susan001

GreenDragon -- I just bought your Hidden Scotland ebook as well. I will eventually visit; I've been to the southern part -- Edinburgh and Perthshire. Swore I would never return... was on a hiking trip there and fell into a waist-deep mud hole. Not fun! It rained the entire time I was there, but maybe I'll get lucky next visit. I'd like to see Isle of Skye and other places further north.

Thanks again to all who contributed ideas here. I've given thought to skipping Kilkenny and staying instead in Cashel... for late afternoon and evening photos of the Rock.

GreenDragon

Yikes! I would have been a bit leery as well! When we went, it rained all but two days of the three weeks in June. However, usually it was only a bit of rain and then a couple hours of clear, and repeat. I think there was only one day of true all-day rain.

susan001

I'm strongly considering dropping a night in Kinsale (or even dropping it completely) so I can make an attempt to see Skellig Michael. That will leave me with a string of one-night stays, but I can manage. In the past, I've managed to squeeze a lot of sightseeing into the evening and the morning of departure. I will be there when it stays light late.

So now -- the first few nights would look like this:
Kilkenny -- 1
Kinsale -- 1
Kenmare -- 1
Portmagee -- 1
(after this I would have some 2 stays at the other locations)

GreenDragon

Keep in mind that Skellig Michael is very weather-dependent. I've tried three times, and each time it was too stormy/windy for the boat to go out. So... if you are rearranging a lot of things you really want to do in exchange for it, you might be disappointed.

susan001

Hi GreenDragon -- Thanks for your feedback on this issue. Yes, I've read that several times and that's why I didn't originally plan for it. Then I ran across someone's blog last night: she said it's her favorite destination in Ireland and one should attempt to include it. Maybe this is one to save for a 2nd trip to Ireland.

GreenDragon

It's definitely worth planning - I'm going to keep trying! But just make sure that a disappointment won't ruin your day. The Ring of Kerry and Valentia Island itself are both beautiful, anyhow.

susan001

It's worth noting that there have been three fatalities on the island. Two American tourists fell to their deaths (separate incidents -- one in May, the other in Sept, 2009) when losing their footing on a narrow ledge (I believe both happened during the descent). Stone steps are slippery when wet -- as well I know.... I slid and feel on wet stone steps in the village of Bacharach, Germany.I was wearing lug-soled hiking shoes.

Due to the risk of not being able to catch the boat when I'm there, due to weather... or the chance that the steps will be wet, and thus slippery... i've decided not to risk it and instead enjoy the beehive huts along Slea Head.

susan001

This photographer was on Skellig Michael during an excellent weather day - great photos. He explains that a hand rail (a chain) has been bolted into the rock for safety where the fatalities occurred. There are still no guardrails, but at least there's now a chain to hold onto in this section. He claims visitors are not allowed on the island if it's raining as the stones would be unsafe to walk on. Not sure if this is true.

https://carrigmanblog.wordpress.com/...ellig-michael/

GreenDragon

They voted against the guardrails, as damaging to the site. And you make a very fair point!

susan001

Close to the area of the ledge are portable toilet enclosures (for staff only), I don't think the addition of a guardrail is more ugly than that... and it seems two fatalities from the same ledge would warrant a safety rail to catch people who slip. What's truly ugly is what they did to the chapel on top... with the 20th century mortar... maybe it had to be done for safety, but no one has died there yet.

Tony2phones

I think the fatalities were more than just slipping and falling, I seem to remember one of the fatalities was a Heart attack not sure on the other. But considering the amount of visitors and difficulty of terrain it isn't a great surprise that accidents happen.. I always advise against taking youngsters over there.

susan001

Tony, a German tourists died there in 1995 -- not sure the cause. But the two Americans (separate incidents) definitely lost their footing on that ledge and fell to their deaths... I've read several articles in Irish newspapers.

I'm still thinking of going, weather permitting. I've decided with Vibram soles I should be okay.

susan001

In the interest of accuracy, the American woman who fell in Sept 2009 tripped on a step up higher from the ledge, as she was making her ascent, and then slid and fell 30 feet -- this, according to her husband in a written statement to the OWP.

The American man fell from the narrow ledge in May 2009 as he was making his descent. Both families sued.

A German woman fell from the highest peek on top in 1995.

I thought that anyone reading this should be made aware that the area is not danger-free.

susan001

Of course, I meant "highest peak," not peek.