| The Beara Peninsula, in Counties Kerry & Cork is one of the least visited peninsulas along the Atlantic Coast of Ireland. Located south of the Iveragh Peninsula, Beara is a land of contrasts. From the breathtaking views from the Healey Pass to the tropical garden at Derreen to the tip of the peninsula at Dursey Head, I have discovered the incredible beauty of the ancestral home of my mother's family. I first visited Beara in 1993 to locate the family home in the townland of Collorus. Upon finding the home I also discovered that I still had cousins living in the area. I have since returned to Beara several times, spending days traveling around the peninsula, taking pictures and chatting with locals who remember the Murphy family of Collorus. I hope you enjoy the pictures. Please feel free to share them with others...just make sure you let them know who took them! |
The Healy Pass: |
| Beautiful Beara |
 | |  |
The Healey Pass cuts
across Beara from Adrigole
to Lauragh. I drove it twice
on a rainy day this past
November. The photo on
the left shows the cross
erected at the summit of
the Caha Mountain Range.
On the right is a small
scenic waterfall as you start
your descent.
across Beara from Adrigole
to Lauragh. I drove it twice
on a rainy day this past
November. The photo on
the left shows the cross
erected at the summit of
the Caha Mountain Range.
On the right is a small
scenic waterfall as you start
your descent.
Along the Beara
Way, heading
west, the small
road winds for
miles with views
of the Kenmare
River, small bays
& the ocean.
Way, heading
west, the small
road winds for
miles with views
of the Kenmare
River, small bays
& the ocean.
The small towns
of Ardgroom,
Eyeries &
Allihies feature
colourful homes
with bright
flowers in the
windows.
of Ardgroom,
Eyeries &
Allihies feature
colourful homes
with bright
flowers in the
windows.
I stayed in a B & B
in Ardgroom in
2006 & went
setdancing in
nearby Lauragh
with my host,
Kathleen.
in Ardgroom in
2006 & went
setdancing in
nearby Lauragh
with my host,
Kathleen.
Heading to
Dursey via the
Coast Road as it
winds through
valleys & then
out to the coast.
Dursey via the
Coast Road as it
winds through
valleys & then
out to the coast.
The only way to
Dursey Island is
by boat or by
cable car. It's
nice to know
you can also get
to Moscow!
Dursey Island is
by boat or by
cable car. It's
nice to know
you can also get
to Moscow!
| Upper Left: Front of Collorus Point, originally my grandmother's home. Upper Right: The road out of Collorus. Lower Left: Side of Collorus Point. Lower Right: Collorus Strand facing Kilmacaloge Harbour |
Teddy & Joan
O'Sullivans Pub (both
now deceased) in
Kilmacaloge. This pub
is written about in
"The Donkey Pilgrim".
Teddy & Joan were
distant cousins and
first showed me
where the Murphy
house was in 1993. I
stayed upstairs in the
B & B in 2006.
O'Sullivans Pub (both
now deceased) in
Kilmacaloge. This pub
is written about in
"The Donkey Pilgrim".
Teddy & Joan were
distant cousins and
first showed me
where the Murphy
house was in 1993. I
stayed upstairs in the
B & B in 2006.