Back to Dublin

Saturday morning, the 9th of October, dawns bright and amazingly sunny at Westcove House. Sadly, it's time to take our leave. Ester, Garrett's wife, arrives to drive us to the train station in Killarney, about 90 minutes away, where we will have lunch and catch the train back to Dublin, about 4 hours travel. It's been a rainy week and some of the route is reported to be underwater, but we forge ahead and find that flooded roads have recently reopened. We weave and climb steadily until we meet Moll's Gap, the mountain road between Killarney and Kenmare on The Ring of Kerry. Right there at the crossroads sits the mountaintop home of an Avoca store. I have stopped here on two previous trips and so we have left early so I can visit once again. After all, I am a professional shopper.

Avoca started producing woven goods in 1723, and they are still weaving "with passion and personality from the same little mill where it all started." Avoca took its name from the village of Avoca in County Wicklow. Mills need water and the fast flowing water of the River Avoca powered the Mill. Avoca is the oldest working woolen mill in Ireland. Today, Avoca continues the tradition of handweaving using modern technology. Imagine started carrying Avoca products shortly after one of my visits. We currently have some cashmere wraps and expect a new order to arrive next month of colorful scarves and socks.

We leave Avoca and continue through the breathtaking Killarney National Park. Ester stops at Ladies View. It's named for Queen Victoria's ladies in waiting who admired the site when Queen Victoria visited Ireland in 1861.

We next climb the steps up the path to Torc Waterfall. It's noisy, but water is always fascinating to watch. I'm cozy in my Margaret Winters sweater.

Ester and Garrett have made reservations for us at the restaurant in the Great Southern Killarney. They have also made arrangements for the hotel to store our luggage while we do a short walkabout in Killarney, then have lunch and walk across the street to the train station.

Farewell County Kerry, Ireland.