With plans for Sunday in Killarney we decided to find a B&B about half way. We found a nice B&B called Ballingowan House. The owners were really kind and the food great. The luck of the Irish must have been with us as we woke up to a rainbow outside the window. The first of three we would see. So we set out for the Muckross Traditional Farms in Killarney, Co. Kerry. Being as big into agriculture as we are we wanted to the older style of farming, but the working farms is dependent on the time of the year. There will be no hay to bale if it has already been done. 

The Muckross Traditional Farms has three different working farm complete with characters dressed for the act. We got to see a couple of women making bread, one churning butter, and just missed out on the blacksmith. In the old school we talked for a long time on the schooling of Irish children over time and the changes that have occurred. He had a picture from long ago and said that recently three of the children in it came back to see the school. Such a wonderful story. Muckross seemed to be like Colonial Williamsburg, but without the size and quantity of visitors. To see Muckross and Bunratty on the same trip was great. 

Lunch was at a small deli in Killarney and we visited a few shops. We decided to not hike in the Killarney National Park and head down towards Cork. Since the Blarney Castle and Blarney Stone were the nearest point we went there. I did not realize how big the Castle and Ground was going to be. Spread out over 60 acres the grounds has an arboretum, poison garden (my favorite), the rock close (a mystical place), a fern garden, waterfalls, ponds, and lots of woodland. We arrived with just over 2 hours left in the day. Not enough time to do it all. So we picked out what we wanted to see. First on our list was the Blarney Stone. 

The Blarney Stone has been an attraction in Ireland for over 200 years. Famous people from near and afar have traveled to Blarney to kiss the stone. The stone is one of the most visited places in Ireland. The current guard at the stone figures he has helped over 1 million people kiss the stone! His best memory was helping 100 naked women, who were there for a photography piece, kiss the stone. Since the steps leading up to top are very narrow some cannot do it. The famous comedians Laurel and Hardy visited, but Oliver Hardy was unable to kiss the stone due to his size. The kiss is kind of scary, but once I did it it was not that bad. 

Tomorrow I will highlight our time in Cork visiting churches and the English Market.

Dad Kissing the Blarney Stone

Mom Kissing the Blarney Stone

Me Kissing the Blarney Stone