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.
