54402IRE
Ring of Kerry scenic drive
Blarney visit
· Entrances to Blarney Castle are paid by voucher.
· The Avoca store at Moll’s Gap is the best place for lunch. Book them in. They probably need to snack at Blarney; dinner will be late.
· Leave as early as you can. This is a very long day.
· BOOK KILLARNEY MEALS AS SOON AS YOU GET YOUR ENVELOPE OR EVEN WHEN YOU RECEIVE YOUR TRIP ALLOCATION AND DOUBLE CHECK WITH THE OFFICE AS THEY OFTEN NOW HAVE TO BOOK THE MEALS IN ADVANCE .
Ring of Kerry – scenic drive
You will not have time for any of the optional extras (ie Sheep Show, Bog Village, Aghadoe Heights etc) on the Ring. Aim to keep photo and rest stops very brief too. You must leave on time from the hotel, so impress on the group the need to wake-up on time.
Suggested stops
1. After Glenbeigh, stop for photos of Dingle Bay. You could stop at the Sheep Show to use the toilets in the pub, if desperate. There is a small charge.
2. Just before Caherciveen you could stop at the Thatch Cottage, call ahead Tel: 066 9477601. A short distance before birth place of Daniel O’Connell.An ivy clad ruin on left just before the town.
3. Stop at Waterville for a rest (toilets in coach park opposite Butler’s Arms hotel – where Charlie Chaplin used to stay).
4. Stop at Coomakista Pass for superb views of Ballinskelligs Bay.
5. Sneem is a potential rest stop, but probably best to push on. New toilets in the building on the left as you approach the bridge, just a short distance before the Church of Ireland Church. There are places to get ice cream on the right and left just after crossing the bridge.
6. Lunch at Moll’s Gap. Avoca Handweavers store has nice food, but best to inform them 064 663 4720). After lunch, a stop could be made for photos at Ladies’ View (Queen Victoria’s ladies-in-waiting particular favourite spot) ask your driver.
Blarney Castle – visit
Coach sets the group down in the Blarney Woolen Mills coach park. This is where they will rejoin it later. Walk the group to the Castle, being careful of crossing the road, there is a blind corner. Tell group they make their own way back to the mills and to get their bearings. Pay by voucher and count them in. Toilets are in the white building on the right after the entrance. Also on the right after you enter is a small kiosk selling coffees and snacks. There is a 5 minute walk to the castle itself where the group can climb the Castle’s stair and kiss the Blarney Stone up on the battlements at the top. Warn the group that there is often a queue to kiss the stone and to get there they will have to climb narrow winding castle stairs. Also let them know they can explore the grounds and find the Wishing Steps… etc.
Blarney Woolen Mills has toilets, a restaurant, bureau de change and good shopping.
To maximize time you could can park in the new car park next to the Blarney Castle Entrance itself.
House of Waterford Crystal – This itinerary does not allow time to do a factory tour, last one 16.15 and Shop Open until 1800. These are April to October Opening Times. Good stop especially if driving on through to Wexford. Contact numbers in Yellow Pages. Waterford Crystal has a new location on the Mall in the centre of Waterford. Tel: 051 317000. www.waterfordvisitorcentre.com
Killarney Activities
SEE YELLOW PAGES FOR ALL PHONE NUMBERS FOR BELOW
Jaunting Cars through the National Park to Ross Castle. Round trip 1 hour from hotel. Ring Billy/Mark Tangney – 087 2571492. Lovely experience.
Shops open till late – sometimes till 8pm
The Killarney Avenue Hotel – 064 663 2522 This hotel has a cultural show on each season and at some point it is highly likely that their promotional staff will introduce themselves to you.
Síamsa Tíre – a 45 minute drive to Tralee for Folk Theatre/Irish dance show. Avoid ‘Children of Lir’, but the other shows are good. Tel: 066 7123055
Summer Festival (August). Ask at the hotel for pubs with music and other events. They could always go for a walk in the National Park. Killarney Races often have races into the late evening.