains and crowned as the King of the fair. He was placed on a high platform in the center of the town and remained there for a few days while this festival of drinking and celebrations went on day and night. Do not worry, he was, and still is, well fed and looked after, and as soon as the festival ends is released back into the mountains again.
This statue of Puck stands proudly at the entrance to the town of Killorglin.
Pictured together on the Ring of Kerry Jose, Dawn and Myself, with Dingle Bay and the Dingle peninsula in the background.
The sea views and wonderful beaches are many on the peninsula.
Dawn would stay all day on the shores of these areas, and she did venture in to test the sea temperatures. She loved the fresh feel of the water, eventhough it is still pretty cold.
If you do get to Killarney make sure that you get to spend an evening enjoying the wonderful Celtic Steps traditional music and dance show at the Killarney racecourse. A night to remember.
Day 7
The Dingle peninsula
Here we have Jose and Dawn pictured together on the Killarney Golf course with the lovely lakes of Killarney in the background. A really beautiful championship course surrounded by magical scenery.
Here we have Jose and Dawn pictured with the memorial to Dingle's famous dolphin, Fungi, who sadly seems to have died of old age somewhere unknown in the past year. He was somewhere in his thirties and had been living in this Bay area for over thirty years and was a major attraction for visitors young and old for all of these years. He will be sadly missed.and was a major attraction for one and all, and played with the many boats that came here daily to chase up and down the bay after this brilliant entertainer. Slan agus beanneacht leat Fungi.
Jose and Dawn in a scenic picture on the Dingle peninsula
Dawn and Jose pictured with one of the many ancient stone dwellings here in Dingle. They are known as Beehive huts. These were habitats of ancient monks and fishermen, and farmers, in ancient times. No windows, only a door, no chimney, and they lived inside these homes with their fires burning in the center of the floor. No wonder their life span was so short in those days. You were lucky if you made it to Forty.
This picture was taken inside one of the larger communal beehives. This doorway linked two chambers and Dawn and Jose were inside the linked one in this picture.
Here we have Jose, with the newly born lambs , a huge attraction for anybody visiting this are on the peninsula. Dawn could not wait to cuddle one of these georgeous babies, and she did not have long to wait.
Yes, here she is with her beautiful lamb.
Another special picture of this lovely couple , sitting on the low wall at the head of this peninsula, with the famous Blasket islands in the background. These islands were finally abandoned in the 1960's with the majority of the people emigrating to join the relatives, who had gone before them to Springfield Mass, and Hungry Hill, where their relations and descendants are still living.
Finally we ended our day in Dingle and in Harringtons restaurant on the harbour front, where we had the most wonderful feed of fresh fish and chips, followed by delicious soft ice cream cones, to top off a very special day in this wonderful area. I love you Dingle.
Thank you Dawn and Jose for the memorable time i enjoyed with you, and you will always be welcome back.
Your friend, and chauffeur, in Ireland
Dave
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