I close my eyes and picture the emerald of the sea From the fishing boats at Dingle to the shores of Dunardee I miss the river Shannon and the folks at Skibbereen The moorlands and the midlands with their forty shades of green
~”Forty Shades of Green” by Johnny Cash
A year ago today was our first full day of a three week trip from the U. S. to Ireland and Scotland. One day as we toured the Ring of Kerry in Ireland, Dennis, our tour guide, played this Johnny Cash song for us.
I remembered the song this morning as I was thinking about our trip. Johnny Cash wrote it in 1959 while he was in Ireland.
We saw at least forty shades of green (and probably more) as we traveled around the beautiful Emerald Isle.
Dingle Peninsula, IrelandWild Atlantic Way, Ring of Kerry, IrelandWild Atlantic Way, Ring of Kerry, IrelandDunluce Castle, Northern IrelandLamb at the Fairy Fort on the Slea Head Drive, Dingle Peninsula
Here is Johnny Cash singing ‘Forty Shades of Green.’
I don’t know when we’ll be able to travel again but until then, I have my wonderful memories.
The Wild Atlantic Way is a scenic coastal road along Ireland’s Atlantic Coast from the Northern Headlands all the way down to the southern coast. We spent three days exploring along the southern part of the route.
On our day trip from Galway to the Cliffs of Moher we were on the Wild Atlantic Way most of the day. We stopped at Dunguaire Castle on our way to the cliffs.
Dunguaire Castle
Most of the way we were on a steep, narrow road.
Driving on the Wild Atlantic Way
The Cliffs of Moher are Ireland’s most visited natural attraction and probably the most popular stop on the Wild Atlantic Way. These majestic cliffs tower high above the ocean with several trails offering spectacular views. The day was perfect with sunny skies and calm seas.
Cliffs of MoherA different view of Cliffs of MoherCliffs of Moher
After wandering around the cliffs we returned to Galway for another night before driving through the middle of the Dingle Peninsula on our way to the town of Dingle, our next destination. We stopped at an overlook to take in the spectacular scenery.
Dingle Peninsula, Ireland
We loved our night in Dingle Town with it’s colorful buildings, fun pubs, great seafood, and beautiful Dingle Boat Harbour.
The next day we drove the Slea Head Drive on the Dingle Peninsula. Much of the drive is high above the ocean where there were more spectacular cliffs, ancient Fairy Forts, Beehive Huts, beaches, and some Star Wars filming locations.
Cliffs on the Slea Head DriveFairy FortAncient Bee Hive Huts from about 2000 BCBeach on the Slea Head Drive“The Last Jedi” of the Star Wars series was filmed in the area of Ballyferriter on the Dingle PeninsulaInch Beach on the Wild Atlantic Way
We opted to let someone else do the driving and took a bus tour of the Ring of Kerry from Killarney. Most of the tour was along the Wild Atlantic Way. We passed by an ancient castle, watched a sheep dog demonstration, walked on the beach in Waterville where Charlie Chaplin liked to go on holiday, saw the Eightercua Stone Row, enjoyed lunch with a view, and were near another Star Wars filming location.
Wynn’s Castle, Kerry, IrelandSheep Dog Demonstration, Ring of Kerry, IrelandCharlie Chaplin was a visitor to Waterville, Ireland, Ring of KerryEightercua Stone Row, Ring of Kerry, Wild Atlantic WayWild Atlantic Way, Ring of Kerry, IrelandSign points to the ferry to Skellig Michael, filming location from “The Last Jedi”, Wild Atlantic Way, Ring of Kerry, Ireland
The tour left the Wild Atlantic Way and went through Killarney National Park on our return to Killarney. Our last stop was at Lady’s View.
Ladie’s View, Killarney National Park
It was nice to let someone else do the driving. Our driver and guide Dennis was great and we learned a few things we wouldn’t have known if we had driven ourselves.
Wandering Dawgs 