Tim Korry 2012: Carrigaline and Killarney- Tim Korry Music 2012 Blog

The day began with a fine fresh fish breakfast inside the dining porch area of The Atheneum House. This grand Georgian home, previously owned by ship builders, was a great backdrop for a quiet breakfast. I love the choices in an Irish breakfast. While Americans are stuck with pancakes, waffles, processed cereals, GMO corn, and wheat based breakfasts, the Irish are using locally sourced fresh ingredients. The local meats and sausages, tomatoes, fish, cheese, and even the old “beans on toast” are an outstanding change. After breakfast we took some pics, packed up, and headed out.

A man working outside the house gave us some great tips on what to see around Cork and Carrigaline. He also mentioned that there were a lot of Keily’s in the Waterford and Cork area. It would require weeks to find out if anyone was a relation… cool all the same and it did confirm that the Keily part of our family indeed was from this area.

We were blessed with some wider roads today on the way to the Jameson Distillery. Still, it was very tight passing through the streets of Middleton. Jameson stands as a really interesting historical marker from the 1700’s regardless if you like their whiskey or not. Well worth the trip and their café isn’t bad either… Jameson and ginger is a new favorite…We continued on to Carrigaline to search for Coolmore Castle where my great great grandparent’s worked. We found the location after asking directions at a petrol station and receiving some tips on getting there from a delightful lady with bright red hair. As we drove the rainy winding road up to the gate houses, we noticed a young guy bringing in his groceries. We asked if it would be okay to follow down the road to the estate, which had a threatening private property sign posted out front. He told us we could walk the 1K or try to drive it. We opted for the driving but it proved to be too intense for our little Euro car. The potholes were downright unnerving. It was very cool to at least see the area and the gate houses that my relatives may have even lived in. So we were off again, back through some of the Cork traffic on the road to Killarney.

After some confusing direction and disorienting roundabouts, we finally made it to the Chelmsford House where we met the very kind and gracious innkeepers Pat and Louise Griffin. We were literally in a residential neighborhood overlooking the mountains. Yes… the rain and mist continued as it seemed to follow us the entire time. After a pint of room temperature Guinness and a good chat with Louise, we headed down to the Killarney town center. Although we arrived a little late, some stores were still open and most pubs. I bought a Mucros tweed hat to wear in the constant drizzle. This proved to be a slick idea. The hat was made locally at the Muckross House which in itself looked like a glorious estate to visit. Well, maybe next time. After a bit of walking through the stormy streets of Killarney, we settled on Spanish tapas for dinner. After feeling a bit tapped out on energy, we retired early. It had been a long day of drizzly driving through several different locations. Tomorrow it will be on to the Ring of Kerry…