We were so happy to see Angela again on the morning of Day 5.
Our first stop was a quick stroll on Inch Strand Beach, famous for being a shooting location for "Ryan's Daughter" and "Playboy of the Western World".
Then it was on to Killarney National Park where we were scheduled to take a ride in a horse-drawn jaunting car. But first, we had the option to take a short hike to a scenic waterfall.
Riding through the park listening to the clopping of the horses hooves was a pleasant experience. The young woman who was driving the cart pointed out places of interest as we went along.
We stopped to explore the remains of Muckross Abbey, a Franciscan friary founded in 1448. Over the years, it has been damaged and reconstructed many times, but it is surprisingly well-preserved.
A lovely old yew tree still grows in the couryard.
After lunch, we made a quick visit to the Hawthorne Fairy Tree Stone Circle just outside the town of Kenmare. This circle is somewhat unique because it is egg shaped rather than round. A huge Boulder-Dolmen rests in the center of the circle and a hawthorn tree grows on one side.
Hawthorn trees are one of the most sacred trees in Celtic mythology. Fairies are said to live under them, and people often tie prayers, gifts or personal tokens to the branches. We wrote our wishes on scraps of paper and tied them to the tree.
The rest of the afternoon was spent taking in the scenery as we drove the Caha Pass to our hotel for the evening in West Cork.
Roads like these made us glad we were not trying to drive ourselves.
On the sixth morning of our tour, we backtracked over the Caha Pass to Molly Gallivan's Cottage and Store. As if traveling on the narrow winding roads through the mountains wasn't enough, a bicycle race was being held that day. The participants were released in small groups which our amazing tour guide Angela managed to pass courteously when it was safe to do so. I would have been a nervous wreck if I were driving.
At Molly's, the owners put on demonstrations of bread baking in the open fireplace and whiskey brewing and told us stories of life back in the day.
This is the view across the road from Molly's.
Then it was on to Garnish Island with its ornate gardens, rock walls, scenic views, and restored Matello Tower. To get to the island, you board a small wooden boat and cruise past a seal colony.
The Martello Tower is pictured below. About 45 of these towers were built in the early 19th century around the Irish coastline as protection from the threat of an invasion by Napoleon's army.
According to the Irish Tourism website, a strong Japanese influence is evident in the design of the gardens. As an example, they cite the way the Grecian Tower frames the view of Sugarloaf Mountain to suggest Mt. Fuji.
We spent our last night of the tour at the charming Gougane Barra Hotel, renowned for its fine locally-sourced cuisine.
It was sad to think that our Irish tour was nearing its end.