There is something magical about touching down in Ireland for the very first time. For our first dip into the Emerald Isle, we decided on a whirlwind long weekend in the southwest, anchoring our trip in the vibrant, colorful town of Killarney in County Kerry.
With just three days to soak it all in, we hit the ground running—or rather, driving—for an unforgettable start to our Irish adventures.
Day 1: Touching Down & Basecamp in Killarney
We landed at Kerry Airport (KIR), a wonderfully charming, low-stress regional airport tucked away in the heart of the countryside. From the moment we stepped off the plane, the cool air and endless shades of green let us know we’d officially arrived in “The Kingdom” (as the locals proudly call County Kerry).
A short drive brought us straight to Killarney, our basecamp for the weekend. Killarney is legendary for its lively pubs, traditional music, and position right at the gates of Ireland’s very first national park. After checking into our inn, we spent a relaxing evening getting our bearings and resting up for a big road trip the next morning.
Day 2: Driving the Ring of Kerry & Valentia Island
Our second day was dedicated entirely to the world-famous Ring of Kerry—a 111-mile circuit that traditionally starts and finishes right in Killarney.
Scotts Hotel Killarney
A Quick Splash of History
The Ring of Kerry isn’t just pretty scenery; it’s an ancient landscape shaped by millions of years of history. Wrapping around the Iveragh Peninsula, the loop is dotted with Iron Age stone forts, medieval monasteries, and centuries of Gaelic tradition. It’s also home to Carrauntoohil, Ireland’s highest mountain peak!
Personal Ties and Local Secrets
What truly made the day unforgettable was our driver. You can read all the guidebooks in the world, but nothing beats touring Ireland with a local whose roots run deep into the soil.
As we navigated the winding coastal roads, he peppered the drive with incredible personal history:
- The Family Bridge: He pointed out local bridges and shared that his grandfather had actually assisted in constructing them! (The main land connection to Valentia Island, the Maurice O’Neill Memorial Bridge, wasn’t built until 1970—before that, everything moved strictly by boat).
- Grandma’s House: As we passed through a quiet stretch of village homes, he pointed out the exact house where his grandmother used to live, filling the landscape with real, lived-in family stories.
A “Secret” Journey to Ahch-To 🌌
Things took a hilarious pop-culture turn as we looked out toward the dramatic rocky islands off the coast. Our driver pointed out where Star Wars (The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi) was filmed on Skellig Michael—the UNESCO World Heritage site that served as Luke Skywalker’s secluded Jedi sanctuary!
He casually claimed he had personally driven Harrison Ford out to the shooting location back when the filming was top secret. Whether Han Solo actually rode shotgun in his van or if it was just top-tier Irish craic (fun/banter), we laughed our way through the story. Either way, seeing those dramatic jagged cliffs sticking out of the Atlantic felt out of this world.
Taking the Ferry to Valentia Island
We broke up our Ring drive by taking the car ferry over to Valentia Island, one of Ireland’s westernmost inhabited points.
Valentia is packed with surprising trivia:
- The Famous Quarry & London Monuments: Valentia Island is home to a world-renowned quarry opened in 1816. It produced stone so dense, durable, and weather-resistant that it was often treated like granite. In the 1800s, it was exported in huge quantities across the Irish Sea to build some of London’s most famous landmarks—most notably Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament (where Augustus Pugin used it for the flooring), St. Paul’s Cathedral, and even several London Underground stations!
- Ancient Footprints: It’s home to the Tetrapod Footprints, fossilized tracks left by a primitive amphibian over 385 million years ago—some of the oldest evidence of vertebrate life moving onto land on Earth!
- The Transatlantic Cable: In 1866, the very first successful transatlantic telegraph cable was laid from Valentia Island all the way to Newfoundland, Canada, permanently bridging the communication gap between Europe and North America.
College Nostalgia at O’Connors Pub
After a long day on the road, we couldn’t resist a quick pit stop when we spotted O’Connors Pub.
Back in our college days, our favorite go-to hangout spot was an Irish pub called O’Connors—so seeing the real deal in its native habitat felt like a full-circle moment. We immediately jumped out to snap a photo in front of the classic pub front to send back to our college crew.
Fun Facts We Picked Up Along the Way
- Drive Clockwise or Counter-Clockwise? Tour buses are legally required to drive the Ring of Kerry counter-clockwise due to the narrow roads. Locals usually advise tourists in cars to drive clockwise from Killarney so you don’t get stuck behind a caravan of buses! Sue Where Why What+ 1
- Why “The Kingdom”? Kerry’s nickname dates back to around 65 AD, when the O’Connor chieftain clan ruled the area—known as the Ciarraige people (where the name Kerry comes from).
We returned to Killarney for the night, happy, exhausted, and with camera rolls full of green coastlines. We still have two full days left of this long-weekend road trip—stay tuned for Part 2 as we explore even more of southwest Ireland!
