Killarney, Dingle, and Slea Head, June 24
During the night we had much grief due to some overactive adolescents (a group of three schools) who ran up and down the halls and in and out of each others' rooms (especially the room next to us), banging around, bumping into stuff, laughing like hyenas, etc. etc. The teachers in us railed and fumed, and finally Nancy, with her razor-sharp teacher's voice, rose like an avenging angel and quieted the raucous bunch into submission. Needless to say, we did not indulge in much sleep. In the morning we reported our plight, and by the afternoon the boys who headed up the fracas were writing us letters of apology. Oh the feeling of power!
After a particularly sumptuous breakfast, we set out to the Deros bus stop in order to tour Dingle and Slea Head. This route has the most rugged Atlantic coastline in Kerry and embraces prehistoric huts. Slea Head is the most westerly point in Europe. Flora and fauna abound in the area, which is also an Irish-speaking region--authentic Ireland at its best, and it is called The Gaeltacht. Our route led us through Milltown, Castlemane, Inch, Annascaul, Dingle, Dunquin, Ventry, Ballyferriter, Tralee, and then back down to Killarney. In 1988 I had been to Dingle, Michael Skellig, the Blasket islands, and Slea Head, and I was almost moved to tears to see it all again in glorious sunshine and wildly, almost achingly beautiful. I could have stayed forever. In Dingle we had a 2-hour stop, and Nancy and I had lunch--she a salmon salad, I a soup with brown bread. We then walked to the main cathedral and the art center next door, then to the marina, where Charles and I had joined patrons from the DMA on their yacht for an exploration of the Shannon River and the Atlantic in 1988, taking in all the sites mentioned above and more. Good memories!
By about 5:30 we were back at the hotel and took a little nap, then had a quick dinner of chicken wraps, yogurt, and grapes before leaving for the Killarney Racecourse to see an Irish band and a set of four female dancers, two male dancers, two female singers, a keyboardist, a bodrhan player (also the announcer), an accordionist, a man who played the flute, uileann pipes, and tin whistle, and a man who played guitar and banjo. They gave the most incredibly wonderful show, presenting jigs, reels, polkas, set dances, slides, solo works, tap dancing, etc., all of Kerry extraction. The audience consisted of representatives of many nations, and the group brought down the house, which was completely packed. Nancy and I went back to the hotel with a spring in our step. Our trip is almost over, and it couldn't have ended any better than with this spectacular performance.
Just for the record, I don't want to leave Ireland! I may retire here! As ever, Sylvia
After a particularly sumptuous breakfast, we set out to the Deros bus stop in order to tour Dingle and Slea Head. This route has the most rugged Atlantic coastline in Kerry and embraces prehistoric huts. Slea Head is the most westerly point in Europe. Flora and fauna abound in the area, which is also an Irish-speaking region--authentic Ireland at its best, and it is called The Gaeltacht. Our route led us through Milltown, Castlemane, Inch, Annascaul, Dingle, Dunquin, Ventry, Ballyferriter, Tralee, and then back down to Killarney. In 1988 I had been to Dingle, Michael Skellig, the Blasket islands, and Slea Head, and I was almost moved to tears to see it all again in glorious sunshine and wildly, almost achingly beautiful. I could have stayed forever. In Dingle we had a 2-hour stop, and Nancy and I had lunch--she a salmon salad, I a soup with brown bread. We then walked to the main cathedral and the art center next door, then to the marina, where Charles and I had joined patrons from the DMA on their yacht for an exploration of the Shannon River and the Atlantic in 1988, taking in all the sites mentioned above and more. Good memories!
By about 5:30 we were back at the hotel and took a little nap, then had a quick dinner of chicken wraps, yogurt, and grapes before leaving for the Killarney Racecourse to see an Irish band and a set of four female dancers, two male dancers, two female singers, a keyboardist, a bodrhan player (also the announcer), an accordionist, a man who played the flute, uileann pipes, and tin whistle, and a man who played guitar and banjo. They gave the most incredibly wonderful show, presenting jigs, reels, polkas, set dances, slides, solo works, tap dancing, etc., all of Kerry extraction. The audience consisted of representatives of many nations, and the group brought down the house, which was completely packed. Nancy and I went back to the hotel with a spring in our step. Our trip is almost over, and it couldn't have ended any better than with this spectacular performance.
Just for the record, I don't want to leave Ireland! I may retire here! As ever, Sylvia
You should definitely retire there! Not that I want you far away, but I do want you in your bliss! At least after retiring you should enjoy a good 2 years there before coming back. It would be great balm for the soul!
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