Located between the bus station and the center of Killarney is one of the oldest churches in the city; the Franciscan Friary.
The Franciscans first arrived in Killarney during 1448. In the 1537 suppression of religious houses in Ireland ( at the instigation of King Henry VIII), the friars were kicked out of their residences. In spite of this, the Franciscan Friars remained in Killarnery in order to continue to minister to the Irish Catholics. In fact,the first half of the 17th. Century was considered to be the “Golden Age of Irish Franciscanism.” By 1858, Belgian Friars traveled to Killarney to re-establish the Franciscan Order.
A foundation stone for a new friary , taken from the ruins of the Muckross Abbey, was laid in 1864. This new complex was built in stages, with the original church’s west wing being completed in 1866 and the rest of the building finished by 1875. The 141 foot tall tower was added in 1878. The Friary itself was completed in 1879, while the Noviate House was built in 1902.
Today, this grand structure still offers services to Killarney’s Catholic Community on a daily basis.

Just down the street from Killarney’s bus station is the Franciscan Friary, one of the oldest religious structures in the city.

Like many of the churches , temples, mosques, and synagogues we have visited during our journey, its main altar area is beautiful!

Its background mosaic is quite intricate...

...and the many statuary are well done.

What a stunning stain glass window on the balcony above the front door!

As this sign out front depicts, the Frary holds daily services.

Nature provides us with some of the most beautiful experiences in our lives. While in Killarney, we had the opportunity to experience three local wonders of nature; the Torc waterfall; Ladies View; and the Gap of Dunloe.
The Torc (in old Irish meaning “Wild Boar”) Waterfall, at the base of Torc Mountain (1.5 miles from Muckross House) in Killarney National Park, is approximately 70 feet tall . It was formed by the Owengarriff river as it flows from the “Devil’s Punchbowl” in Corrie Lake (on Mangerton Mountain), The area had been associated with several legends concerning wild boars (Torc) . One such myth involves a man who was cursed by the Devil to spend each night transformed into a wild boar. When his secret was revealed by a local farmer, the cursed man burst into flames and disappeared into the Devil’s Punchbowl above the falls. To the left of the falls are a series of steps (100 in total) that take visitors up to a spectacular view of Killarney’s lakes.

Translated to mean “Cascade of the Wild Boar”, the Torc Waterfall is one of the Killarney National Park’s most popular tourist attractions...

...and we were two such visitors.

To the left side of the falls are these steps leading up to an overlook of the Lakes of Killarney..

The overlook provides a wonderful view of Killarney and some of its lakes.

Twelve miles from the center of Killarney, along Moll’s Gap, is one of the best views over the city. It is called “Ladies View” after Queen Victoria ‘s Ladies-in-waiting fell in love with what they saw from here during their 1861 visit. This scenic viewpoint along the Ring of Kerry is one of the most photographed sites in Ireland. It is located at one of the highest points overlooking Killarney and its lakes.

Located along Moll’s Gap, overlooking Killarney is Ladies View (so named after Queen Victoria’s Ladies-in-waiting visit here in 1861)...

...and what fantastic views there are.

Of course, being such a favorite stop for tourists, there is the “necessary” commercial aspect to the site as well.

About a tenth of a mile down the road are the ruins of what was said to have been a police station.

Approximately 7.5 miles from Killarney center is the Gap of Dunloe ( meaning “Fort at the River Loe - which runs through the Gap). The Gap, itself, was formed 25,000 years ago during Ireland’s last Ice Age. It runs North-to-South, splitting the MacGillycudfy Reeks Mountain (to the East) and the Purple Mountain range (to the West). Contained within the Gap are five lakes (i.e.Coosaun Lough, Black Lake, Cushnoually Lake, Auger Lake, and Black Lough) - all connected by the River Loe. Between Coosaun Lough and Black Lake is the “Wishing Bridge” on which legend states that wishes made while upon it are “...destined to come true.” This seven mile long Gap of Dunloe is a favorite for climbers and walkers traveling along the Ring of Kerry.

Glacial action during Ireland’s last Ice Age 25,000 years ago are said to have formed the Gap of Dunloe

Wishes are said to come true if made from this “Wishing Bridge” between Coosaun Lough and Black Lake in the Gap of Dunloe.

Some visitors choose these Jaunty Carts as a means to explore the Gap.

One of the major ecclesiastical sites within the Killarney National Park is an old Irish monastery and graveyard that dates back hundreds of years. The Abbey Muckross ((old Irish meaning “The Pig Wood”) was founded as a Franciscan Friary in 1448 by Donal McCarthy Mor. However, a previous monastery was erected on this site by Saint Fionnan during the sixth century. The friars of Muckross Abbey endured many raids by marauding forces over the years, causing much damage to the Abbey itself, which required frequent rebuilding. Eventually, the friars were driven out by Oliver Cromwellian troops in 1650. While quite well preserved, Muckross Abbey is missing its roof. One of the Abbey’s notable features is the 2500 year old Yew tree in the central cloister. Adjacent to the Abbey is a graveyard which contains many of Ireland’s most famous poets from the 17th and 18th centuries.

A short distance away, situated between the two lakes of Killarney (Muckross Lake and Lough Leane) is the mid-19th century Muckross House. Constructed in 1843 for Henry Arthur Herbert and his wife Mary (a noted colorist), the house contains 65 rooms in the Tudor architectural style. In preparation for Queen Victoria’s visit in 1861, the house underwent extensive renovations. Unfortunately, the cost of these renovations contributed greatly to the family’s financial problems, resulting in the entire estate being sold in 1899 to Arthur Guinness, the First Baron of Ardilon. Guinness never lived in Muckross House, preferring to rent it to wealthy groups as a hunting lodge.
In 1911, Muckross House was sold to William Bowers Bourn, a California mining magnate, , who then presented it to his daughter, Maud and her husband Arthur Rose Vincent, as a wedding gift. Upon Maud’s death in 1929, the family donated the estate to the Irish nation.
​ Now open to the public for tours, Muckross House sees a half-million visitors per year.

Built in 1448, Muckross Abbey replaced an earlier monastery constructed during the 6th century.

Except for the roof being missing, the Abbey is in a well state of preservation.

Tombs were everywhere on the property.

Central to any monastery is the cloister.

In the middle of this cloister is one of the Abbey’s main attractions...

...a 2500 year old Yew tree (this picture was taken from an upper level of the Abbey).

Built in 1843, the 65 room Muckross House was home for the Herbert family until 1899.

Guests would pull up to this front entrance when visiting the family.

Decorated with the heads and antlers of Irish Elk (now extinct), the front hall is quite impressive.

A beautiful master dining room.

We would have loved to have a library like this.

Someone in the family played the harp in this music room.

This bedroom is wonderfully decorated and comfortable looking. Queen Victoria stayed in this room because it was on the first floor and she had a great fear of being trapped in a fire.

Surrounding the house are some of the most beautiful gardens we have seen.

During the late 15th century, the O’Donoghue Clan (Aka Ross) built a fortified Tower House along the shores of Lough Leane in Killarney (now part of the Killarney National Park). When the Second Desmond Rebellion occurred (1579 to 1583), the castle passed into the hands of the MacCarthy family. Following its lease to the Earl of Kenmare, Valentine Browne (owner of the Killarney House estate), Ross Castle was captured by Oliver Cromwell’s troops during the Irish Confedate Wars (1641 to 1653). Forty five years later, the Brownes,built a larger mansion near the tower house (this eventually became known as “Killarney House”).
Ross Castle is a typical stronghold tower house, surrounded by a “bawn” (defensive wall). Its first floor was designed for storage of items used in the running and maintenance of the structure. House attendants and castle guards lived on the second floor, with the third floor reserved for food preparation and eating space for the servants and guards.. The Chief of the clan and his family typically lived and slept on the fourth floor. A Great Hall on the fifth floor is where the family ate and entertained. This also served as the very last stronghold against invading forces.
Today, Ross Castle (which is open to the public for tours) is one of the best preserved examples of the Middle-Ages Tower Houses.

Ross Castle, which sits along the shores of Lough Leane in Killarney, is a fine example of the Tower Houses built during the Middle-Ages.

These Tower Houses were designed as strongholds against invading troops....

... such as this “impressive” invading force of two.

We really enjoyed our visit to the castle.

This cut-away diagram shows the typical layout of the castle’s floors.

While the clan’s chief and his family slept in relative comfort, servants and guards slept on the floor, which was strewn with straw.

The head of the clan often would conduct his business at this desk.

On the top floor of the structure, the Great Hall is where the family ate and entertained guests. Because this floor was covered in stone, rather than wood, which made up the lower floors, this also served as the last bastion against invaders (stone is harder for invaders to penetrate and is more resistant to fire; thus the family and servants were safer here).

Originally built in 1726 as the seat of the Earles of Kenmore - and, thus, called “Kenmore House” - the building was designed like a French Château and was part of a 137,000 acre estate. The Viscount Kenmore at that time ( Valentine Browne) designed of the house himself, making it two stories tall with dormered attics. A servants wing was added fifty years later. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert stayed here during their August 1861 visit to Killarney. Upon learning of the Kenmore’s plans to build a larger home, which was to be named “Killarney House,” Queen Victoria chose the site on which it was to be constructed. This was to become a large Victorian-Tudor mansion. Unfortunately, the new “Killarney House” was destroyed by a fire in 1913. Rather than rebuilding the destroyed mansion, the existing stables (which had been undamaged) were converted, between 1913 and 1915, to what is now the present-day structure.
In 1959, the last Earl of Kenmore bequeathed the estate to his niece, Beatrice Grosvenore. Seven years later, it was sold to John McShain, a building contractor from Philadelphia. His family eventually donated the entire estate to the Republic of Ireland and it became the Killarney National Park.
Based on what we saw of the converted stables, the original house must have been magnificent!

Killarney House was originally built in 1726 as the Kenmore House...( this picture is of the stables for the original mansion after conversion into their new home following the 1913 fire. Imagine how many horses they must have had in order for the stables to be this large).

...on 137,000 acres of beautiful land.

Following a devastating 1913 fire that destroyed the original house, the owners decided not to rebuild, but rather convert the stables into their new home.

This was certainly a bold move.

A few old photos and drawings of the original mansion do still exist.

They do present an image of the grandeur of the late Victorian Era.

Certainly, the rooms in the converted stables are sumptuous.

The second sitting room.

Since meals are a very important time for conversation, having a large and comfortable dining room would be mandatory

Killarney House faces a large lawn and garden.

Looking out across the lawn from the second floor, you can just make out the lake in the distance.