It was cold rainy and windy our week in Ireland..if that is summer id hate to see winter. I read…read moremuch debate over tours or renting a car. We rented a car and the driving especially a ring of kerry was scary. Highly recommend you do much research of what stops are worth doing. I liked 3 ladies stop and torc falls. Definitely wear non slippery comfortable shoes. Liked the abbey ruins and quick look outside formal house near the ruins. It was cold windy and miserable so boat trips were not of interest. Kerry cliffs are gorgeous but be prepared for the wind ..chin straps on hats are a must. Biggest disappointment was the rock circle .. that was waste of time. We took drinks and snacks but there are a few towns to stop and eat. Getting ice in Europe is Tricky... but we took a small collapsible cooler. Their cheese is nice so might pack cheese slicer and crackers. Hope you can do skellig ring and Dingle ... personally I don't care about castles ... Europe is covered with them but the scenery and colorful buildings . Landscape looks like green quilt.. all shades and a billion sheep.

This is a great drive and way to see the beauty of Kerry County. There are tons of great places to…read morestop and see along the way.

I've visited Ross Castle twice now - once in 2017 and once today - and it is just as beautiful now…read moreas it was then. The castle itself dates back to the 15th century but has been renovated a couple of times since then, most recently in the 1980s and 90s. There is a guided tour that runs frequently throughout the day, it's €5 per person (cash or card) and runs about 30 minutes. It's very much worth it! You can't take pictures inside the castle but you can outside. The castle is about a 30-40 minute walk from the Killarney town centre. You can pay €20 per person per way for a jaunting car ride to the castle, but I preferred to walk there and get a ride back since it started to rain. Our guide's name was Noreen and she was very knowledgeable about the castle's history. She was able to answer all of the questions that our group had. If you have some time and cash, I also highly recommend getting a boat ride to Innisfallen Island. The boats depart from the castle and it's about a 20 minute boat ride through the lake to the island. You'll then get 30 minutes to explore the island on your own. There is a monastery ruins there that dates back to the 11th century and the grounds are absolutely beautiful. They are so peaceful and you'll likely encounter some deer.

We did the tour here and enjoyed learning about the tower. No photos were allowed during the tour…read moreso photos are of the outside. Beautiful spot right on the water. Nice toilets, and plenty of parking nearby. This is a fun stop while exploring Killarney!

This waterfall is beautiful and just a short walk from the car park entrance. Very easy to access…read morefor those who aren't as active! There are toilets at the car park, and plenty of parking. We opted to do the hike and we did the red trail (the hardest). It was a great workout but not too strenuous. A portion of the hike is about 45 minutes of stone stairs straight up. It was a dry day for us, but if it wasn't they would hand been slippery so wear proper footwear! We didn't realize the red trail doesn't take you to the very top with the view. So don't miss it like us! We believe it was a right turn down a path that wasn't as worn. We were bummed to miss the top but still enjoyed beautiful views along the way!

Torc Waterfall is a 20-meter (70-foot) high waterfall in Killarney National Park, where the…read moreOwengarriff River cascades down Torc Mountain. It was named after the Irish word for "boar," a local legend involves the warrior Finn McCool killing a mythical wild boar on the mountain. It was an easy maybe 4-10 minute walk from the parking (with restrooms) lot off the N71 Road. The path was well maintained and the lush green forest along the way projected and air of solitude. The map near the road shows other paths, with maybe one going to the top. The waterfall itself was pleasant and I did walk down to the water to get a closer look. It's impressive enough, but not quite what Gayle and I have experienced in the past back in the Sierra Nevada or even Iceland. And it's definitely worth a mental health stop.

This was the highlight of our time in Killarney! Such a beautiful, peaceful space…read more The abbey is gorgeous and the yew tree is breathtakingly beautiful. We spent a lot more time than I thought we would just taking it all in. It's a short walk from the car park. No toilets.

Love ruins. I found this place fun and interesting. Love arches and celtic crosses. Huge cool tree…read moregrowing in the center. Unfortunately today had crappy weather and lighting all day. But this might very well just been our bad luck that both days in area were awful weather. Still had good time and glad came prepared with layers, waterproof shoes. Most importantly hooded raincoat and hat with brim and chin strap. It was rainy coat and windy all week. We enjoyed walking around and exploring.

Beautiful city and so lively! Delicious food at the many restaurants and cute shops to pop into. I…read morerecommend stopping here and staying a night!

I think the most interesting thing about Ireland are the ancient relics that are still standing:…read moreeither alone off the beaten path, or alongside more contemporary structures. The Grange Stone Circle in Lough Gur, located in a field off of R512, is the former, and it is definitely worth visiting if you are near Limerick. It is the largest ancient stone circle in Ireland and dates to the late Neolithic/Bronze Age. It had a ritualistic purpose and the center aligns to the sun during the summer solstice. To consider that some of the stones were brought from 3 miles away is just astounding, as is the understanding that this site dates to 2,200 BCE. To think of the ancient peoples that walked here so long ago is certainly astounding! The stone circle is definitely an impressive site to behold! More information can be found here: http://loughgur.com/destination/the-stone-circle/

Bigger around than Stonehenge The diameter of the upright…read morestones is 45 meters (148 feet) The diameter of the capped stones at Stonehenge is 33 meters (108 feet)

I loved the history behind the Famine Cottages and can not believe that they are still in such good…read moreshape considering they were built in the mid nineteenth century. The cottages has been preserved so that when you step inside you get a good idea of how people had to live in this difficult time. I do think that they took things a little far when they placed mannequins in the bed and by the fireplace. It is creepy and I don't think added anything to the site. You have to walk up a step hill to view the cottages. Once you arrive at the top the view will take your breath away. On a clear day you can see as far as Skellig Rocks. There is a large farmer's cottage and three smaller cottages, The large one has outhouses attached for the horse and cow. These cottages were made from mud and stone and any wood used was washed up from shipwrecks. There are burials on the property that are sectioned off and protected. The last person to live in the cottages moved out in the 1950's.

The Irish Famine Cottages are a neat piece of history: as close as one can come to understanding…read moresome of the living conditions of the Irish in the early 19th century. FYI, admission is listed in travel books as €4, but we were quoted €3 at the entrance. Ask for feed to feed the donkeys, sheep, and ponies in the Animal Park on your ascent. (Though the greedy buggers only want your food: no pets after you oblige!) The first cottage is "Pat's House": a peasant laborer. The second is the Kavanaghs. The cottages were built using mud and stone, and had thatched roofs (though no longer). The latter has multiple rooms with furniture and information. It also has an adjoining cow house/outhouse and stable. Finally, there is a beehive hut that was used to house the pig. There is also a path that leads you to an old (non-Catholic) burial ground, though it's not accessible and can only be viewed from the fence. Still very neat! Overall the Irish Famine Cottages was an interesting historical look into one of the most trying times for the Irish! It's worth a visit if you're in the area seeing the other ancient attractions!

The Crucifix Shrine is a life size scene of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is made of white…read morestone and it jumps out in contrast against the dark cliffs. The shrine is popular landmark along Slea Head Drive. Some people call it the Slea Head Crucifix. The exact area is named the "Cornerstone of the Peninsula" because it marks the boundary between two Parishes of the Dingle Peninsula. It was funded by an Irish-American and erected before the1960"s. It stands as a memorial to the fishermen who have lost their lives at sea. I visited the Shrine while driving the 33 mile Dingle loop. The road is very narrow but there is a turn out in front of the statue that will allow you to comfortably access the shrine and take photos. It is pretty popular so you may have to wait your turn to visit.