Muckross House

Before leaving Killarney today on our way to Cork, we stopped to view the Muckross House, a 19th–century mansion in Killarney. It was built for Henry Arthur Herbert and his wife and completed in 1843. We didn’t go inside the house but were able to walk around its gardens.

Sheepdog Demonstation

Our next stop was at a sheep ranch to see a sheepdog demonstration.The sheepdogs brought the sheep to this location from the fields below. The sheep huddled together as they were quite afraid of the sheep dogs. Dye is put on the sheep to distinguish who owns the sheep.

Macroom

Our third stop was at the small market town of Macroom in County Cork to have lunch. The ruins of the Macroom Castle, probably 12th century, are right in the village square.

Macroom

Most of us ate at Lynch’s coffee shop where we could order soup, sandwiches, pastries, etc., for lunch.

Blarney Castle Gardens

Our next stop was at Blarney Castle. To reach the castle, we walked past the castle’s beautiful gardens.

Blarney Castle

First view of the magnificent Blarney Castle, built in 1446 by Dermot McCarthy, the King of Munster.

Blarney Castle

The steps up to the Blarney Stone. “Climb the steps as the great and good have done before you to kiss the world famous Blarney Stone and give the gift of eloquence.” I didn’t climb the steps but some of my tour mates did.

Blarney Stone

The Blarney Stone is located where the opening is at the top of the castle. You need to lie on your back to kiss the stone.

Poison Garden

Next to the castle is the Poison Garden full of poisonous plants from all over the world, including wolfsbane, mandrake, ricin, opium, and cannabis.

Blarney Woollen Mills

Our last stop in Blarney was at the Blarney Woollen Mills, the largest Irish shop in the world. I obtained a Horizon card here, which will get you are refund on taxes and other discounts. You need to register the card and present it at the airport when you leave to obtain some of your money back. I flew from Dublin back to the U.S. I don’t know how it works if you fly back from Northern Ireland.

I have put my photos of the Muckross House, the sheepdog demonstration, Macroom, and Blarney Castle on a slideshow. Go to

http://www.peggysphotos.com/killarney–to–blarney–castle/

(Slide Shows, Western Europe, Ireland, “Killarney to Blarney Castle”).

Cork

After visiting the Blarney Castle, we drove to Cork, where we spent two nights. Photo: Coming into the city of Cork, the third largest Irish city after Dublin and Belfast.

Cork

One of many pedestrian streets in Cork.

English Market

We had a walking tour of Cork which included going to the English Market.

National Monument

We walked past the National Monument on the Grand Parade, 1906. It commemorates the rebellions of 1798, 1803, 1848, and 1967.

River Lee

Other sights in Cork include the River Lee.

St. Finn Barre’s Cathedral.

Another Cork landmark is St. Finn Barre’s Cathedral, 1879.

We had two afternoons to explore Cork. I have put my photos of both days on one slideshow. Go to

http://www.peggysphotos.com/city–of–cork/

(Slide Shows, Western Europe, Ireland, “Cork: City Tour”).

Our hotel, a very nice one, was far from the city center, though our tour bus would pick us up at two times in the afternoon to take us back to the hotel. I was ready to go back to the hotel between the two times the first day and opted to take an expensive taxi ride back to the hotel (there was a city bus that could be taken but it let you off a distance from the hotel). The second day I thought I had found a shortcut back to the tour bus, but I was wrong and gave up and took another expensive taxi ride back to the hotel. As with other taxi rides that I took it Ireland, I had very interesting conversations with my taxi drivers, sometimes about trips they had taken to America.