We were excited to continue our journey through the Irish countryside. Our plan for the day was to drive the Ring of Kerry along the Wild Atlantic Way. Although we spent many hours in the car, the spectacular views, more castle ruins, and beautiful sandy beaches made the drive well worth it.
One fascinating stop along the way was Cahergall Stone Fort. Many of these forts were built between A.D. 500 and 900, possibly as defensive structures and lookout points. Fortunately, this one remains remarkably intact and has been carefully restored by Ireland’s Office of Public Works.
At the center of the circular stone fort is a small hut that may once have had a roof, providing a warm place for cooking and preparing food. Stone steps built into the interior walls lead from the center all the way to the top. Of course, the some members of our group had to climb up and take in the view!
On our way to see Cahergall Stone Fort, a man approached Angelica and me and placed a lamb in her arms. We were delighted—until, to our surprise, he began asking us for money. We had none with us, and as you can see in the photo, the men were already far ahead. We certainly had not expected this! The fellow quickly took back his lamb and marched off to his van, looking rather disgruntled.
After spending many hours in the car, we were happy to stretch our legs and walk the short distance from our Airbnb to the only restaurant in the small village of An Clochán. Since it was our last night there, we enjoyed a leisurely meal and a few drinks while talking about the next leg of our journey—Kinsale.
On our way we passed through Killarney at lunchtime. Who can resist having lunch is such a famous town. Since we arrive a bit before cafes were open, we had some time to walk through some shops there.
You can't drive many miles before seeing another wonderful ruin. This beauty, Timoleague Abbey dates back to 1300 A.D. It was full of passages to walk through and contemplate what events happened within these walls. The tower was inserted in the fifteenth-century, an example of a Franciscan bell tower. Once again I found myself walking over the graves (dolmen) of from many centuries.
And in a few more minutes we were in Kinsale!
