O.T.B.P. (Off The Beaten Path)

murphy · Guru

O.T.B.P. (Off The Beaten Path)

Carrie · Veteran Member

This is a great topic!

I had a very nice OTBP moment on my last trip to Ireland. I was driving from Cong up to Achill Island. I stopped at the ruins of Burrishoole Abbey along the way. It was in the morning and I was the only person in sight. There is a small lake behind the abbey and the water was so calm, it looked like glass. There were 3 boats sitting out there reflecting beautifully in the water. The solitude of that place was amazing. I felt so fortunate to be there at that moment to enjoy it.

yesiree · Guru

I've got a favorite OTBP area near the Tipperary/Limerick border. It's actually a collection of sites... most located just off the R497 & R503... on the map it's in the center of a diamond that has towns of Nenagh, Thurles, Tipperary and Limerick at the points.

It's a rural and rustic area, but oh so charming... and you won't find any of these on the tour bus routes... and only by chance will they make a guidebook.

There's Keeper Hill Drive which is just gorgeous.
The old hedge school monument... it's the first hedge school in Ireland to undergo an official study and designation.
Kilcommon Prayer Garden
Shanballyedmond Court Cairn is a ancient tomb just outside the village of Rear Cross.
The Step viewing area just outside (and above) the village of Silvermines.
Ryan's Pub in Killoscully (near Silvermines) where they film the popular Irish TV show Killinaskully.
Glenstall Abbey near the village of Moroe for the gardens, mass and the abbey gift shop.
Clare Glens for a gorgeous hike with waterfalls and rhododendrons.

Interesting you should bring up OTBP destinations, we're working on a new project to feature some of these very types of places.

Clare Glens, Glenstal Abbey, Shanballyedmond Court Cairn and a goat at the Step Viewing Area

-- Edited by yesiree on Tuesday 1st of June 2010 08:14:30 AM

murphy · Guru

Carrie and Corey,

Thanks for the replies. That is exactly what I had in mind for OTBP areas. I would think that it would be especially helpful to those Ireland addicts who have been there enough times to see all the "major" must see sights, and now are looking for those "special" places. Corey, keep us posted on the progress of your project...I can hardly wait to see the results! smile

Dan

Michele Erdvig · Host

Hope everyone had a good holiday weekend.

Here are some of mine:

Kilmallock
The Dark Hedges
Loop Head
Carlingford
Keem Bay
Skellig Ring

There are lots more but that is just what jumped into my head right now.

Michele

Monty · Senior Member

Greetings Michele!

Would like to know some of your thoughts on Loop Head, as I've thought about going down there the next time I'm on the west coast. I like what I have heard about the area, and it does appear to be a place few take the time to go to compared to other areas in Ireland.

What was it that you liked the most there?

Best,

Monty

CowboyCraic · Guru

What a great post! I always push the OTBP when people ask me to help with their itineraries.

Some of my Favorite Places:

The Fore Valley & the Seven Wonders (Westmeath)
St. John's Church & Well (Mayo)
Sliabh Liag (Donegal)
The Irish Republican Monument at the Roscommon/Elphin crossroads (Roscommon)
Assaranca Falls (Donegal)
Navan Fort (Armagh)
LoughCrew/Sliabh na Caillí (Meath)
FourKnocks (Meath)
St. Michan's Church (Dublin)
Lough Key Forest Park (Roscommon)
Cavan Walk (Cavan)
Doon Archeological Trail (Mayo)
Furness Longstone Rath (Kildare)
Coole Park (Galway)
Askeaton Friary (Limerick)
Dunleckny Chucrhes/Cemetery (Carlow)
Rock of Dunamase Castle (Laois)
Monaincha ABbey (Tipperary)

I have been fairy led to many other special places...I never found out their names...but their energy stays with me.

Slan Beo,

Bit

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Dan -- I have been trying to convince you to sample MY OTBP location (and all-around FAVORITE town) --Millstreet, Co. Cork -- for some time now, given YOUR North Cork Connection.

It's a GREAT town, filled with TERRIFIC people. But -- If that's not enough ...

biggrin

Nearby:

An Shrone (The City)

Knocknakilla

Drishane Castle

Kerryman's Table -- On the Butter Road

Mount Leader House

Coomeenatrush Falls

Bob

murphy · Guru

Bob;

Thanks for your contribution!

We have been planning, now for some time, to spend a week in North County Cork doing geneology research, due to MY connections there! After seeing the above pictures this evening, my wife commented that we could spend TWO WEEKS in that area alone! biggrin I won't argue with her on that!!!! I have been printing out all of the above suggestions, and hope to follow up on most of them....someday! Thanks for your contribution to the topic, as well as Cowboy Craic! Now, I need to get my map out....once again! smile

The other OTBP I remember was the stone circle on the edge of Kenmare. My Dad and I went there on an early morning walk back in 06, and we were the only ones there. It seemed like we were almost in church...so quiet and peaceful...and we both wondered why all those stones were placed in such a perfect circle, sooooo many years ago. hmm Dan

Judy · Guru

Bob,

I am intrigued by your photo of the Kerryman's Table. Do you know what the inscription says?

Judy M.

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Judy --

It's just a discriptive placard. Close up photo is here:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2474/3711014928_ba5553d115_b.jpg

Directly opposite, on the other side of the road, is this:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/itallian_chauffeur/3710203091/sizes/l/in/set-72157621298687430/

Just North of here is a much more interesting memorial:

Bob

-- Edited by Itallian Chauffeur on Wednesday 2nd of June 2010 01:20:18 PM

Judy · Guru

Bob,

Thank you for the information about the Kerryman's Table. Is Butter Road on the Kerry or Cork side of the two counties? If it is in Cork, it is very interesting that it would be named the Kerryman's table. If it's in Kerry, I wonder if the Cork travelers are allowed to use it? biggrin

The memorial to Michael Dineen looks fairly new. Many of the memorials to those who fought for Ireland are simple crosses along the road.

I have an interesting book, published in 1924, "Tragedies of Kerry" (1922-1923), which tells the story of those who suffered and died for the Republic. Names such as Reidy, Leen, Scanlon, Houlihan, Hoffman, McCarthy, Taylor, Dalton, Breathnach, Diarmuid, Lyons, Broderick, Galvin, Moriarty, Murphy, Lawlor, O'Sullivan, Fitzgerald, Sinnot, O'Connor, Walsh, Daly, Shea, Twomey, Hartnett, Connell, Buckley, Brennan, Shanahan, Fuller, Donoghue, Coffey, Lynch, Grady, Kevins, Fleming and Linnane.
That was a time of great terror in Kerry. I have a particular interest in those years in Ireland and especially Kerry, because my mother was a teenager in Kerry at that particular time in history. I grew up hearing all about that tragic time.

Judy M.

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Judy -- Info on the Kerryman's Table:

http://www.millstreet.ie/blog/history/kerrymans-table

Further along is another feature, refered to as the Corkman's Chair ... biggrin

The Butter Road was the first, Arrow-straight Turnpike, built in the 1700 through the authorization of an Act of Parliment. The Builder was a Kerryman, named Murphy.

Access to digital documents about the area:

http://aubanehistoricalsociety.org/

The Butter Road:

http://aubanehistoricalsociety.org/aubane_collection/aubane.pdf

Begins on page 14.

Bob

Michele Erdvig · Host

Monty,

I liked the vibe of Loop Head (for want of a better word). Whenever I have visited there been very few people around. There is a gated lighthouse and keeper's cottages that are for rent as self-catering. The head itself is grassy with wildflowers. There are sea stacks just offshore. The cliffs are a couple of hundred feet high and are not barricaded off like the Cliffs of Moher. It feels like you have reached the end of the earth.

On the drive down the peninsula the views are of cliffs, sea stacks and arches. You can walk across one of them at the Bridges of Ross. In sunny weather the ocean almost seems the color of the Carribean. It is real farming country with scattered farms where clothes are still hung outside on a line for drying and life seems simpler.

Michele

P.S. I have a photo of the lighthouse on the slideshow on this page: http://www.irelanddreamtrip.com/about.html

-- Edited by Michele Erdvig on Wednesday 2nd of June 2010 11:35:47 PM

Judy · Guru

Bob,

Thanks for the history lesson. I find it fascinating that there were toll roads in Ireland in 1748.

The Butter Road and Millstreet are now on my list of places to visit on my next trip to Ireland.

Judy M.

Monty · Senior Member

Michele:

That sort of clinched it for me, when you said: The cliffs are a couple of hundred feet high and are not barricaded off like the Cliffs of Moher. It feels like you have reached the end of the earth.

I had heard that it is extremely tranquil and relaxing, and that the cliffs are not commercialized like the Cliffs of Moher. Having seen Cliffs of Moher years ago when it was more untouched, I find it now a markedly different experience. Still worthwhile, but certainly not the same.

I'm putting Loop Head on my route this Fall. Are there any B&Bs down in that area, or just the self catering cottages?

Thanks again.

Monty

-- Edited by Monty on Thursday 3rd of June 2010 09:06:13 AM

CowboyCraic · Guru

Monty,

I am not sure if it is still up and running but I enjoyed my stay at Anvil Farmhouse in Kilbaha. It is very close to the Bridges of Ross. It is a working farm, as well, which guests are invited to explore

I would use the word "transported" to describe the Loop Head experience. As Michele indicated, life seems simpler and time almost stands still. I find that I "drop down for a few hours" and before I know it the day is gone and I have filled several memory cards. I will see if I can find the external drive they are stored on and share some with you.

Slan Beo,

Bit

Monty · Senior Member

Hi Bit:

Thanks -- that sounds wonderful. smile

Monty

Green Dragon · Guru

What a fantastic topic! And good fodder for your project, Corey :)

Some of my favorite spots OTBP

St. Brigid's Well, Kildare, right near the entrance to the National Stud and Japanese Gardens. We spent a wonderful day in this area.

Dun Laoghaire, nice fishing town just south of Dublin. Great to sit on the beach wall and watch the water lap on the shore.

We searched for An Shrone last time, but we WILL find it next time!!!

Slane Abbey, near Newgrange - my first trip to Ireland in 1996, I was traveling on my own, and this was the first ruin I'd seen. Anywhere. It was great to explore the whole thing completely alone and in the dying afternoon sun.

Inistioghe - charming town for a quiet afternoon, south of Kilkenny a bit. On the way see Jerpoint Abbey in Thomastown.

Lisdoonvarna - great smoke shop and gift store :) I picked up a 'storyteller' CD there last visit, the recordings of an elderly man who told stories in a traditional format.

Valentia Island - most people do the Ring of Kerry, and skip this lovely part on the end.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Monty,

If you have a lovely day for Loop Head I can think of no better place to spread out a blanket and have a picnic, a hike and then a nap. This is the website for Anvil Farm: http://www.westclare.net/anvilfarm/index.html

Michele

Michele Erdvig · Host

Christy,

There is a new road up to the Fogher Cliffs on Valentia Island. Wonderful views up there of Skellig Michael and the area. My husband even saw a puffin.

Some other OTBP:

Rock of Dunamase
Stradbally Co. Waterford
Gougane Barra
Kilmore Quay
Hook Head & Lighthouse
Copper Coast

Michele

murphy · Guru

Green Dragon

After reading your post about St. Bridgid's Well, I realized that there was an error in my original OTBP post. Instead of St. Bridgid's Well, we visited St. Atraca's well, located a few miles south of Gurteen. It is located just a few steps off the main road. We drove right past it and didn't realize that it was there. St. Bridgid's Well is just one of several that we would like to visit in Ireland someday. Dan

-- Edited by murphy on Saturday 5th of June 2010 04:11:10 PM