Ireland - Day 11
August 31, 2025: FIrst full day in Killarney and unfortunately it is raining, which of course is typical of Ireland. On average, Ireland experiences rain on 150 to 225 days per year according to the Discover Ireland website. The higher amount of rain tends to be on the west, which is where Killarney is located. In Naples, Florida, there are, on average, about 81 days of rain per year and most of that is in the summer.
Our plan for the morning was to take the walking path from the hotel that leads to Killarney National Park which contains Muckross Abbey and Muckross House which are two historical sites in the park and Torc Waterfall, which is about 8 miles round trip and takes about 3 hours. We started with the buffet breakfast offered by the hotel which was quite a spread and then started out on our journey. We brought rain gear with us and waterproof shoes, so we were not deterred by the rain! The walk goes around part of Lough Leane Lake and then part of Muckross Lake. Our first stop was Muckross Abbey. The Abbey is a 15th-century Franciscan friary founded by the McCarthy Mór clan. It is remarkably well preserved given its history. You can wander through its roofless church and graveyard, where generations of local chieftains and poets are buried. At its center stands a huge yew tree, believed to be as old as the abbey itself. You can imagine when you walk through what life must have been like to live there hundreds of years ago. Life for the friars was simple, strict, and deeply tied to both prayer and the local community. They lived very frugally with no personal possessions. Unlike the people who lived at our next stop which was Muckross House and Gardens.
Muckross House was built between 1839 and 1843. It was commissioned by Henry Arthur Herbert and his wife, the watercolor artist Mary Balfour Herbert. The House is a grand 19th-century Victorian mansion set on the shores of Muckross Lake and is renowned for its elegant architecture, beautifully landscaped gardens, and rich history. Inside, visitors can tour the lavishly furnished rooms and servants’ quarters. The surrounding estate includes traditional farms, craft workshops, and walking trails. After the death of the last owner’s wife, Muckross House was donated to the Irish state in 1932, and became part of Ireland’s first national park. There is a cafe at the estate where we grabbed some coffee while there was a downpour of rain. We didn’t have enough time to go to Torc Waterfall and instead headed back to hotel where we had an appointment to visit their Thermal Spa.
The Thermal Spa the hotel offers was built as a wellness escape. It has a steam room, two types of saunas, experiential shower pods and outdoor hydrotherapy in the scenic lakeside setting. You actually overlook the lake when you are in the pool. It was quite a unique experience. We both loved it. After the spa we got ready and got a taxi into town. I heard about a place called Pig’s Lane while doing my research, so we decided to go there. I was so excited about it, I did a Facebook post describing the experience. Sometimes when you travel you find a place so unique it reminds you why you love to travel. Pig’s Lane in Killarney is one of those places. It was awarded Ireland’s Innovative Bar of the Year 2024 and Best Designed Bar 2025. What I love about it is its uniqueness. As you walk in, it has a Ministry of Magic feel from Harry Potter and then it has a Legends of Libations menu with hand‑crafted cocktails by world-champion mixologist Ariel Sanecki. It also has a separate whiskey parlour that kind of looks like a Speakeasy. They have live music and the staff was extremely friendly. The artist playing was Abbi Curley. She took suggestions for song from the crowd and new a lot of favorites. Overall, just a very cool experience. Absolutely recommend if you are ever in Killarney. We were getting hungry and Pig’s Lane had a very limited menu, so we found a place called The Laurels where we had a pizza before heading back to the hotel. Another very busy day, but one I will remember fondly.