Ring of Kerry Scenic Route. – Goosey Island Motorhome Park.
Wednesday 29th May 2024.
Todays driving has been and experience of two halves, the first took us through the mountains which with its twisty winding road reminded me of driving in the Lake District whereas the second was a more undulating coastal road.
As we drove along the mountain pass we came upon Molly Gallivan’s Cottage and Traditional Farm.
Molly’s cottage is over 200 years old, it is complete with animals, fowl and traditional farm machinery. Originally a single storey thatched cottage it was raised in height and a slate roof replaced the thatch in the early 1900’s. Molly was widowed with seven small children she had to call on all her resources to keep body and soul together. She supplemented her meagre income by selling butter,eggs and honey, her renowned home baking and hand spun woollens were ever popular but it was her home made “ position or whiskey” – Molly’s Mountain Dew which she sold in her illegal pub that proved most popular. The cottage now houses a small cafe and an area selling woollen garments and jewellery.
You can also take a tour of the farmyard, pointing still, sheep house, a famine ruin,turf bog,lime kiln etc and there is a Neolithic Stone Row that forms part of a very rare ancient calendar.
There were quite a few tight bends on the trip and several short tunnels carved through the rock.
Our motorhome stopover tonight is just off the night street of Sneem and is run by the owner of Dan Murphy’s Bar where you have to go to book in.
As we walked through the village we came upon a trailer load of dried peat ready for the winter fires.
At the entrance to the motorhome park is a stone sculpture trail that we’re inspired by the beehive huts of Skellig Michael and Staithes Fort they are called the fairy way.
taraabit 