March 23, 2025

160. Ireland - The Wild Atlantic Way - Southern Section

Show Notes
Transcript

Journey with Johnny Mac along Ireland's dramatic southern coastline! From the iconic Ring of Kerry with its panoramic mountain views to the colorful Dingle Peninsula with its ancient archaeological sites, discover Ireland's most spectacular landscapes. Explore vibrant Cork City, Ireland's "real capital," and dive into Kinsale's renowned food scene, where fresh seafood and innovative chefs have created Ireland's culinary hotspot. Get practical tips on avoiding crowds, finding authentic local experiences, and capturing the true essence of Ireland's southern treasures.

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Caalaroga Shark Media.

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Hey they're travelers. This is Johnny Mack and you're listening

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to Travel Is Back. If you've been with us since

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our very first episode last June when we explored Chicago,

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or maybe you joined us for our beach recommendations last July,

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you know we're all about finding those authentic travel experiences

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that don't break the bank. Today we're continuing our journey

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through Ireland, moving south along the Wild Atlantic Way. After

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exploring the northern treasures in our previous Ireland episode, it's

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time to discover what the southern section has to offer.

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So let's dive into the dramatic coastlines, historic town's an

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incredible food scene of Southern Ireland. The Ring of Kerry

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is Ireland's most famous scenic drive, and for good reason.

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This one and seventy nine kilometer loop around the Everick

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Peninsula offers some of the most spectacular landscapes in Ireland,

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from rugged coast line in sandy beaches to mountains, lakes

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and charming villages. A practical tip drive the route counterclockwise.

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Most tour buses go clockwise, so you'll encounter less traffic

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going the opposite direction. The full loop takes about three

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point five hours of straight driving, but you'll want to

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allow a full day to stop and explore. Ladies View

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is one of the most popular stopping points, named after

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Queen Victoria's Ladies in Waiting, who admired the view during

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a royal visit in eighteen sixty one. It offers a

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stunning panorama of the Lakes of Killarney and the surrounding mountains.

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Killarney National Park, at the northeastern end of the Ring,

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is Ireland's oldest national park and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

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The park contains the fifteenth century Ross Castle, the Victorian

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Muckross House and Gardens, and Torque Waterfall, which is accessible

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via a short two hundred meters walk from the parking area.

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For those looking to escape the tourist crowds, the small

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villages along the roof, like Sneam and Cayherdaniel offer authentic

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local experiences. Caherdaniel is home to darren Ane House, the

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ancestral home of Daniel O'Connell, a key figure in Irish

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history known as the Liberator. Valentia Island accessible by bridge

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from Port McGee or by ferry from Reynard point features

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the Skelleg Experience Center, where you can learn about the

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nearby Skellig Michael, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and former

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monastery that was featured in the recent Star Wars films.

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If you thought the Ring of Kerry was impressive, the

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Dingle Peninsula offers equally stunning coastal scenery with typically fewer crowds.

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The forty seven kilometer Sleehead Drive loops around the western

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end of the peninsula, offering views of the Blasket Islands

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and on clear days, as far as the Skellig Islands.

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Dingle Town itself is a colorful fishing port, with narrow

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streets lined with traditional pubs, seafood restaurants and craft shops.

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With around fifty pubs in this small town, there's no

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shortage of places to hear traditional Irish music in the evenings.

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The peninsula is particularly known for its archaeological sites, including

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the Glaris Oratory, a remarkably well preserved early Christian church

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built between the sixth and ninth centuries using drystone techniques.

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No mortar was used, yet it remains completely waterproof. Another

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fascinating site is the collection of stone beehive huts Klochans

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at Fahan, believed to be from the twelfth century. These

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dry stone structures were built using a corbelling technique where

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each stone overlaps the one below, creating a stable, waterproof

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structure for beach lovers. Inch Beach offers a spectacular five

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comber stretch of sand that extends into Dingle Bay. It's

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popular with surfers and rentals and lessons are available for beginners.

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If you've heard me talk about the best beaches in

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the US and the world in our July twenty twenty

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one episode, you'll understand why Inch Beach deserves a mention,

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despite Ireland not being known as a beach destination. Cork

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is Ireland's second largest city and proudly calls itself the

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real capital of Ireland. The city center is built on

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an island in the River Lee, with many of the

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main streets originally built over channels of the river. The

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English Market, dating back to seventeen eighty eight, is a

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covered food market selling local specialties like drashen, a type

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of blood pudding, tripe and spiced beef, along side fresh fish,

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artisanal cheeses and chocolates. It's a great place to sample

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local produce and get a sense of Cork's food culture.

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At Cork City Jail, a former prison turned heritage center,

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offers insight into nineteenth century prison life and the social

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history of the city. The building itself is an impressive

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example of Gothic architecture. Saint Anne's Church in the Shandon

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district allows visitors to ring the famous Shandon bells, while

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the University College Cork campus features the beautiful Hone and

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Chapel with its stunning Harry Clark stained glass windows. For

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those interested in Irish history, a visit to the Michael

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Collins House in nearby Colonakilty provides information about one of

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Ireland's most significant revolutionary leaders. Just thirty minutes from Cork City,

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Kinsale is known as the gourmet capital of Ireland. This

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picturesque fishing town, with its narrow, winding streets and colorful buildings,

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has become a culinary destination. The town's food reputation was

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established in the nineteen seventies with the opening of several

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high quality restaurants and the founding of the Kinsale Good

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Food Circle. Say Today, the annual Kinsale Gourmet Festival showcases

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the best of local cuisines seafood is naturally especially here,

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with restaurants serving fresh catches from the adjacent harbor. The

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Fishy Fishy Cafe, owned by renowned chef Martin Shanahan, is

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one of the town's most famous eateries, focusing on sustainable,

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locally caught seafood. For those interested in learning more about

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Irish cuisine ki kitsoy at Ata. The Kinsale Food Tour

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offers a walking tour of the town with stops at

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various food producers and eateries. The Kinsale Cookery School also

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offers courses for visitors interested in learning how to prepare

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traditional Irish dishes with a modern twist. Beyond food, Kinsale

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has significant historical importance. Charles Fort, a seventeenth century star

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shaped military fortress, offers impressive views over Kinsale Harbor and

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insights into the town's strategic importance throughout history. The Battle

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of Kinsale in sixteen oh one was a turning point

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in Irish history, marking the defeat of Gallic chieftains by

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English forces. The Kinsale Regional Museum has exhibits detailing this

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and other aspects of local history, including information about the

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sinking of the Lusitania off the Coast in nineteen fifteen

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more coming up. Just thirty minutes from Cork City, Kinsale

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is known as the gourmet capital of Ireland. This picturesque

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fishing town, with its narrow, winding streets and colorful buildings,

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has become a culinary destination. The town's food reputation was

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established in the nineteen seventies with the opening of several

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high quality restaurants and the founding of the Kinsale Good

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Food Circles. Today, the annual Kinsale Gourmet Festival showcases the

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best of local cuisine. Seafood is naturally especially here, with

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restaurants serving fresh catches from the adjacent harbor. The Fishy

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Fishy Cafe, owned by renowned chef Martin Shanahan, is one

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of the town's most famous eateries, focusing on sustainable, locally

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caught seafood. For those interested in learning more about Irish cuisine,

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the Kinsale Food Tour offers a walking tour of the

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town with stops at various food producers and eateries. The

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Kinsale Cookery School also offers for visitors interested in learning

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how to prepare traditional Irish dishes with a modern twist.

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Beyond food, Kinsale has significant historical importance. Charles Fort, a

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seventeenth century star shaped military fortress, offers impressive views over

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Kinsale Harbor and insights into the town's strategic importance throughout history.

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The Battle of Kinsale in sixteen oh one was a

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turning point in Irish history, marking the defeat of Gallic

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chieftains by English forces. The Kinsale Regional Museum has exhibits

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detailing this and other aspects of local history, including information

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about the sinking of the Lusitania off the coast in

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nineteen fifteen. The southern section of the Wild Atlantic Way

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offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, history, and culinary experiences.

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From the dramatic coastal drives of Carrion Dingle to the

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vibrant city life of Cork and the gourmet delights of Kinsale,

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this region showcases some of the best that Ireland has

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to offer. If you're planning a visit, I'd recommend at

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least a week to explore this area properly. The best

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time to visit is late spring through early fall, though

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be prepared for rain at any time. It's all part

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of the Irish experience. As we discovered in our Washington

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DC episode. Sometimes the most memorable experiences come from stepping

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off the main tourist path. The same is true here.

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Some of the most authentic experiences in Southern Ireland come

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from conversations with locals and small village pubs, stumbling upon

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unmarked historical sites, or finding that perfect viewpoint away from

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the crowds. Next week we'll explore Irish castles and historic sites,

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diving into the fascinating stories behind Blarney Castle, the Rock

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of Castle and more. Until then, this is Johnny Mack

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reminding you that the world is back open, so get

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out there and explore safe travels.

160. Ireland - The Wild Atlantic Way - Southern Section

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