Category Archives: Killarney National Park

Ireland, Killarney, Killarney National Park, Parknasilla Resort, ring of kerry

Ring of Kerry

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This morning started with a french press coffee.  Nuff said.  Last night, as we were walking through the hotel I noticed a post entitled “Owl Experience,  Friday”.  I asked the front desk about the owl situation and they shied away from commitment saying, “It depends on what mood the owls are in whether they come or not.”  I feel that way every morning so I was game to see their mood.  As I walked up, the morning sun revealed a completely different landscape than the melancholy last evening.

as always, click to enlarge

And then Alan (a fine Irish chap in a bespoke tweed suit with a button-missing waistcoat and bird doo doo on his back) drove up in a van and out came an owl.  Her name is Ferbie.  She’s a Tawny Owl, rescued from a “Harry Potter Home”, a movie buff who thought they could raise an owl but found it was harder than portrayed .  Ferbie is a diva.  She has to be first out the hatch each morning otherwise she grabs the handlers glove and throws it at other owls.  She is very affectionate and loves soft strokes.

She even decided to perch on my arm.

Alan was a fount of owl info and Ferbie was more than willing to accept the coo’s of the gathered crowd.   Then Alan took Ferbie back to the van and brought out a Falcon.

The hood is handmade by a Spanish craftsman and the falcon is calm when the hood is on.  Take it off and he starts to quiver.  He sure is a beaut.

This guy can kill a deer so if he want’s, he sits in the front seat.  Wayne went up and saw him and another white owl.

Time for a homemade breakfast.  In our lodge.

Then it was off for a drive on the “Ring of Kerry”.    Every piece of info I read exalted the Ring of Kerry.  I assumed I would be underwhelmed.  I leave this slide show for you to decide.

We got to the end of the road, time to turn around, but not before a little Charlotte had her way with us.  Such a sweet dog.

Look Ma, only one leg on the ground.

Ireland, Killarney, Killarney National Park, Sneem

Drive to Killarney

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Woke up this morning to a cloudy sunrise.

as always, click to enlarge

Had an amazing breakfast and loved this.

First order of business today was the drive to Sneem, County Killarney with the purpose of visiting Killarney National Park tomorrow.  This area is also known for the  Ring of Kerry, a 111 mile circular route that weaves in and out of inlets and beaches and home to a number of castles and historic homes.    The drive was an event unto itself.    There is literally a wall of hedge along the rode that would extend over the shoulder; if there was a shoulder.  Beautiful but a little scary.  It’s as if you are driving  through the color green.  Here’s a taste, don’t get car sick (if you listen real close you can hear the Micra purr).

We crossed a few rivers and the landscape opened up to, pardon me here, verdant green hills.  Okay, I had to use that adjective because . .   it . . .  is . . .  true.

We checked into our accommodations at Parknasilla Resort, instead of the usual hotel room we are in a two bedroom lodge that is nicely designed and has a full kitchen and laundry.  Once loaded in, I headed to Sneem for a little grocery exploration.  What a village.  Complete with town square, shops all around, friendly faces and a good sense of itself.

There is a nice footbridge across the river.

The highlight for me was the town butcher, Peter O’Sullivan.   I picked up two hand sliced sirloins (currently marinating for tomorrow night) and two rashers of bacon.

Meanwhile after an afternoon settling in and trying to understand what the heck is going on back home, we took a walk around the property.  Aren’t these the largest hydrangea ever?

After my daily bowl of fish chowder (Wayne had a shrimp salad), we headed home to bed.  To say the setting is “melancholy” is an understatement, good place to write that Gothic novel.