Day: June 30, 2018

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: We begin with a talk and slide show, “A Ramble Down the Ol’ Bothrain”, before we depart by motor coach with a local expert to explore the Ring of Kerry. The Ring of Kerry is made up of spectacular coastal and mountain scenery, enveloping the towns of Glenbeigh, Cahersiveen, Waterville and Sneem.

Lunch: Served in Cahersiveen.

Afternoon: The field trip continues.

Dinner: In the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

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Our breakfast at the hotel was one of the best so far and included capuccinos. The view is stunning.

Dennis Kissane, a local farmer, gave a wonderful talk from a rural view. He was also our guide as we traveled around the Ring of Kerry. Very informative and entertaining.

Amazing 360 degree vistas – no pictures would do it justice. So stunning!

Speaking of beautiful, after dinner in the hotel we took a stroll down to the lake.

Tomorrow morning we head to Dublin.

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: We depart Cork by motor coach for Killarney, via Blarney Castle – home of the famous Blarney Stone. Tradition dictates that the gift of eloquence is conferred on all those who kiss the stone!

Lunch: Served in Blarney.

Afternoon: We continue on to Killarney, and en-route we’ll enjoy a visit to Muckross House, a magnificent Victorian mansion spectacularly situated close to the eastern shore of Muckross Lake. As we arrive into the town, we’ll then have a short orientation walk around the local area.

Dinner: Three course served and plated dinner In the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

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After another great coffee at the Bookshelf and breakfast at the hotel we left Cork behind and headed to Blarney Castle.

We both kissed the Blarney Stone! I swore I would never do such a thing and risk an unidentified lip fungus or worse. And we were concerned about the physical demands of the climb for Barb – but we made it and both kissed the stone.

We then travelled to the historic Muckross House in Killarney. No photos were allowed inside, but just imagine Downton Abbey. (We saw the rooms where Queen Victoria and Prince Albert stayed when they visited just months before Albert’s death.

No time to visit local pubs or breweries, but there is a nice pub here in the beautiful Lake Hotel with some local brews.