Day 35 - Thursday 30th August

Once again we had a buffet breakfast at the hotel and checked out at 9:30am. The weather had improved considerably overnight.

Our first task was to find an ATM in Killarney to get some more Euros. The TomTom found the centre of town OK.

When we tried to find a parking spot, we went down a narrow street that got narrower and narrower with every turn. On the last stretch, there was only centimetres clearance on either side of our car between the buildings on one side and parked cars on the other. I noticed that most of the parked cars had folded their external mirrors flat against the side of the car.

The town was still quiet because most of the shops don't open until 10am. We asked the tourist information office where we could find an ATM.

The plan for today was to drive around the Dingle Peninsula which is another peninsula north of the Ring of Kerry where we went yesterday. We drove to Dingle (clockwise this time).

Along the way we stopped several times to admire the coastline from the cliffs and from a beach. At Dingle, we turned off on another loop road called Slea Head Drive that goes around the end of the peninsula.

We stopped at Dunberg Fort which consists of ruins of a fort on the coastline dating back over 900 years. We started by going to the visitors centre that showed a film documentary and we then walked over the road and down the hill to the ruins.

Further on, we stopped at another site where they are restoring beehive stone huts that were used by local inhabitants more than 3000 years ago.

Despite what we'd been told, tourist coaches were travelling on these narrow window cliff-side roads. It was amazing seeing them navigating the tight curves without plunging over the edge.

For lunch, we stopped at the waterfront at Dingle. There we found a nice sunny cafe that sold great fish and chips etc. Afterwards we went for a walk along the waterfront and through the shops on the main street. It was a popular tourist location.

After leaving Dingle we headed north up the mountainside through the Connor Pass. At the top of the pass, there were great views in both directions. We then headed towards Tralee and then north towards Limerick.

The best scenery on the peninsula was on the southern side. It is certainly a picturesque coastline. Well worth the visit - particularly on a nice sunny day.

Before Limmerick, we turned off the motorway at Bunratty Castle. We stopped near the castle so I could take photos while Suzy picked up the tickets we'd booked for the medieval banquet tonight at the castle.

We'd booked accommodation for the night at Bunratty Castle Hotel which was only about a block away from the castle. We reached the hotel by 6pm.

Our banquet was due to start at 8:30pm. There was a queue of people waiting at the entrance.  They ushered us up a spiral stone staircase into a large room in the castle where they served us honey wine (mead) and then took us downstairs to the banquet room.

Dinner consisted of three courses - soup, pork, chicken plus as much wine as you wanted.

Before the dinner, we met a New Zealand family. During the dinner, we were seated beside two quiet American ladies from Texas. On the other side was an Irish couple from nearby Kerry.

The staff were dressed in medieval clothes. They acted as waiters and entertainers. There was music and singing before, during and after dinner. It was a fun night that ended at about 11pm.