Day 16 - Dingle to Blarney

Went to a Folk Concert last night in the local church.  Five performers sang and played Irish music, very enjoyable, one played a Uilleann (something like a bagpipe) but he did not blow with his mouth. Instead he used his elbow to pump air into the bag which he had connected to a flute as well as the normal bagpipe sound.  He claimed that he was able to drink while he was playing so it was all worthwhile.

At Killorglin the story goes that a wild goat ran into the village and frightened the people, who ran into the mountains.  Oliver Cromwell arrived and killed the remaining villagers (this was in the 1640's).

Now each year they catch a goat and party to celebrate fertility.  They do not eat it !

We stopped at Kenmare to visit a lace making store, which dates back to the time of the famine.  Nuns started the lace making for poor women to learn the art and sell their work so they could buy food for their family.

There are some cyclists riding in the rain, on narrow roads with no bike paths.  They have panniers but no helmets.

At Ladies' View we passed a sign saying "Leprecauns Crossing" - the Irish superstition and sense of humour at work.

Today was a damp day with low cloud, and travelling along Healy Pass we were surrounded by heavy fog and steep cliffs.

This is Inch beach, closest thing to Australian beaches we have seen.

Many horse and cart competitors on the Dingle Peninsula 

We waited for the Leprechauns to cross but no sign of them.

This is called Ladies View.

At the Lace factory

 A view from the Healy Pass, wet, raining and foggy.  A beautiful sight on a sunny day.

Main Street of Bantry on our way to Cork.

A view from Bantry House, a magnificent old house in the process of being restored by the owner.

This house has been in the same family for 300 years.

Inside the homestead.

A tortured garden at the Bantry House.