Chauffeurdriven tour of Southwest of Ireland and the Beara peninsula.

The old abandoned Abbey at Timoleague in  West Cork today as we made our way along the south coast towards the Beara peninsula.

Entering the town of Bantry.

The statue commemorating St Brendan the Navigator in the square in Bantry.

Some of the lovely old buildings in the square in Bantry.

Alison and Andy enjoying a snack on the outskirts of Bantry.

A view of the inner bay in Bantry.

The contrast of lovely colours, with the fuscia on the roadside, and the rugged mountains in the background as we made our way along the roads of Beara.

The busy fishing harbour at Castletownbere on the Beara peninsula.

The journey around the Beara peninsula takes you through some lovely little villages, such as this one here, and in the photos below. These were taken in Eyeries.

The coastal views are spectacular. The one above was taken as we drove along the northern side of the Beara. These old ruins on the shore, were those of a coastguard station operating here in the last century.

Entering the town of Ardgroom, and below, a small fishing harbour near the town.

Our tour today was really nice and we drove through some really wild and beautiful countryside. The south west of Ireland has always been my own favourite part of this country. This is an area where so many of our ancestors departed from back in the famine, and post famine times. No wonder so many Irish Americans want to visit these areas. Their calling is in their bones. 
Tomorrow we will be spending some of our last hours together enjoying Killarney, and the Muckross area. In the afternoon we will be moving on to Bunratty in Limerick ,where will will be parting company, as my friends prepare to fly out from Shannon airport on Saturday morning ,after what i hope will have been a worthwhile holiday for them.