Ireland boasts the famous Ring of Kerry, but the Dingle Peninsula itself is a hidden treasure. One can either rent a bike and ride around or endanger their life by driving a Range Rover on what appears to be a winding, one way road on a cliff's edge. Well the McGee's decided to do the latter and we took off around the Peninsula. The views were beautiful and the cliffs terrifying. We would stop every now and again to take pictures and look longer at the view. The ocean seemed to go on for forever with no sign of a clear horizon and the dramatic drop of the cliffs being pounded below by waves made your heart start to beat faster. At one point we stopped and there were sheep everywhere with their fields backing up to the ocean and the cliffs. The grass was far more green on the peninsula than I had ever seen throughout my time in Ireland. The water, the hills, the greenery was overwhelming and beyond beautiful. As we journeyed further into the peninsula there were small villages where only gaeilge is spoken and is done so under protection of the government to promote the continuation of the Irish culture. Once we made it through several twists and turns and saw a vast amount of sheep and cows, we came to a crossroads--either go left or right and the sign for Slea Head Road which we were supposed to be following was nowhere to be found. So we went left, well we found ourselves going to a dead end on a pier...again, the McGee's shouldn't travel often. Thankfully there was enough room for us to turn around or else I think we would have been in a difficult position because I don't think AAA would ever be able to find us or anyone for that matter. We made our way back and after another loop we decided to try the other way and had we known before the gaelic for Dingle, we would have been able to read the sign, but sadly no of us are fluent Irish speakers so we had to rely on fate. Soon though we found ourselves heading into town which was a relief because as beautiful as the Dingle Peninsula is, it seems to be rather isolated and almost a different world with the different language which is impossible to pronounce and almost being on the Westernmost tip of Ireland adds to the effect. However, we made it back to Dingle and we walked around for a bit and did some shopping and then again hopped into the car which is where I felt we spent most of our time on the trip.
Heading out of the Dingle area, we went North and went from Co. Kerry to Clare by way of a ferry boat. I had never been on a ferry before so it was neat to get the experience, soon though we were rolling back on land we were off to Kilkee. My cousin Meghan had spent a summer in Kilkee nannying for a family so she was able to show us around. As soon as we got there we headed for the house where the family lived and now it has a cafe attached to the back and it also is right on the cliffs by the ocean-what a job that would have been! She then took us on the walk around the cliffs. Unlike the Cliffs of Moher, you can walk right along the edge and are able to experience the magnitude of the height and drop down to the waves. The path teases dangerously close to the edge at some points with only a few feet between you and straight vertical drop down. However, the sight was amazing and extremely beautiful. Soon though we left Kilkee and headed to Doonbeg. A few years ago, my dad decided it would be a great idea to join a golf club in Ireland, which he has yet to visit. However, the rest of the family did not know for a great amount of time so it was fitting that we were able to see it first before he did--Karma. We pulled up and we taken to where we would be staying. The cottage was decorated in a traditional Irish manner, but with a more decorative flair--it was beautiful and the showers themselves were enough to make me want to stay forever. We went for dinner in the club's pub and enjoyed the usual, traditional Irish meals and then Caitlin, Meghan, Audrey, and I went into the small village of Doonbeg, population: approx. 175, to a pub hoping there might be some music on for the night. However, not being the high season and in the middle of the week and the population factor, we walked in and there were two other people (the bartender being one). Needless to say we did not stay long and called for a van to come get us. The ride into Doonbeg probably took about 7 minutes, on the way back, I believe we may have managed a record 2 minutes. I would love to thank the young lad who thoroughly enjoyed his job enough to speak all of five words of us the entire time and to nearly kill us with his driving, what an enthusiastic welcome he surely gives to visitors of Ireland. A little nauseated, we were ready for bed as soon as we got back.
Again in the morning we went to the pub for breakfast and scoped out the place a bit more, while fitting in more shopping and experiencing the delights of the most wonderful thing you will ever eat, the MORO bar--we then headed for our next stop, Galway. I was personally excited for Galway because I have only heard wonderful things about the city and how it's even better than Dublin so I was ready. When we got there, we went on a short driving tour in which Meghan showed us all of her old stomping grounds from when she had studied there. Then we went for lunch in a park and soon we looked for a place to stay. Once we were a bit more settled, we walked around and saw what Galway had to offer. It is a beautiful city by the bay and certainly shows more of real Ireland in a city than Dublin. I even got a Claddagh ring from the original makes--hey hey! So then we saw a bit more and then went back to the hotel and got ready for some live music which Galway is famous for...
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