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February 3, 2023

Ireland – Day Nine: Killarney National Park, Torc Waterfall, Blarney Castle, and More

If today’s post is a bit longer than usual, I apologize as I have (supposedly) been bestowed with the gift of gab thanks to the Blarney Stone! More on that later. First, we started day nine with a trip to the beach—Inch Beach to be specific. As I’ve said more times than I can count on this trip, the view was incredible. Next, we drove up the mountain for a quick stop to enjoy another view. I think a fellow bus passenger described it best when they said it was a superb overlook of the mountains. This stop in Aghadoe, Country Kerry, is overlooking the Killarney Valley.

A photo of waves crashing onto Inch Beach with mountains in the background.
Our first stop of the day, Inch Beach
A photo overlooking a lake with the distant mountains of the Killarney Vally in the background
The view of the Killarney Vally from Aghadoe in County Kerry overlooking a lake.
A photo of the distant mountains of the Killarney Vally.
The view of the Killarney Vally from Aghadoe in County Kerry.
Our group photo with us standing in a grassy field. Behind us, there is a fence, and behind the fence in the far distance is a lake with little islands, and the mountains of Killarney Valley.
Our group photo in front of the Killarney Vally from Aghadoe in County Kerry.
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We were back to our usual tour style of long drives on the bus as we made our way back to Dublin. We did make some stops though, and they didn’t disappoint. One of those was Killarney National Park. Here, we made the short trek to Torc Waterfall. I felt like we were in a movie, not at the national park. It seemed like a forest out of Lord of the Rings or Jurrasic Park, and I would have loved to explore more of the park. It was definitely a great stop, especially being able to get out of the bus for a bit and into the fresh air.

A photo of moss-covered trees in Killarney National Park.
Mossy trees in Killarney National Park
A photo of the waterfall in Killarney National Park.
Torc Waterfall in Killarney National Park
A photo of the stream running through Killarney National Park with moss-covered trees and rocks on either side of the stream.
The stream from the Waterfall running through Killarney National Park.
A photo of water from the waterfall rushing over rocks. In the photo, the sun is shining through the trees giving them, the rocks, and the water a glow.
The sun shining through the trees in Killarney National Park.
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We had an important stop to make on our trip today, the Blarney Castle. This, as you may guess, is the home of the Blarney Stone. After a 30-minute wait and 180+ steps, we made it to the top of the castle. The steps were not for the claustrophobic. They are tiny, in a very narrow passage, and are more like climbing a ladder enclosed in bricks than stairs. Our anxiety peaked, only to get another boost at the stone itself. To kiss the Blarney Stone, we had to lay on our backs, hold on to bars screwed into the wall, then an employee helped lower us backwards into an opening over the side of the castle to kiss the stone. Although this opening is a very long drop to the ground, they have installed bars that will (hopefully) catch someone if they fall. Now, we’ll have to return in seven years to once again get the gift as it’s said to only last that long.

Once you kiss the Stone, you can then tour the castle as you exit. Most of the castles we’ve seen have only been from the outside or have been updated to be more of how you would imagine a modern castle to be. However, Blarney Castle is very much how it would have been originally. It’s unfinished and gave us a good idea of how it would have been back in the day.

A photo of the Blarney Castle in the distance with a grass area leading up to the castle. People can be seen walking along the path leading to the castle.
The view walking up to Blarney Castle.
A photo looking up at the Blarney Castle. Birds can be seen flying away from the castle.
Birds flying away from the Blarney Castle.
A photo looking up at the Blarney Castle with a cloudy blue sky in the background.
Looking up at the Blarney Castle.
A photo from the ground looking up at the Blarney Castle. Along the bottom of the photo, green grass can be seen growing up to the rocky base of the castle, and a cloudy blue sky serves at the backdrop of the photo.
A view from the ground looking up at the Blarney Castle.
A photo looking through metal bars covering an opening carved into the castle for a window. Beyond the bars, trees, grass, and a walkway can be seen.
A carved out opening that serves as a window for the castle.
A photo looking down from the top of the castle onto the grounds. Walkways can be seen peaking through the lush greenery growing around the castle.
Looking down from the top of the castle out onto the castle grounds.
The photo has two large trees on either side and a hedge bordering the bottom of the photo. Between the trees, a tower of the castle can be seen with a bird flying toward it.
A bird flying toward the Blarney Castle.
A photo showing myself (Keegan) leaning backward over the edge of the castle, kissing the Blarney Stone, while holding on to railings. A castle employee is also holding onto me. Below me, you can see the green grass of the castle grounds far below.
Myself kissing the Blarney Stone.
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To end the day, we made the way to our final destination and accommodation for the trip, the Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel. Tomorrow will be a more laid-back day, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have plans!

The Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel illuminated at night.
The entrance to the Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel.