On day five of our tour, I said goodbye to Kilkenny and boarded the bus headed for County Kerry. Grateful for the spare Dramamine I had on hand, this marked one of our longer bus trips. We made a pit stop midway at the renowned Blarney Castle for a leisurely lunch and quick kiss with Mr. Blarney Stone.
If my previous posts haven’t made it clear, I wasn’t exactly the most well-researched traveler when I set out on my Ireland journey. I embarrassingly had this vague image of the Blarney Stone resembling my local famous rock, Plymouth Rock. But there were no Pilgrims in sight at the Blarney Castle, just 125 narrow steps straight up to the top. Not exactly a dream come true if you’re claustrophobic. Despite the tight stairwell, I’m glad I made the journey to the top for that infamous kiss.
One silver lining we can credit to COVID is the attendant at the rock, diligently wiping it down after each kiss. Though the thought of potentially tumbling 90 feet down to the green grass below was a bit nerve-wracking, I knew I’d at least be kissin’ a clean rock.
After hopping back on the bus to County Kerry, we drove for a while before stopping in Killarney for the night. Nestled beside stunning lakes and surrounded by gorgeous mountains, Killarney was a great place to stop. Here are a few of my favorite activities:
Exploring the Ring of Kerry
Dedicating nearly an entire day of my trip to the legendary Ring of Kerry was an unforgettable experience. With a bunch of quick stops along the way, we enjoyed exceptional, tourist-free views of the Atlantic Ocean, the Lakes of Killarney, Macgillycuddy’s Reeks, and more. While it is a long route, the breathtaking scenery made it feel as though I was living in a movie for hours. I might even argue that the views on the Ring of Kerry surpassed those at the Cliffs of Moher, simply for the fact that there weren’t tons of people everywhere.
Celtic Steps
For an awesome evening full of Irish songs and dances, grabbing tickets to Celtic Steps is a must. Regardless of your age, be prepared to be captivated by the most incredible dancing and music I’ve ever witnessed (seriously, how do they move their ankles like that?!) All seating is unreserved so I recommend getting there early and grabbing a front-row seat!
Killarney Grand
Celebrating my 25th birthday during our Killarney stop, I was eager to head out and make it a memorable night. The Killarney Grand proved to be the perfect spot, featuring a live band in the front and a nightclub in the back – truly the best of both worlds. What made it even better was the absence of the typical mini-dress, high-heel dress code you’d find in NYC. This back-of-house gem welcomed everyone, with even some elderly locals tearing up the dance floor.
