Home time

 

Oct 2019
After 7 weeks away it’s time to head home. Here’s a few random pics from my last day in Killarney before catching a train back to Dublin and an early flight back to Aus. It sounds so simple but the number of things that go wrong getting from one place to another are astounding.
Now that I’m blogging these photos in the middle of a pandemic lockdown with no overseas travel in the foreseeable future, I am so grateful for the experiences (good and bad and challenging) and the sights and wonders of travelling the world.

Ireland - Killarney National Park

 

Rutting and jaunting.

Right next to the town centre of Killarney you can walk into the National Park and discover a world of interest and beauty. I was told about the Deer Rutting and discovered Jaunting Cars and castles and lakes and hills and gardens and trails and sunshine and showers and rainbows and friendly people and generally just another magical place in Ireland.

Ireland - Killarney. Day trip to Dingle and the Slea Head drive.

 

Oct 2019
Cute town, gorgeous scenery. Just an amazing part of the world to experience really.

Ireland - Killarney. Muckross House and Gardens.

 

Oct 2019
A very enjoyable afternoon wandering the grounds and gardens around Muckross House and Gardens. The house is part of the Killarney National Park.

Ireland - Killarney Day 1

 
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Oct 2019
I had 3 days in Ireland. I knew it wasn’t long enough but I considered it a ‘taster’ for future reference. I joined a facebook group to get an idea of the best places to go in such a limited time and was surprised at how many people considered it too far to go from Dublin to Killarney (a 3 1/2 hour drive) for 3 days. I guess the Australian distances give a different perspective to distance. I ended up catching the train from Dublin to Killarney (had one change of train along the way) and had a lovely relaxing time chatting to an elderly lady about the ‘Troubles’ and the ‘Sunshine and Showers’ and the landscape of Ireland.

I settled in to my spacious room with ensuite at an AirBnB and did a little happy dance. Next day, I set out without an umbrella in drizzling rain to walk to pick up a hire car. I underestimated the distance and the weather so called into the only shop along the way, a petrol station store, thinking surely they would sell umbrellas. Nope. I must have looked forlorn enough for the woman to take pity on me as she handed me a huge, solid umbrella that had been left behind some time ago. I ‘paid it forward’ at the end of the trip by leaving it at the train station for someone else.
I picked up the hire car, was told not to worry about the scratches on the sides because you can’t avoid the brambles on the narrow roads, and off I went into the pouring rain. And everything you think about the Irish Countryside is pretty much how it is. Lush, green and beautiful.

When you ask for tips on where to photograph you really need to ask another photographer as most non-photographers send you to the nearest lookout. I headed in the direction of ‘Ladies View’, about 19 kilometres out of Killarney because it was as good as any to explore my surroundings. I spent a good few hours stopping along the side of the road to take photos and I spent about two minutes at the lookout. The rain eventually stopped and I waded through flooded roads and boggy marshes and had the most exhilarating day exploring and photographing.
If you had a spare 6 weeks this would be a great place to explore further.