Scenes from the Ring of Kerry

Driving from our last stop at Dingle over to Kenmare, we took the Ring of Kerry along the Iveragh Peninsula of western Ireland. It’s the “long way around” to Kenmare, but it resulted in some spectacular scenery. The Ring of Kerry is a road traveled by most of the big tour companies. We take the […]

Postcard from Ireland

Our guest Audrey Thompson meets a donkey and a dog and two cousins who run a little concession along the road leading to the Ring of Kerry, Ireland on August 28.

On the Way to the Dingle Peninsula of Ireland

We took the back country roads from Cashel to Tralee on our way to a two-night stay in Europe’s westernmost town, Dingle, on the Dingle Peninsula. These narrow lanes allow the traveler to see the real Ireland, and to take photographs which would not be possible if you’re on the big, fast-moving roads. First up, […]

Today’s Adventure in County Cork, Ireland (Queenstown)

We traveled down the new M-8 motorway from Cashel down to Cork, a trip which now takes just over an hour that in the past would have taken more than two. The Irish love their new motorways, paid for in large part by the EU, which of course, is now broke. “There will be no […]

Cashel, County Tipperary, Ireland at Sunset

We enjoyed an evening stroll around ancient Hore Abbey on the outskirts of Cashel today before a late, light dinner at a pub. The glow of the sunset against the 13th century ruins of Hore Abbey is always magical, especially for first-time Ireland visitors Bob, Paula and Audrey.

Johnnie Fox’s Pub Highest in Ireland

Not only is this rambling, rustic pub known as the “highest in Ireland” as it sits on a “mountaintop” outside of Dublin, but it is also in my opinion one of the most atmospheric pubs in all of Ireland. It also has the best seafood chowder that I’ve ever come across. We had lunch here […]

Trim, County Meath, Ireland

Welcome near arrivals Bob and Paula Leitzell and Audrey Thompson (Paula’s sister) for your third trip with European Focus! We spent the first day exploring the Newgrange passage tomb, built around 3200 BC and recognized as one of the finest examples of ancient tomb building in the world. For lunch, we drove through the countryside […]