Killarney

Killarney is a popular tourist destination because it's the gateway to Killarney National Park and the Ring of Kerry. Naturally a town so popular commands high room prices. As I had a car, I picked a place outside the town. It was a new B&B which had opened only the year before and there was still work in progress. But it was very tidy and very comfortable. I was glad I had sandwiches from Tesco and didn't need to venture out for dinner.

At breakfast I encountered the other lodgers, two Italian couples. We had an interesting time figuring out some of the modern appliances in the kitchen. Breakfast was continental, with cold meats, not an unwelcome change from cooked Irish breakfasts of the last couple of days. I had a friendly chat with the young host, who complimented me on allocating two days for the Ring, unlike the tour buses who rush through it in a day.

I bade farewell to the host and drove into Killarney town. As you can see, buildings painted in bright primary colours are represented here.

The Town Hall.

The kind of accommodation out of my means. There's a tour bus waiting for passengers.

This was just one of the many hotels. Tourism is a major earner for this town.

Must have a cinema in any civilised town.

Green experimental projects.

More colourful buildings.

Fascinating music shop.

This was all very picturesque but I had to get going. Besides it was raining slightly and my paid parking was running out.

The road out of town to the national park was lined with B&Bs. It seemed almost a national occupation, running such establishments.