Lush forest canopy with moss-covered tree trunks and dense green foliage.

A Place That Stays With You


More Ireland content incoming… and oh boy, do I have a story for you.


On this particular day in the land of green hills and sheep traffic jams, my partner and I made our way to Killarney National Park in County Kerry—and what a day it was.


Historic stone mansion sits on expansive green lawn with mature trees in the background.
Gothic revival manor house with stone facade and central entrance portico on a rainy day.

 

The Magic of Muckross


We kicked things off at the Muckross House, a beautiful estate nestled in the park. Built in the 1840s for the (very fancy) Herbert family, the place got a glow-up in the 1850s in preparation for a royal visit from none other than Queen Victoria herself in 1861.


Spoiler alert: impressing Queen V came at a cost. Turns out sprucing up your house for royalty isn’t cheap, and the Herbert family basically went bankrupt. They ended up forfeiting the estate in 1898, which then passed through a few more royal hands before being gifted to the Irish nation in 1932. Today, it’s a museum—and a stunning one at that.

 

A Horse Named Queenie

 

After pretending we, too, were Victorian royalty for a while, we hopped into a horse-drawn carriage (because when in Ireland, right?) and trotted through the park with our MVP horse, Queenie. She was an absolute trooper, pulling us for over 7 kilometers while we soaked in all the scenic magic.

Our next stop? Muckross Friary. And let me tell you—this place was straight out of a fantasy novel.

Autumn park view through car windshield with trees and fallen leaves.
Ancient stone abbey ruins with a tall tower stand amid green grass and trees against a blue sky.
Massive ancient tree with twisted bark grows inside stone monastery ruins with arched cloisters.

 

Whispers Beneath the Trinity Tree


Built in 1488, the friary was home to a group of Observantine Franciscan friars (which is a very fancy way of saying “no meat, no shoes, no clutter”).


Among the atmospheric ruins stood The Trinity Tree, a 400+ year-old yew that locals believe has holy—or maybe even magical—properties. Legend has it the friars were so taken by the tree, they literally built the friary around it. You can still visit it today, standing tall and mysterious in the middle of the cloister.

 

Imposing stone castle walls and towers rise against a cloudy sky in Ireland.
Scenic cascading waterfall flowing through lush green forest landscape.

Torc Waterfall and the Wild Trails


As if that wasn’t enough, we kept the magic going with a visit to Torc Waterfall—a 20-metre high cascade of mossy wonder tucked away in a dreamy forest. It felt like we had wandered into a secret elven realm. (No elves were spotted, unfortunately. Maybe next time.)


Finally, we wrapped up our epic day at Ross Castle, built in the 15th century and steeped in legends and battles. One of the most famous stories? Every seven years, on the first of May, chieftain O'Donoghue is said to rise from Lough Leane on a white horse. Catch a glimpse of him, and you’ll be blessed with good fortune for life. Sadly, we were there in October… so I guess we’ll be buying our own lottery tickets.

Misty mountains and brown heather moorland create a dramatic highland landscape.
Ferns and autumn leaves line a curving forest path on a misty day.

 

Stillness, Sound, and the Sacred


As if Killarney hadn’t already spoiled us enough, we stumbled upon secret manor ruins, hidden waterfalls nestled between mountain valleys, and finished the day off with the freshest seafood of my life at a mom-and-pop spot in Portmagee. Honestly, 12/10 would recommend.


Ireland is truly something else. The combination of mystical landscapes, rich history, and the warmest, most welcoming people made me fall head over heels. Capturing this incredible island through my lens was such an honour.


And the best part? I haven’t even gotten to Scotland yet. Stay tuned—there’s plenty more magic to come.