Killarney Ireland

1. Jaunting Cars
Take a horse-drawn guided tour by the famous lakes and ancient castles. Jaunting Cars are available for hire at the following locations. Choice of destinations offered. Cost (depending on distance): €25- €57 per jaunting car (up to 4 persons). First Entrance to Killarney National Park (1M). Follow N71 for 3 kms. Car park and jaunting car stand on left. Also available from Kate Kearney’s Cottage. Follow R562 for 5 kms. approx. First surfaced road left after Hotel Europe (unmarked road). Bridge over River Laune. Left at Dunloe Castle Hotel. Left at next junction to Kate Kearney’s Cottage.

2. Ross Castle
Ross Castle is 10 minutes by car from Killarney. It started life in the 15th century as a chieftain’s stronghold but has been adapted many times since. It was opened to the public after restoration in 1990. This Castle may be considered a typical example of the stronghold of an Irish Chieftain during the Middle Ages. Probably built in the late 15th century by one of the O’Donoghue Ross chieftains. Much of the bawn was removed by the time the Barrack building was added on the south side of the castle sometime in the middle of the 18th century. The castle contains 16th and 17th century furniture.

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What better way to enjoy American country music than in the wild west of Killarney?

Friday/Saturday November 17/18th

Headlined by American legend Charley Pride. Joining him will be the cream of the Irish country music scene - Mike Denver, Jimmy Buckley, Tony Stevens, Philomena Begley, Paddy O’Brien and many more.

Two nights accommodation package including 5 hours of music each night.

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Now here’s a nugget of information to be enjoyed by all. If Guinness isn’t your tipple then look at it as the best pubs of Killarney.

Legend has it that the following serve famous pints (in no particular order, yet):

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Tells the true story of a family feud (religious differences), the death and burial in Killarney of the patriarch, and ultimate reconciliation of a well-known Irish-American family.

The story is interwoven with an enjoyable parallel story of the return to Killarney (and reconciliation) of two brothers as they walk the trails and mountains of Killarney National Park:

“Mangerton, Torc and the McGillicuddy Reeks were more than names to Frank; hikes on the slopes of these mountains were the source of the richest memories of his childhood and young adulthood”

Its not typical information that you’d expect to find on a tourist website about Killarney but I think it reflects the values, attitudes and perspectives of not only rural Ireland but also of the people of Killarney and first generation Irish Americans.

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The Killarney Photo Guide shows you where to take the best photos in and around Killarney.

The website contains galleries of stills and moving panoramas and maps showing you the best spots, very useful and well worth a visit.

My favorite feature is where they compare contemporary photos of local buildings and views with those of photos taken a hundred years ago. Just move your mouse over this photo of the Old Weir Bridge, notice that even the stones in the river haven’t changed position.

Don Wiss has a detailed travelogue of his trip to Ireland (June 2006). Of particular interest to you will be the section on Kerry. Don’s travelogue is, admittedly, low on detail about Killarney but its good general purpose reading that will help inform your decisions on where to go (and not) and what to do (and not.)

There are some gems in here such as:

“I drive back on N71 through the Killarney National Park. I stop at all the laybys along the way. As I approach Killarney I pull into the Muckross House. I take a quick picture of it. More of it will have to wait until I return to Killarney for a few days and bicycle around. But while there I count 14 coaches! This is the same number that I saw the entire day on the Ring of Kerry (though half were parked, or I was parked, so I didn’t have to pass that many).”

The alternative title for Don’s trip could be ‘gluten-free Ireland’; because Don is celiac (aka coeliac) he maintains a careful diet free of wheat, so he does a great job describing his search for pubs, restaurants and B&B’s that cater (and don’t cater) to special diets.

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Sponsored by Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commers ‘Walk Killarney 2006′ are offering a series of guided walking tours and information sessions at the end of October encompassing The Reeks, Mangerton mountain, Muckross-Dinis-Torc lakes, Tomies Oakwoods and more.

The difficulty of the walks varies from 2,000 ft ascent to woodland and lakeshore walks. These are mostly ticketed events so be sure to contact the organizers well in advance.

Excitement is building towards the biggest tournament ever staged at “The Ring”. The Irish PGA are providing their Top 35 Pros in the Order of Merit including Ireland’s Ryder Cup hero, Philip Walton. Celebrities such as Alan Shearer, Matthew Hoggard, Darren Gough, Willy Thorne etc are turning out for Beefy Botham’s Children’s Leukaemia event. All two days are being filmed and televised by SKY SPORTS, THE GOLF CHANNEL AND SETANTA. Failte Ireland is sponsoring the event. Spectators are welcome and entrance is free.