Day Three! Monday, 11/24/08

I suggest we start day three as early as possible: this is certainly up for debate but I would suggest we are leaving the hotel around 8p. We have a lot to see and a little time to do it in. I have two suggested route to get to Kenmare the place we are staying the night.

Kenmare - Via Cobh and Kinsale

1. Adare - This is only if we don't make it out there the day before.
2. Blarney - Okay the moment of truth / are we going to tourist, or travelers. Tourist go to Blarney, pay 15 Euro to see the Blarney Stone and kiss it. If we are travelers we drive right past it and on to the real human part of Ireland. This is what Rick Stevens says about the Blarney Stone, "the best part about this lame site is opportunity to watch a cranky old man lower lemming tourists over the edge, belly up and head back, to kiss the stone while his partner snaps a photo that will be avalible for your purchase at 10 euro on your way out."
3. Cobh - This is the last harbor of the Titanic and the first place the Queen stepped foot in Ireland. (1 hour 45 minutes from Limerick)
4. Kinsale - This would probably be a great place to stop for lunch... there are alot of great sights and eateries! (50 minutes from Cobh)

5. Kenmare - This is our destination stop for the day. Its a small town, but was recommended as a more unigue connection with the Ring of Kerry the the larger touriesty towns. There are a couple of unigue little things to see in town, a stone circle, Holy Cross church... but mostly a nice evening at a pub for dinner with some locals and hopefully some authentic Irish music. (12 hour and 30 minutes from Kinsale)

THIS IS THE WAY WE WILL GO, I HEARD PEOPLE PEE ON THE BLARNEY STONE, SO WE ARE STAYING AWAY!
Kenmare - Via Killarney and the Muckross House (this route is a lot shorter so we would be able to leave later)

1. Adare - Again, this is only if we don't go the night before
2. Killarney - this is a cool town, but is more of a tourist hub for the Ring of Kerry... so there will be a lot of tourist at the pubs which will mean there will be less locals... but it would be a nice place for a brunch.
3. Muckross House - If we don;t make it to this on Monday we will probably go on Wed. But it is a beautiful home set 10 minutes into the woods, on a lake. It cost 10 euro and we would need to be there before 4:30p in order to get in.

4. Kenmare - It is a a 2 hour drive to Kenmare from Limerick and we would get there in plenty of time fo really get to know the city, go and meet our host Anne Maybury at Tara Farms and have a nice realxing look out at Kenmare bay and the little town that is nestled there.

Honestly, I am up for either. I think it would be great to go down to Cohb and Kinsale, but it is a lot of driving for one day. However, we might get to Kenmare and get our fill of the town in a couple hours and wish we went to Cobh and Kinsale. This is something we can decide when we get there; but I wanted to let every know the options.