This has been a big day for our hill-walkers; I dropped them off at Cronin’s Yard campsite at 9 a.m. for the ten mountains in MacGillicuddy’s Reeks that are over 3000 feet. After bidding them farewell I set off for the little town of Killarney. It’s a busy and touristy place, on the ring of Kerry, with attractive wee shops and pubs and cafés. Due to the warm weather most people were sitting at tables outside the cafés which gave the place an almost Parisian feel! I had a lovely coffee outside Reidy’s, wandered the streets and then took myself to nearby Ross Castle. It’s another lovely Irish castle; in fact it’s a “tower castle” primarily built for repelling attackers, with a crenellated roof and “machicolations” front and back, which are stone protrusions at the top of the tower with handy gaps in the floor for pouring boiling oil on one’s enemies. Nice. It was built in the 15th century and has had a colourful history of much fighting. It has a beautiful setting on the shore of Lough Leane, with ducks swimming about and even boat tours.
Back at the cottage mid afternoon, I prepared dinner and processed the washing, and read my book in the garden. Messages started to come through from James and Ally that they were running late, and that they had conquered all ten peaks - an impressive achievement. Finally I was asked to pick them up at 8.30 p.m. and to bring water because they had drunk all of their supplies. I arrived in the car park early to find them already lying on the ground (except James who was slumped against a wall!) I quickly distributed the water and they slaked their thirst (I love that phrase, used very amusingly in a story by Billy Connolly!) Back at the cottage we had dinner; our hill-walkers were tired but happy. Nobody stayed up late!
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