| Janunting Car Rides Without a doubt, the #1 way to see Killarney is by traditional horse-drawn jaunting car (an open side-cart as shown above). The driver (known as a "jarvey") provides a commentary, folklore, humor and occasional song as well. Jaunting car rides are available from various points throughout Killarney, such as Kenmare Place, first entrance to Killarney National Park, Muckross Abbey entrance to Killarney National Park, Muckross House & Gardens, and Kate Kearney's Cottage. 1/2 hour or longer Muckross House
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Muckross house built by Henry Arthur Herbert in 1843, is now a folk museum. The place was consider grand enough for Queen Victoria to stay there when she visited Killarney in 1861. In 1910 the house and estate was bought by an American, W.B. Borne, as a wedding gift for his daughter whose family later donated all 11,000 acres of it to the Irish nation. The gardens should not be missed, particularly in the early summer when the azaleas and rhododendrons are in bloom. It is an area of drowsy magic- a tourist Mecca where mind and body are renewed. Also in the grounds of the park are the ruins of Muckross Friary near the shore of Lough Leane, founded around 1448 by the McCarthy Mor. The friary was an Observantine Franciscan foundation. Its ruins are considered the best preserved in Ireland of a building of this nature. There are traditional organised trips all year : the jaunting car trips,principally take hours to go through the Muckross Estate. Ross Castle
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The castle was built in the 15th century by the O' Donoghues who lost it after the Desmond rebellion at the end of the sixteenth century. A family called Browne were rewarded for their support for Cromwell with vast tracts of the countryside around what was to be Killarney, including the castle. They eventually became the earls of Kenmare. Ross Castle was one of the last strongholds in the country to hold out against Cromwell. Popular legend would have the defender, Lord Muskerry, bravely holding out against the English forces under Ludlow, firm in the belief that the castle would never be captured by land. Ludlow, however, had decided to attack from the water and had ships built in Kinsale and brought up to Killarney by land and river. The defenders, seeing an attack being mounted from the Lake, immediately capitulated. The truth is that Muskerry had already decided to surrender, knowing that by 1652 there was no chance of defeating the Cromwellian forces, and the appearance of the boats provided as good an excuse as any. For a long time it fell into disrepair but has now undergone major repairs and is open to the public. Ladies View
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Walk out on the hillside for the second great panoramic view of the Killarney valley and of much of the great Killarney trip - through the Gap of Dunloe and down the Black Valley on horseback or ponytrap, by boat down the Upper Lake amongst the islands, through the middle lake to Ross Castle. Then through the little wood by Looscaunagh Lake, and up to the pass called Moll's Gap. You can see how the rocks have been rounded as the glacier from Kenmare moved over them giving the dramatic form.
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