An iconic Irish castle on the shore of Lough Leane (the learning lake) that withstood repeated…read moreassaults until finally falling to Cromwell. Free to walk the grounds plus there's a free history exhibition on the main floor. Period guided tours of the structure are available for a nominal fee. It's also the jumping off points for periodic 1-hour boat tours of the lake (€15)-we reco lily of Killarney-nicer boat) or a junket out to the ruined monastery on a small island that was the seat of learning. Fascinating and worth a stop.

Everything was excellent. Great tour, great, and very verbose, tour guide. All tours are guided,…read morefive euro. No pictures allowed inside the tall house!

Love ruins. I found this place fun and interesting. Love arches and celtic crosses. Huge cool tree…read moregrowing in the center. Unfortunately today had crappy weather and lighting all day. But this might very well just been our bad luck that both days in area were awful weather. Still had good time and glad came prepared with layers, waterproof shoes. Most importantly hooded raincoat and hat with brim and chin strap. It was rainy coat and windy all week. We enjoyed walking around and exploring.

Love ruins! This was truly a sight to see - with a huge yew tree growing in the middle of the abbey…read moreand graves from hundreds of years ago to the present. The abbey is fascinating but do make sure you're careful on the stairs!

I loved the history behind the Famine Cottages and can not believe that they are still in such good…read moreshape considering they were built in the mid nineteenth century. The cottages has been preserved so that when you step inside you get a good idea of how people had to live in this difficult time. I do think that they took things a little far when they placed mannequins in the bed and by the fireplace. It is creepy and I don't think added anything to the site. You have to walk up a step hill to view the cottages. Once you arrive at the top the view will take your breath away. On a clear day you can see as far as Skellig Rocks. There is a large farmer's cottage and three smaller cottages, The large one has outhouses attached for the horse and cow. These cottages were made from mud and stone and any wood used was washed up from shipwrecks. There are burials on the property that are sectioned off and protected. The last person to live in the cottages moved out in the 1950's.

The Irish Famine Cottages are a neat piece of history: as close as one can come to understanding…read moresome of the living conditions of the Irish in the early 19th century. FYI, admission is listed in travel books as €4, but we were quoted €3 at the entrance. Ask for feed to feed the donkeys, sheep, and ponies in the Animal Park on your ascent. (Though the greedy buggers only want your food: no pets after you oblige!) The first cottage is "Pat's House": a peasant laborer. The second is the Kavanaghs. The cottages were built using mud and stone, and had thatched roofs (though no longer). The latter has multiple rooms with furniture and information. It also has an adjoining cow house/outhouse and stable. Finally, there is a beehive hut that was used to house the pig. There is also a path that leads you to an old (non-Catholic) burial ground, though it's not accessible and can only be viewed from the fence. Still very neat! Overall the Irish Famine Cottages was an interesting historical look into one of the most trying times for the Irish! It's worth a visit if you're in the area seeing the other ancient attractions!

I think the most interesting thing about Ireland are the ancient relics that are still standing:…read moreeither alone off the beaten path, or alongside more contemporary structures. The Grange Stone Circle in Lough Gur, located in a field off of R512, is the former, and it is definitely worth visiting if you are near Limerick. It is the largest ancient stone circle in Ireland and dates to the late Neolithic/Bronze Age. It had a ritualistic purpose and the center aligns to the sun during the summer solstice. To consider that some of the stones were brought from 3 miles away is just astounding, as is the understanding that this site dates to 2,200 BCE. To think of the ancient peoples that walked here so long ago is certainly astounding! The stone circle is definitely an impressive site to behold! More information can be found here: http://loughgur.com/destination/the-stone-circle/

Bigger around than Stonehenge The diameter of the upright…read morestones is 45 meters (148 feet) The diameter of the capped stones at Stonehenge is 33 meters (108 feet)

Torc Waterfall is a 20-meter (70-foot) high waterfall in Killarney National Park, where the…read moreOwengarriff River cascades down Torc Mountain. It was named after the Irish word for "boar," a local legend involves the warrior Finn McCool killing a mythical wild boar on the mountain. It was an easy maybe 4-10 minute walk from the parking (with restrooms) lot off the N71 Road. The path was well maintained and the lush green forest along the way projected and air of solitude. The map near the road shows other paths, with maybe one going to the top. The waterfall itself was pleasant and I did walk down to the water to get a closer look. It's impressive enough, but not quite what Gayle and I have experienced in the past back in the Sierra Nevada or even Iceland. And it's definitely worth a mental health stop.

We spent the day exploring Killarney National Park. Torc Waterfall was a lovely little stop. We…read morefound the parking lot easily. From there it's about a 5 minute easy walk to the falls. The forest is incredible. It was almost like being in a surprise tropical rain forest. It was amazing how the landscape of this immediate area is so different from other parts of the area. The trees are covered with moss. There are giant ferns all over the place. I think there were about a hundred different colors of green. It was glorious. The falls themselves are beautiful. Lots of visitors but people were very polite.

The Crucifix Shrine is a life size scene of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is made of white…read morestone and it jumps out in contrast against the dark cliffs. The shrine is popular landmark along Slea Head Drive. Some people call it the Slea Head Crucifix. The exact area is named the "Cornerstone of the Peninsula" because it marks the boundary between two Parishes of the Dingle Peninsula. It was funded by an Irish-American and erected before the1960"s. It stands as a memorial to the fishermen who have lost their lives at sea. I visited the Shrine while driving the 33 mile Dingle loop. The road is very narrow but there is a turn out in front of the statue that will allow you to comfortably access the shrine and take photos. It is pretty popular so you may have to wait your turn to visit.

I know it's unfair to compare this to other jail tours in Ireland but it's really hard not to. The…read morearchitecture was gorgeous but the history was all quite surface level. I do appreciate them trying something different in tackling the stories of the jail and its prisoners.

This is a gem that all must visit. And take the guided tour!!! Rory was a great tour guide and…read moredidn't even feel like an hour plus had gone by. Fiona was always very nice and informative at the gift shop. Don't be deterred during the winter time, just dress in some layers and enjoy the ambience of the space!

There are actually 2 castle's, an old and a new (or newer, its still very old obviously). The herd…read moreof white deer are worth the walk alone, they're beautiful. Don't expect throngs of tourists being herded on and off coaches here, it's not on the tourist trail at all. That's part of its appeal though I think. Recently purchased by Cork County Council that could all change relatively soon. Recommend you see it while you can still have the place all to yourself.