Rainbows Over The Ring of Kerry
Muckross House & Gardens
It’s a grey morning and the mist hangs heavy over the mountains.
Killarney reminds me a bit of Banff without the huge surrounding mountains.
Our first stop along the Ring of Kerry is Muckross House & Gardens. Built by the original owners of Killarney National 
Park, Queen Victoria actually stayed in this 19th century mansion in 1861. The owners gifted the estate in 1932 to the Irish State and in 1964 Muckross Estate became Ireland’s first national park known as Killarney National Park.
We explored the inside of the mansion which exits through the wool mill store. I was really interested in the spinning wheel and the lady explained to me how it is used.
John picked out a wool Kerry cap for himself, which he wore for the rest of the day.
Stop 2: Torc Waterfall
Can Ireland really be as green as they say? Absolutely with no exaggeration. We are surrounded by every shade of vibrant green as we walk to the waterfall. The waterfall really is lovely and worth the stop.
Stop 3: Ladies View
Yet another view to feast the senses. Small meandering lakes nestled between the thick low mountains. We hear a waterfall in the distance.
Stop 4: Moll’s Gap
We pass sheep with red marks spray painted on them wandering at the side of the road. The countryside around Moll’s Gap is pretty but not as breathtaking as Ladies View. It starts to rain a lot which is probably why the view isn’t great.
Moll’s Gap was named after Moll Kissane who was a landlady for an unlicensed pub during the construction of the road through the gap in the mountains to Killarney in the 1820s. Moll made a hard liquor from potatoes which the road workers really appreciated which made her very popular.
Stop 5: Village of Kenmare
The rain has stopped. We stop at the Kenmare Stone Circle which was built between 2000-200 BC. There are two hawthorne trees (called fairy trees) where people have left blessings, wishes and prayers tied to the branches.
We also take a look at Our Lady’s Well ..a well that some Catholic’s believe has special powers.
Our last visit in Kenmare is Cromwell’s Bridge which has nothing to do with Cromwell but dates back to the 11th century.
Stop 6: Sneem
Upon entering the village, Sneem offers some gorgeous views of large rolling hills (or smaller mountains).
The sun comes out and I see a rainbow on the way to the stone fort. All these rainbows…maybe that is why we are seeing the Leprechaun crossing signs.
Stop 7: Staigue Stone Fort
We leave the narrow Ring road for a very narrow lane that winds a few kilometres to an old stone ring fort that was built a few hundred years before Christ. John decides to climb it but I keep my feet firmly planted on terra firma. There is absolutely no one else here except for us and the sheep.
Because of the constantly, minute by minute changing weather, we continue to see rainbows throughout the day.
Stop 8: Derrynane Beach
The beach is lovely. The sun is shining brightly so I climb the rocks and search the crystal clear tidal pools for sea life.
We head towards Waterville. More beautiful vistas greet us with every turn we take.
Stop 9 Waterville
A beautiful beach and hiking town, Charlie Chaplin use to holiday with his family here in the 1960s.
Drive 10: Skellig Ring
A beautiful, wild area road that links Waterville, Valentina Island and Portmagee via Ballinskelligs.
Stop 11: The Cliffs of Kerry
The Cliffs of Kerry are absolutely stunning. The picture says it all.
There are usually a lot of puffins here but they left for the winter. I have yet to see a puffin. Sigh.
It is already 4:50pm as we we leave the cliffs parking lot so we begin our 1 1/2 hour drive back to Killarney.
We spend a quiet night in.