Killarney - Kerry Way

Today's hike took us along the Kerry Way which is the walking trail along the Ring of Kerry.  If you want to join all the tourist in the 30 or so busses that drive the Ring of Kerry that's fine but the walking path is very quiet with breath taking scenery. The biggest problem is that it is 270 km long (167 miles). We will only travel a very short distance on it. Today we covered about 7 miles. 

Our walk started in Killorgin. Every year for the last 400 years they celebrate the Puck Fair in August. A wild goat is caught, caged and placed in the middle of town. He is then crowned King Puck. Singing, dancing, horse & cow shows, markets and festivities commence and last for three days. They then release the goat back into the wild. Some say it's a fertility ritual and others claim the goat warned the town of Cromwell's approach and saved them even though he never got that far across Ireland. 

We hiked up Seefin Mountain, walked through Windy Gap and descended into the town of Glenbeigh where we had a delightful lunch. 4.75 miles. 

From there we walked 2.5 miles thru forest beside an old railroad track down to Dingle Bay. We were sprayed by the waves crashing on the rocks as some gathered colorful rocks. 

This evening a native of Kerry, Denis Kissane, who has traced his ancestors back at least 4 generations presented a power point about growing up in the country up to and during the 1950's to date. He was very entertaining and informative. He still lives on the family farm and his two sons live in the 200 year old house where he was born.