After spending most of a week in De Kingdom* I'm back and ready to join the twenty-first century again. We visited some of the most beautiful natural, historical, and cultural scenery we've ever seen.
While planning the trip, I was surprised to hear how few Irish people have been out there. After the trip, I now know why. From Dublin, it would be much faster, much cheaper, and much more comfortable to take a quick RyanAir jump to Spain than to get all the way out to the Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula on winding, one-lane, cliffside roads.
But I'm glad we did it. It was an unforgettable experience. Look for more about the trip here and over at Five Suitcases, where I plan to publish a few third-person sellable travel articles.
This week, I found out about a construction project closing one wing of Kilmainham Gaol, and a book update is in order. With all the other writing projects on my plate, I should be busy.
To those in Ireland who have yet to visit the southwest tip of your beautiful island, let me tell you, it's rural, it's out there, it's worth it.
 |
| Lots of Water to Look at in Kerry |
*Kerry sports fans regularly chant things like Up de Kingdom to support the Kerry clubs. A quick peek over at a super-reliable Boards.ie thread reveals that Kerry was an ancient kingdom that held strong long after the British occupied the rest of Ireland. If it was as rural and difficult to access then as it is today, I can understand why.
Hi Cory, if you liked Kerry I reckon you'd love west Cork, especially along the coast. The Iveragh and Beara peninsulas are breathtaking with a lot less tourists than the Dingle Peninsula, ring of Kerry, etc. Having done the pacific coastal route last summer and as much as I enjoyed California, for me, it still doesn't compare to west Cork.
ReplyDeleteBut if I go to West Cork, I'll have to put up with all those Cork folks!
DeleteKidding aside, I'm sure it's beautiful. Thanks for the tip! We may get out there if we get our hands on a car and a long weekend again.
Yay Kerry! It's hard to believe people do a day trip there from Dublin in the Summer. I can wait to see your travel articles when they're ready.
ReplyDeleteA day trip from Dublin to Kerry would be pretty rough -- way too much time in the car or bus for my taste. I'm glad we spent a few nights out there so we could take our time.
DeleteCory I was up in slieve League last weekend.. A must visit spot
ReplyDeleteHad to look this one up. Donegal is one of the last places in Ireland to check off our sightseeing list. This will definitely be on our itinerary. Thanks for the tip!
Delete