Smirting & The Smoking Ban
by orlikins
Smirting is a combination of the words smoking + flirting, geddit? It started when people had to go out for a ciggie after the ban was enforced, and got chatting to fellow smokers outside on the street, eyes meeting across a cloud of blue nicotine... ;) So you may just meet a local hottie in this way!!
REMEMBER - Since March 2004, you CANNOT smoke inside bars, cafes or restaurants, or anywhere where people are working (e.g. taxis, offices etc.)
The legislation is officially known as the Public Health (Tobacco) Act, see link to it below for a summary.
You may smoke in outside in the street or in designated smoking areas, but never inside a place where people are working (includes offices, bars, restaurants, shops, shopping centres, taxis, etc)
The Lord Brandon Cottage in...
by dracko
The Lord Brandon Cottage in Black Valley isn't really a restaurant, it's more along the lines of a dozen wooden bench tables under a roof. The fare is typically snacks, refreshments, and during the day the owners, who live in the attached house, will cook something up in the kitchen as well. I didn't get there until after 6, and they were already closed. Nevertheless, they were gracious enough to open up and sell a soda and some snacks to a weary rain-soaked hiker. The historic cottage itself is right next to the owners' house and you can explore the grounds when you're there.
Say 'Hi!' to my little friend if you see him! Can't say what's good or what's not, since it was closed when I got there, but it's the only place that will feed you in the village, I think.
Muckross House
by Dabs
Muckross House had three private owners, the house was built in 1843 for Henry Arthur Herbert and his wife Mary, when Herbert got into deep debt, the house was sold to Lord Ardilaun of the Guinness family in 1899. The last owner was American Williams Bowers Bourn who bought it as a wedding present for his daughter Maud in 1911, when she died unexpectedly in 1929 he donated the estate to Ireland and it became Ireland's first National Park
Muckross House is visited by guided tour only but we only had to wait about 10 minutes for the next tour. Our guide could have very well been a robot as her speech was obviously memorized and her speaking tone with little to no inflection. Admission is included on the Heritage Card. The traditional farm at the same location is NOT included on the Heritage Card, we didn't have enough time to see it so we passed on that part of the grounds. The tour takes approximately 55 minutes.
One of the interesting things the guide did point out, albeit in a monotone, was the windows on the downstairs of the house, back then there was a tax on large windows but when Queen Victoria was scheduled to make a visit they swapped out the small downstairs windows for large ones. The Queen gave them 6 years notice of her visit and the family spent thousands of pounds on redecorating and repairs hoping to get a title out of a successful visit. Unfortunately for the family, her husband, Prince Albert, died soon afterwards and the Queen forgot all about them and her visit here.
I did happen to note that this was one sight that was handicap accessible as we did have someone with a wheelchair on our tour, there are elevators throughout the house and most of the rooms are accessible.
Lakes of Killarney
by orlikins
During the year, there is a motor rally around the lakes, if thats what you're into. The Lakes are part of the Killarney National park, however there have been pollution issues so dont go swimming there
Nobbe's new Killarney Page
by Nobbe
"By Killarney's lakes and fells,
Emerald Isles and winding bays,
Mountain paths and woodland dells,
Mem'ry ever fondly strays;
Bounteous nature loves all lands;
Beauty wanders everywhere,
Footprints leaves on many strands,
But her home is surely there!
Angels fold their wings and rest
In that Eden of the west,
Beauty's home, Killarney,
Ever fair Killarney."
--E. Falconer (Edmund O'Rourke) from "Innisfallen" (1813-1879)
Don't forget to check out my travelogues about the beautiful Dingle Peninsula and Ring of Kerry to the right. Thanks!
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St Mary's Cathedral
Muckross House
Parfeit of chicken livers
Typical lush woods and creek
