| 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.