Day 7: (Tralee to Kilkee a.k.a. Beaches, castles, a ferry ride, and amazing lamb stew.)

Started off from Tralee towards Ballyheigue Beach. Huge but not all that amazing after some of the stuff I had seen thus far. I decided to move on to Ballybunion Castle which is more about the beach than the castle remnants. Gorgeous and filled with locals enjoying the 78 degree heat.

Next, a bit more off-piste exploration and a stop at Carrigafoyle castle. Not much left after 600 years but still very cool. The road there on the other hand was a work in progress, paved in parts, and merely a puddle-ridden track in others.

Then off to take a brief ferry ride across the River Shannon estuary and I was in County Clare. A longish drive to the end of land there and a stop at Loop Head. Beautiful lighthouse and cliffs.

Side note: From what I have been able to discern in available records, the western part of County Clare is the part of Ireland where my dad’s ancestors originated before crossing the Shannon to go south into Cork in search of work a few generations before emigrating to the US.

Next on to the Kilkee cliffs and finally to my B&B for the evening. The nearest town is miles away and this place is in the geographic center of nowhere. Love it!

I did pop into town (Carrigaholt) for a meal and a few pints at a side street local pub. Amazing lamb stew and some of the great Red Ale on tap throughout the country. After a short drive home, I was back in the B&B for a quiet evening before a big push the next day to Galway.

My route for the day:



Ballybunion Castle remnants overlooking Ballybunion Beach



Ballybunion Beach (Is this really Ireland?)



Carrigafoyle Castle





My ferry across the Shannon into County Clare



After about an hour driving on the other side of the river, approaching Loop Head



Loop Head Lighthouse




Kilkee Cliffs



Panoramic view from my B&B




Carrigaholt castle from the pier in the village



Although the pub smelled smoky from the use of the open fireplace, it served incredible food, possibly the best lamb stew I have ever had.









Looking from my B&B toward Carrigaholt where I ate dinner. Can you see the castle in the lower left featured a few photos earlier? Very poignant thinking my ancestors walked these same hills a few centuries earlier. Really felt connected here.