Scotland & Ireland: Dingle Peninsula & Killarney National Park

Make your way along the dramatically rugged terrain of the Dingle Peninsula.

• Take a scenic drive along the Slea Head Drive, enjoying impressive coastal views as you go.
• Enter the Gallarus Oratory, an early Christian church overlooking the harbor at Ard na Caithne.
• Enjoy photo stops at Coumeenole Beach, Slea Head and Dunbeg Fort.
• After free time for lunch in the town of Dingle, head to Killarney National Park for photos at Ross Castle on Lough Leane.

Finished tonight with some music from our bus driver (no kidding) and then a band in the hotel bar. Now I’m about to pass out because I’ve had four drinks today and just blerg.

One of today’s drinks was an Irish coffee to go, which I drank on the bus.

We went all over today and my new favorite place in the world is the Dingle Peninsula. I’m going to pull an Anne of Green Gables and call it something different, though, because Dingle is too weird a name for such a lovely, lovely place. Maybe Innishspeir (Heaven Island) or something. It was absolutely amazing. It was so pretty I actually cried.

Tomorrow is Waterford and then we finish up the tour in Dublin. I’m sad to be leaving County Kerry, which is where we are now. It’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever been. I’d stay forever if I could. It’s all water and green and cliffs and wind and drama and the power of the whole thing is nearly indescribable.

Met some doggies today: Brian the Irish wolfhound and Daisy the Pomeranian. I much preferred Brian. He was only eight months old and probably as tall as my chest just standing on all fours. So sweet and gentle though. I got wolfhound kisses from him.

Photo credit: Jaimie

Also met a donkey named Betsy and a horse named Sally. I pet Betsy a bit, but I admit I kept my distance from Sally. We were told she was a half Irish drafthorse, half Clydesdale. She was small but mighty. She pulled six of us plus a driver around for about 45 minutes through Killarney National Park.

Photo credit: Jaimie

I had a beer at lunch, a Guinness at dinner, an Irish coffee after dinner, and a Jameson neat just to round out the night. I am a vacation lush, turns out. (I’m sure this surprises no one.)