Ring of Kerry

Today's green fields of Ireland
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Today we woke up to plenty of Irish Softness and Freshness. It was rainy and cold from the breeze. After a nice Irish breakfast we headed off on the bus for our scenic day trip driving around the south west coast of Ireland. The rain mist closed in our panoramic views, but it was still easy to appreciate the rolling hills and forty shades of green.

We stopped at a lookout to take some photos and some of the other passengers went hunting in the grass and found some lucky four leaf clovers. After another 30 mins or so on the bus, we stopped at a large tourist shop which offers free irish coffees to tourists. It is a scam to get you in to buy stuff, and guess what, it worked. I bought a cashmere wrap. I blame the whiskey in the coffee! Some people bought hand knitted jumpers and others hand crafted jewellery. Back on the road, we continued to pass through small country towns.

That's not rain, that's Irish Softness...

King Puck Statue - caught quickly when driving past in the bus.. wierd
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We pass fields of peat bog - compressed coal, soil and grass/wood compund, varying from 4ft to 30ft deep. Michael tells us stories of how he used to dig lumps of this up when he was young to use for burning in the fireplace to keep the family home warm. It is now against the law to do this. The high moisture content of bog has caused items to be fully preserved for centuries. Items like bodies, extinct irish elks, sabortooth tigers and most recently found - a wooly mammoth! Some of the items they think come from 1500BC - the bronze age - amazing!

Gypsy Tinker, atop the peat bog field hill
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We stop near one of these bogs where gypsy tinkers are stand awaiting us tourists to purchase their wares. The tour guide advises that we can buy moonshine from them, but he takes no responsibility for this and says you take your life in your own hands. Bad moonshine can take your sight away for 3 days - funnily enough - noone gives it a go. The gypsyies had donkeys, one just 37 days old and named Daisy. I wanted to pat the little pommie dog, but when I got close I think it just wanted to eat my hand, so I kept my distance.

View from the top of the Peat Bog Hill
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Further down the road, we spot a rainbow and call to stop the bus to take photos. Joe tried to take some photos of the coastline, but it is now really windy and a bit too dangerous to get close to the edge. One of the passengers has his cap whipped off by the wind and headed off down the shear slope to retrieve it. It was his favorite hat and there was no way he was going to lose it.

Our planned stop for lunch was delayed, as when we approach the restaurant, there are four coaches in the car park already and our guide Mike thinks the lines and waits will be too long. We head for the small town of Sneem, which is also where the statue gifts given to Ireland from international heads of state are situated. Most of the bus crew head into a local pub where Joe and I enjoyed a hot bowl of Irish Stew! - yum - and me, another glass of cordial guinness! From here it was just 45mins back to our hotel in Killarny.

A clump of peat
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At 6pm we headed out on our optional dinner, a real irish craic. We pulled up at a local pub and settled into a small function room out the back. We had choices for appetiser and main, but no matter which main you ordered, you got two types of potatoes, chips and mash, mash and roast, or if you're like Joe and ordered the roast turkey - all three! The entertainment started after the main course with two people playing instruments and singing Irish songs. The guy played the guitar and told jokes while the lady played different tin pipes and the banjo. The two young lasses that were waiting our tables showed us their irish dancing talents also. Then the participation part of the night started, and we all started singing and some of us (not us) who were brave enough to get up and dance, did so and had heaps of fun. We all downed a couple of drinks and went home happy!