Back to Destination Articles - Killarney, Ireland

It's hard to believe the weekend has finished and Monday morning has come so quickly. Only a few articles were submitted since Friday, so at least I have an easy morning's work.

One of my favourite destinations is Ireland, so when the article below "dropped-in" for approval, I read it with interest.

Killarney does sound a wonderful place to visit.

This is my selection for "Article of the Weekend":

Best 10 things to do and see in Killarney in under 10 days

1. Jaunting Cars

Take a horse-drawn guided tour by the famous lakes and ancient castles. Jaunting Cars are available for hire at the following locations. Choice of destinations offered. Cost (depending on distance): €25- €57 per jaunting car (up to 4 persons). First Entrance to Killarney National Park (1M). Follow N71 for 3 kms. Car park and jaunting car stand on left. Also available from Kate Kearney’s Cottage. Follow R562 for 5 kms. approx. First surfaced road left after Hotel Europe (unmarked road). Bridge over River Laune. Left at Dunloe Castle Hotel. Left at next junction to Kate Kearney’s Cottage.

2. Ross Castle

Ross Castle is 10 minutes by car from Killarney. It started life in the 15th century as a chieftain’s stronghold but has been adapted many times since. It was opened to the public after restoration in 1990. This Castle may be considered a typical example of the stronghold of an Irish Chieftain during the Middle Ages. Probably built in the late 15th century by one of the O’Donoghue Ross chieftains. Much of the bawn was removed by the time the Barrack building was added on the south side of the castle sometime in the middle of the 18th century.

Picturesquely sited on the edge of Lough Leane, legend had it that the castle would never be conquered by land. In the 17th century, Cromwellian forces successfully attacked the castle by crossing the lake, fulfilling the prophecy.

After the tour, take the trip to Innisfallen Island on adjacent Lough Leane. It’s home to a ruined 12th-century Augustinian priory where the Annals of Innisfallen, a chronicle of early Irish history, were written. It’s one of the most serene places you’re ever likely to visit. You can take a motor launch but it’s much nicer to row. Ross Castle is open daily (closed November-March) with guided tours every half hour for £3. One-hour water bus tours of the lake, including Innisfallen, cost £5. Rowing boat hire to Innisfallen (two-hour/three-mile round trip) costs £5 an hour.

3. McSorley’s pub.

Probably the most lively place in Killarney, at night at least. Frequent live music with some of the best bands playing during summer months. No cover charge. Great reputation. For the young at heart. Drinking and loudness involved.

4. Muckross House

The focal point of Killarney’s Middle Lake is Muckross House and Gardens. Built for the Herbert family in 1843, the 20-room mansion hosted a royal visit by Queen Victoria in 1861 and many of the items on display date from that occasion. The extensive gardens, famous for their giant rhododendrons, offer panoramic views over the lake and include a 17-acre arboretum. The adjoining Muckross Traditional Farms recreate rural Ireland as it was in the 1930s, with three separate working farms complete with shire horses, donkeys, geese, chickens and traditional farm machinery. Muckross House and Gardens/Muckross Traditional Farms (00 353 64 31440, www.muckross-house.ie). Open daily 9am-7pm. Farms closed November-mid-March, £4, joint ticket £6.

5. Golf

With its world famous golf courses including Killeen and O’Mahony’s Point, Killarney truly is a Golfer’s paradise. Other famous Kerry courses such as Ballybunion, Ring of Kerry, Kenmare, Dooks and Tralee are all within a short drive of Killarney.

6. Walking/Cycle

Killarney National Park is a walker’s and cyclist’s paradise. There are numerous options but try the four-hour/10-mile circumnavigation of Middle Lake. From the ruins of Muckross Abbey, follow Lover’s Walk by the lake shore to the Muckross Peninsula, then along the Arthur Young Trail through one of the largest natural Yew woods in Europe. Keep on to Brikeen Bridge and Dinis Island on the far shore of the lake, returning via Toothache Bridge and Torc Waterfall. £7 for a day’s cycle hire from O’Sullivan’s Cycles, Bishop’s Lane, New Street, Killarney, Co Kerry (00 353 64 31282).

7. Murphy’s Ice Cream, 37 Main Street

Award-winning ice-cream, teas and coffees, chocolates, bakery and other indulgences. Described by ‘Let’s go Ireland’ as “The only cappuccino worthy of the name for 100 miles” and by the Sunday Independent as “The most sinful cakes”. Need i say more?

8. Go to an Irish sport event and find out what drives half the population of Ireland (mad). A good place to start is the website of the local Gaelic Athletics Association. Amateur, passionate, popular and a great way to meet locals and understand the culture.

9. Go to Sunday morning Mass. Even if you’re not Catholic its a great way to see and meet locals but above all observe one of the traditions that reveals most about Ireland.

10. Get lost - a personal favorite. Lower your expectations, take a packed lunch, get off the beaten track, take random roads, stop in the nicest pub around lunchtime, have a pint. Conentrate on roads that take you up mountains; there are a hundred views around Killarney each just as worthwhile as the famous ‘Ladies View‘.

Article Republished From: Liberated Press Releases a web site that DOESN'T use Google Adsense text links in or around articles.

Author Resource:- John Coffey is an online marketing professional specializing in creating effective websites that generate sales and brand awareness. My particular focus is optimizing websites so that they rank on the first page of search engines.

Contact me via my website (http://online-traction.com) for a free evaluation of your website and how it can perform better for you and your customers.

More About Killarney

Destination Guides > Europe & Russia > Europe > Ireland > County Kerry > Killarney

Although KILLARNEY has been commercialized to saturation point and has little in the way of architectural interest, the real reason for coming here is without doubt the surrounding landscape. Its three spectacular lakes , Lough Leane (the Lower Lake), Muckross Lake (the Middle Lake) and the Upper Lake, are only the appetizer. Behind them loom Macgillycuddy's Reeks , which have a grandeur out of all proportion to their height: rarely exceeding 3000ft, they're still the highest mountains in Ireland. Much of this wonderful scenery is contained within the huge Killarney National Park .

If you've come to Ireland for the scenery and the remoteness, you'll certainly find them in County Kerry : miles and miles of mountain-moorland where the heather and the bracken are broken only by the occasional lake; smooth hills whose fragrant, tussocky grass is covered with sea pinks, speedwells, thrift and red campion, and that fragment into jagged rocks as they reach the sea. The ocean looks enormous, and you can stand in the sunshine and watch a storm coming in for miles before you have to run for cover. The only catch is that a good part of the county is very much on the tourist trail. However, the plus side of Kerry's long tradition of welcoming tourists is that it's very easy country to travel in, with plenty of accommodation and food in all price brackets, and, during the summer at least, transport is pretty good - though with some notable exceptions.

Broadly speaking, Kerry divides into four areas: the Dingle Peninsula; the Iveragh Peninsula, encircled by the Ring of Kerry, with Killarney in its hinterland; the Kenmare River, bordered to the north and south by the Iveragh and Beara peninsulas; and northern Kerry, from Tralee to the Shannon. Each section is quite distinct and has its partisans. By far the most visited area - indeed the most visited in the whole of Ireland - is Killarney and the Ring of Kerry . Deservedly famous for the beauty of the adjacent lakes and mountains, this region is, predictably, geared up for tourism, and the principal roads and sights are often overburdened with visitors. Luckily, however, the real wilds are never far away, and whether you head for the mountains or the sea you can soon lose yourself and feel remote from modern civilization.

Exploring County Kerry

• Ardfert and Banna Strand
• Beara Peninsula
• Castleisland
• Dingle Peninsula
• Kenmare
• Killarney
• North Kerry
• Ring of Kerry
• Tralee

Top Liberated Press Travel Article - Holiday in Crete

I have fond memories of my 2 week holiday in Crete last year. A lot of strange things happened and the hotel wasn't really up-to-scratch, but overall, I had a good time. My Crete holiday blog has details of the places I visited and various tours taken. Those people thinking of taking a holiday in Crete may find it useful reading.

This is today's top travel article at LPR

A Holiday To Crete
Crete, a snow-capped mountainous region with beautiful sandy beaches stretching along 1000km of various coastlines is the largest of the Greek Islands and fifth largest in Mediterranean Sea. Masses of olive trees It is famous for its impressive ancient Greek and Roman Ruins as well as a popular destination for tourists due to its warm climate.

History

Crete has an extraordinary historical heritage as it was the center of the Minoan civilization (ca. 2600-1400 BCE), the oldest civilization in Europe and its archeology of the area dates back to Neolithic times. Crete was occupied by the Turkish up as far as the 18th Century but since 1913 it has been ruled by Greece.

Visiting the attractions

The Palace of Knossos is a commonly visited area in Crete, which is an outstanding archeological site. Heraklion is the largest city and the capital of Crete. The islands most popular must see attractions are the golden, sandy beaches sparsely separated along the its coast. The island is mountainous therefore offering great hikes for mountaineers. The Gingilos peak provides spectacular views across the White Mountains. The cave where Zeus is apparently buried can be found from Mount Zuktas.

Shopping, Food and Drink

There are a wide range of shops in Crete from handcrafts and souvenirs to leather goods, ceramics and carpets. A market in Chania offers fantastic fresh food produce, clothes and also plants. A downside to shopping in Crete as with many other Mediterranean regions is that the majority of shops close during the long afternoon siestas.

There are also a wide range of restaurants on the island that have become fairly internationalized, but there are a few that have retained their traditional cuisines. Cheeses, cooked cretin snails, calamari and various meat dishes are popular favorite dishes on the island. Local red and white wines can be tried at many of the local bars and taverns around the tourist centers.

Where to stay?

There are a wide range of apartments, luxury hotels, villas, and hostels on the island all ranging from two to five stars. Holidays are cheap to Crete throughout the year except during peak summer months, which is during July and August.

How to get there?

Crete has two airports namely Heraklion and Chania. The majority of flights travel directly to the island but in many cases flights travel to Athens and then get connecting flights to Crete.

Article Republished From: Liberated Press Releases a web site that DOESN'T use Google Adspam (Adsense text links) in or around articles.

Author Resource:- Doug Scott works and writes for Self Catering
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Doug also writes for The holiday Rental Site

More About Crete

Crete (Kríti) is a great deal more than just another Greek island. In many places, especially in the cities or along the developed north coast, it doesn't feel like an island at all, but rather a substantial land in its own right - a mountainous, wealthy and surprisingly cosmopolitan one. But when you lose yourself among the mountains, or on the lesser-known coastal reaches of the south, it has everything you could want of a Greek island and more: great beaches, remote hinterlands and hospitable people.

In history , Crete is distinguished above all as the home of Europe's earliest civilization. It was only at the beginning of the twentieth century that the legends of King Minos and of a Cretan society that ruled the Greek world in prehistory were confirmed by excavations at Knossós and Festós . Yet the Minoans had a remarkably advanced society, the centre of a maritime trading empire as early as 2000 BC. The artworks produced on Crete at this time are unsurpassed anywhere in the ancient world, and it seems clear that life on Crete in those days was good. This apparently peaceful culture survived at least three major natural disasters. Each time the palaces were destroyed, and each time they were rebuilt on a grander scale. Only after the last destruction, probably the result of an eruption of Thíra (Santoríni) and subsequent tidal waves and earthquakes, do significant numbers of weapons begin to appear in the ruins. This, together with the appearance of the Greek language, has been interpreted to mean that Mycenaean Greeks had taken control of the island. Nevertheless, for nearly 500 years, by far the longest period of peace the island has seen, Crete was home to a culture well ahead of its time.

The Minoans of Crete probably came originally from Anatolia; at their height they maintained strong links with Egypt and with the people of Asia Minor, and this position as meeting point and strategic fulcrum between east and west has played a major role in Crete's subsequent history. Control of the island passed from Greeks to Romans to Saracens, through the Byzantine empire to Venice, and finally to Turkey for more than two centuries. During World War II, the island was occupied by the Germans and attained the dubious distinction of being the first place to be successfully invaded by paratroops.

Every part of Crete has its loyal devotees and it's hard to pick out highlights, but generally if you want to get away from it all you should head west, towards Haniá and the smaller, less well-connected places along the south and west coasts. It is in this part of the island that the White Mountains rise, while below them yawns the famous Samarian Gorge . The far east , around Sitía , is also relatively unscathed with a string of isolated beaches worth seeking out to the south of the over-popular Váï beach , which lures crowds attracted by its famous palm grove. However, Sitía's new international airport, currently under construction, could change things significantly here in the next few years.

Whatever you do, your first main priority will probably be to leave Iráklion (Heraklion) as quickly as possible, having paid the obligatory, and rewarding, visit to the Archeological Museum and nearby Knossós . The other great Minoan sites cluster around the middle of the island: Festós and Ayía Triádha to the south (with Roman Górtys to provide contrast), and Mália on the north coast. Almost wherever you go you'll find a reminder of the island's history, whether it's the town of Gourniá near the cosmopolitan resort of Áyios Nikólaos , the exquisitely sited palace of Zákros in the far east, or the lesser sites scattered around the west. Unexpected highlights include Crete's Venetian forts at Réthymnon and Frangokástello ; its hundreds of frescoed Byzantine churches, most famously at Kritsá ; and, at Réthymnon and Haniá, the cluttered old Venetian and Turkish quarters.

For the latest timetables and complete route and fare information visit KTEL's website at http://bus-service-crete-ktel.com/timetables2.html

Destination Guides > Europe & Russia > Europe > Greece > Crete

Expect Sunny Spells and Scattered Showers when Traveling in Ireland

Having spent many "wet holidays" in Ireland, the article below made me smile. It was a real pleasure to research some travel links and the "Brief History of Ireland" (scroll to end of page).

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How to Beat the Weather when Traveling in Ireland

I think it is fair to say that Irish weather is pretty notorious. It is known for being both weepingly wet and laughingly unpredictable. A devilish combination if ever there was one. But does it deserve this infamous reputation? Probably not, but the Irish do such a good job complaining about it, that everyone is convinced it does. Including, the Irish themselves.

Average annual rainfall in Ireland runs to 30 inches.

Quite a lot you may think.

But Seattle, Washington gets 36in, New York, 45in (ok, 28in of that is snow) and Miami gets a whopping 60in of rainfall! No snow there.

So Ireland is not that wet after all. In fact, the average Earthly rainfall is 34in, so we are begrudgingly below average. So why does everyone think Ireland is so wet when it is in fact below average?

The reason is that most *normal* climates get all or most of their rain out the way in one season, leaving the remainder of the year mostly dry. Not in Ireland. We like to spread it throughout the whole year. We have the warm Atlantic Gulf Stream to thank for that. It keeps our winters mild, our summers cool and makes both equally likely to produce a shower of rain at any time.

Which brings me to the unpredictable nature of Irish weather. OK, here I must raise my hands in surrender, or at least Irish Weather would if it had a conscience. Everything you have heard is true, no point denying it. Beautiful and sunny in the morning, grey and torrential by the afternoon. It would be great if you could set your watch by it, but you most certainly can not.

The reverse could just as easily be the case. But, most likely the reverse in various guises numerous times over before noon will be true. Hence, the favorite phrase of those brave men and women at the Irish Meteorological Office when forecasting the weather: sunny spells and scattered showers.

Spring and autumn are particularly schizophrenic, when hail and thunder may be experienced in the same day as the aforementioned sunny spells. Many people ask us: what is the weather like in Ireland in May, or September? The short, honest answer is we have not got a clue. Every year is different. Sure, we have seasons, but our seasons are generalizations at best. They are a reasonable indication of temperature and whether schools will be open, but little more. I cannot speak for my colleagues, but I usually base my answer to the above question on my memory of that month's weather the previous year, while couching my response in language supplied by our weather lawyer.

Take this summer so far.

May this year was depressingly wet. It rained almost every day. By the end of the month the entire population of Ireland was on the brink of psychological breakdown. Thankfully, the first two weeks of June were fantastic, but the following two were nondescript; overcast, but dry for the most part. July was been up and down, days of rain followed by days of intense heat and sunshine. August started well, but took a turn for the worse this week. What will it be like next week? No one knows. So what is a sane person to do? The Irish answer is to talk about it. I am not sure if we actually love talking about the weather, but it certainly makes for an easy conversation opener. Friends who have known each other 50 years will comment on the day's weather before moving to more important topics. But it works just as well for strangers on a train. It is the common burden or joy we all share, depending on the day. You will never offend anyone by commenting on the weather since no one cam claim credit and no one can be blamed.

But what can you do as a visitor to Ireland to prepare for Irish weather?

Well, I was sitting under the awning outside a coffee shop one afternoon last week. It had started raining an hour previously. Prior to that it had been sunny and warm for almost four days. It had seemed like sunshine was our right. I noticed, as I sipped my latte, that all the locals were dashing about in tee-shirts, sun dresses and sleeveless blouses getting rather drenched. On the other hand, every tourist I saw was strolling around sporting rainproof jackets, quite unperturbed by the sudden change in the weather.

The moral of this story? The answer to this question?

Forget the Irish, be like the tourists. Be prepared. Top Tips for beating Irish Weather:

1. Bring a rainproof jacket and shoes (and trousers if you intend golfing, hiking or cycling)
2. Bring layers of clothes that you can put on or take off as the weather dictates.
3. Watch the weather forecast so you know what to expect the next day. It is on after every news bulletin on tv and is often the funniest thing you will see all day. The forecasts are normally very accurate. Our weathermen and women are probably the best in the world.
4. If in doubt, ask a farmer
5. Do not let bad weather get you down. Get out there and do exactly what you planned to do. Irish weather changes fast. Thankfully, half the time it changes for the better.
6. Never, ever complain about the heat, dryness, humidity or sunshine.

Article Republished From: Liberated Press Releases and Other FREE Information a web site that DOESN'T use Google Adspam (Adsense text links) in or around articles.

Author Resource:- © 2007 Ivan Lynch Ivan Lynch is co-founder of Authentic Ireland Travel, an Irish based company specializing in vacations to Ireland. Find out how practical advice and expert local knowledge can make your Ireland vacation unforgettable at: http://www.authenticireland.com/

A Brief History of Ireland

Earliest Inhabitants
During the last Ice Age, when most of the country was covered by an icecap, low sea levels meant that Ireland was attached to Britain, and Britain to the European continent. As the climate warmed (from about 13,000 BC), and the ice gradually retreated,...read more

The Celts
The Celts were an Indo-European group called Keltoi by the Greeks and Galli by the Romans, who spread south from central Europe into Italy and Spain and west through France and Britain. By 500 BC, Celtic language and culture were dominant in...read more >>

The Coming of Christianity
The christianization of Ireland began as early as the fourth century AD, well before the arrival of St Patrick (whose existence is now the subject of some controversy). Vestiges did survive of the previous religion of the Celts, but after the...read more >>

Invasion: Vikings and Normans
From 795, Ireland was increasingly plagued by destructive Viking raids , in which many of the great monasteries were plundered and burned (though many more were destroyed as a result of indigenous intertribal warfare in the eighth and ninth...read more >>

The Tudors and the Stuarts
The continued isolation of Irish politics from English and Continental influence during the fifteenth century, and England's preoccupation with the Wars of the Roses, helped Ireland's most powerful Anglo-Norman family - the FitzGeralds of...read more >>

The Penal Laws to the Act of Union
In 1641, 59 percent of the land in Ireland was owned by Catholics. In 1688, the figure was 22 percent, and by 1703 it was fourteen percent. The Protestant population, about one-tenth of the total, lived in fear of an uprising by the vast majority of...read more >>

Daniel O'Connell
The quest for Catholic emancipation by peaceful constitutional means was the life's work of Daniel O'Connell (1775-1847), the lawyer who became known as "The Liberator" and whom Gladstone called "the greatest popular leader the...read more >>

The Famine
The failure of the Irish potato crop from 1845 to 1849 plunged the island into appalling famine . Elsewhere in Europe, the blight was a resolvable problem but Irish subsistence farmers were utterly dependent on the crop. No disease affected...read more >>

Parnell and the Home Rule
The second half of the nineteenth century was characterized by a complex interplay of political and economic factors which contributed towards the exacerbation of religious differences. The most important of these was the struggle for land and for the...read more >>

Rebellion and Civil War
The British parliament eventually passed the Home Rule Bill of 1912, and for a while the conditions appeared to exist for Ireland to erupt into civil war. Before this could happen, however, the outbreak of World War I dramatically altered the...read more >>

The Irish Free State
With the death of Michael Collins and Arthur Griffith during the civil war, the leadership of the Irish Free State fell to William T. Cosgrave, and finally in the summer of 1923 the new government began to reconstruct Ireland as an independent nation. A...read more >>

The Republic
It took the Republic (which finally came into being in 1949) twenty years to recover from the economic stagnation brought on by the war. Vast numbers of people, disproportionately drawn from among the young and talented, moved across to fill Britain's...read more >>

Northern Ireland from 1921
On June 22, 1921, the new political entity of Northern Ireland came into existence with the opening of the Northern Irish Parliament in Belfast's City Hall. In order to understand the present situation in the North it is necessary to grasp the...read more >>