So there I was, out with The Diligent Drumcondra Man for a wee bit of practice on the six stringed friend when he mentioned that he was soon to be heading to Killarney for a little rest and resuscitation. And just like that the thought occurred to the space between my ears that a few days in the beautiful south west might well be no bad thing.

And so it came to pass that I found myself on board a train heading for Kerry of a July Tuesday afternoon. Some excellent assistance was provided by an Irish Rail employee at Heuston Station who hailed from the Rebel County and I was soon on my way. Getting a public transport seat is not always a straight forward affair for vision impaired citizens in these pandemic times so I was very appreciative of a helping hand. My journey through the Irish countryside began at 1300 hours Dublin time and arrival in Killarney came at 16.19 Kerry time, which included a changeover at Mallow. More friendly assistance was then provided off the train to the nearby hotel reception area.

The Great Southern Hotel was my chosen port of call. On the go since 1854, it was the first hotel to be built in Kerry, to go along with the close at hand railway station. It’s a classy joint. Check in was quick and efficient and I was then guided to my well located room on the ground floor and also given a little tour of the room upon arrival.

A four course dinner was part of the deal and so a very tasty combination of chowder, hake, some sort of fruity lemon affair and coffee was helped along by a few glasses of very tasty grape juice. Back then to the room for a bit of radio and eventually some snoozing.

It was all good.