County Kerry and Dingle Peninsula
Travel Advice for Seniors: County Kerry and Dingle Peninsula
Now, for the big finale: The Wild Atlantic Way and all of the incredible sights on the western coast of Ireland.
We started by traveling through the Burren, 300 square miles of nothing but rocky karst ground. The burren is known for its rare flora and prehistoric monuments. It runs adjacent to the Cliffs of Moher, our fist stop of the day.
The Cliffs of Moher and the Burren are UNESCO heritage sights. The sea cliffs border the Atlantic and are very dramatic. You may want to arrive early as there was a pretty big crowd. Also, it can be a bit windy, so be prepared and hang on to one another! The visitor center provided a nice presentation and welcome relief from a rainy and windy day. The view here is excellent, be sure to bring your camera to capture the iconic photos.
Next up was Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. The Castle itself was built in the 15th century by the MacNamara clan and has been well -preserved. It is one of the most complete and authentically restored medieval castle in Ireland. Start the tour with a visit to the dining hall with its trestle tables and benches, continue up to the Throne Room and further up to the bedrooms and the family chambers. It is interesting hearing about the rooms and their purposes. Not accessible.
The Folk Park is also intriguing. Several homes and village businesses from the 1900’s make up the park and you can go in most of the buildings. They are mostly brick/stucco and some wood with thatched roofs. The furniture is all from the era the home was built. Touring a historical site is so much more interesting when the furniture of the period is included. It gives you a much better idea of what conditions were really like at the time. Also, take a look at the Fairy Trail, it is fun to follow…you may get some ideas for your next yard project!
As our tour of Country Clare wraps up for the day (tomorrow is County Kerry!) we traveled to our hotel, the Rose Hotel Tralee, which has it’s own fascinating story: It is home to the Rose of Tralee International Festival. The “Rose of Tralee” is chosen every August and contestants are from differing counties in Ireland and from some major international cities. The winner is she who best embodies the qualities of “lovely and fair” from the song of Irish ballad “The Rose of Tralee”. It is worth a stop whether you are staying overnight or not to take a look at pictures of all past Roses of Tralee
Our second day we ventured to County Kerry to do the Dingle peninsula loop. This is also the area of the famous Ring of Kerry, which is a little more popular than the Dingle loop. Both have outstanding views of the Atlantic sea cliffs, plenty of quaint towns and sights along the way.
First stop was a visit to Killarney National Park and Ross Castle, an Irish Tower House built by the O’Donoghues in the mid 1400’s. The medieval tower houses were built as protection from the neighboring clans and warlords. The lower floor is typically for storage and the upper floors for entertaining/living. The towers typically have plenty of defensive areas for protection.
This particular one was one of the last to fall to Cromwell’s forces in 1648 as the English asserted their control over Ireland, defeating the Catholic landowners and reassigning control of the lands to Protestants.
Next, we were off to the Dingle Peninsula ring road with a stop at An Daingean for a delicious bowl of chowder. The drive takes you over Slea Head Drive and there are multiple stops to see the seaside cliffs. Any of the picturesque towns will do for a stop for lunch and shopping and photo-taking opportunities abound.
The final stop of the day was at Gallarus Oratory. Built in the 7th or 8th century, it is believed to have been a church as well as a shelter for pilgrims. The curved angle of the roof is unique to the area and has been why it has remained so well preserved over the years. While it is a quick visit, the views of the town and the flora around the area are particularly nice. It is accessible.
It is worth it to do both the Dingle peninsula and the Ring of Kerry if you have enough time to drive it. The roads can be a bit narrow, so be aware. There are plenty of beautify photo stops at each ring and plenty of picturesque villages and sights. Each ring takes about 3-4 hours not including stops, but hey, you’re only here once!
Where we stayed: The Rose Hotel Tralee, breakfast included. Accessible entrances, main areas and elevator. Pool and spa not accessible. Inquire as to accessible rooms.
How we got there: Two-and-a-half-hour bus ride from Galway to Tralee. Fifteen-day small group tour through Scotland and Ireland.
General Accessibility Information: Most of the tourist areas were accessible, though some of the older areas of towns were not accessible due to cobbled streets, street curbs and high thresholds of historical buildings. Call in advance to verify and make specialty arrangements. See our sections on specialty apps and accessible travel for more on accessibility assistance.
