Day 18 Killarney, Ireland

A wonderful Christmas Day relaxing in Killarney. We got up late to eat our delicious bacon and egg breakfast. By then it was almost time to set off for 12pm Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral which was a 20 minute walk. The day was again mild after some earlier rain. The Mass was so beautiful and the girl singing all the carols and accompanied by a small brass band was such a treat. Her voice was incredible and it was more like being at a concert. Such an atmosphere. We wandered slowly home and familiarised ourselves with the town which is actually larger than expected. There were heaps of pubs and cafes and also several large 5 star hotels. Of course all are shut so it was very quiet with just a few others strolling about. Back home we enjoyed a Christmas drink while opening our presents. We then headed off for a 7km walk through the Killarney National Park. It was a beautiful walk with some views down to the nearby lakes. A highlight was the wild deer we came across but we didn’t find any squirrels, otters or badgers. When we returned home we prepared our dinner before drinks and a platter of delicious bits and pieces collected at the Cork market. Our roast chicken was lovely and followed by a beautiful Christmas pudding purchased from the London Borough Market. Will definitely need to walk another 7 km walk tomorrow, but all in all a very special Christmas Day.Read more