A September 2000 trip to County Kerry by dglawless
Quote: Killarney is in Kerry County and is in the south of Ireland. It is a very popular tourist site due to the great shopping and the many beautiful natural places to visit near by. We took the train in from Dublin and it was about $40 US for the ride.
Overview
Attraction | "Hannigan's Bar and Resturaunt"
The doorway is graced with a cascade of flowering lavender petunias and the laughter from inside is contagious. Hannigan's is a typical Irish pub. The old world charm is everywhere with the rough beams and charming rustic furniture. They serve food which is traditional Irish fare. I had the stew and it was delicious.
The main focus after dark is the bar. There was a band and before long the crowd was not only singing along, it was taking over the stage. Many folks got up to the microphone and started singing their versions of Irish tunes. When you go to Hannigan's at night you are instantly a "regular" and after dark everybody is Irish. No matter who you go with before you are there very long you are really with everybody there! I was introduced to the Irish beer which flowed freely. Ordered by asking for a "pint", one didn't seem to be enough for anybody there.
Member Rating 4 out of 5 on March 20, 2001
Hannigan's Bar and Restaurant Main Street of Killarney Kerry, Ireland
Attraction | "The Lakes of Killarney"
Member Rating 4 out of 5 on March 21, 2001
Lakes of Killarney Killarney, Kerry Co. Kerry, Ireland
Attraction
Shops In Killarney Killarney, Kerry Co. Kerry, Ireland
Attraction | "Gap of Dunloe"
Besides saving my poor old body from the walk, the jaunting cars were a lot of fun. It is a small 2-wheeled cart that holds 3 people and is pulled by one horse. The scenery through the Gap of Dunloe is exquisite. I see why Ireland is known for its emerald beauty. We passed many farm animals grazing on the hillsides and a very occasional little farmhouse. The air was clean and crisp and the light rain enhanced the smell of fresh hay. One of the sites the locals seem to be very proud of is the waterfall where the Irish Spring soap commercial was filmed. Riding in the jaunting car down this pristine countryside was like stepping back in time. I can’t imagine that the trip is much different today than it was a hundred years ago.
There are brochures everywhere for tours of the Gap of Dunloe as well as several others that originate in Killarney and according to the folks in town we talked with they are all very similar. We picked the one that met our time needs.
Killarney Jaunting Cars - Tangney Tours Ireland Gilhuys, 10B Muckross Close, Muckross Road Killarney, Co. Kerry, South West Ireland 353 (0) 64 6633358
Story/Tip
The country side on the way was exquisite. We passed several small towns and rural areas. Since it was the beginning of September we saw many farmers out starting the harvest of the crops. I couldn't help but notice how similar it was to my home state of Kentucky.
When we left Killarney to head back to Dublin on Sunday, the "hen party" was on board also. It was a much quieter ride home and many of the members of the party look a little worse for the wear. They did seem to have a wonderful time and it was a great deal of fun being an observer.
dglawless lexington, Kentucky
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