Follow Our Ireland Road Trip - Day 8

Today we explore Killarney, hike the Torc Waterfall, and bask in the beauty of the ruins at Muckross Abbey before seeing the sights in Clonakilty.

Jan 19, 2026

12 Days in August 2024

Day 8

Hey, y’all! We are reliving the memories from our trip just over a year ago. If you’re finding this article, we highly recommend you read Follow Our Ireland Road Trip blog through Day 7 first to get caught up. 
Breakfast was served! It was not necessarily what was expected, but we loved it. Alex and MO still have this same breakfast at home about 5 days a week-yogurt with berries and granola, boiled eggs and English Breakfast tea (with ½ & ½). Joy and MO lingered long after the boys left the table and enjoyed conversation and tea.

Before leaving Adare, we figured out where the post was and mailed off our postcards (again, it was an adventure to find it!).

Day 8 overview:

•  Explore Killarney 
•  Divine lunch at Manna Café & Bistro
•  Hike to Torc Waterfall
•  Explore Muckross Abbey
•  Dinner, live music and exploring in Clonakilty

OK, let’s dive in!

Killarney

This town was picturesque and another favorite! There were so many shops and colors!

Parking was easier here and we started our visit by walking through the beautiful gardens of the Killarney House. Note: there are several online references about parking being difficult due to small parking lots, but that certainly was not the case for us.

Manna Café & Bistro

Oooooooh! One of the top meals of the trip! What did we have?

Joy & MO – Baked goat cheese salads
Alex – Chicken burger (yes, you read that correctly)
Mikey – Loaded BBQ potatoes

We all shared an amazing light cheesecake that had a hint of mint. After a long, leisurely lunch (which we were really into by this point in the trip), we walked the town and shopped.

Torc Waterfall

OK. Lots of steps, a false sense of comfort and maybe some shaky knees here and there! It was great exercise but not recommended for people who are not at least moderately active.

Note: We apparently did the extended loop or something. There is a 5-10 minute walk along a well-maintained path for those who do not want a strenuous hike.

The waterfall is surrounded by lush forest, scenic trails and mountain backdrops.

Muckross Abbey

These ruins did not disappoint. It was established in 1448 by the Observantine faction of the Franciscan Order. It was built as a friary, which differs from traditional monasteries because it allows friars to engage with the local community rather than living in isolation.

Abbey ruins are not unique in Ireland, but the reason why Muckross Abbey is so special is due to the magical ancient yew tree that grows in the cloister. 



The abbey is a favorite among photographer enthusiasts. There is honestly no shortage of angles, lighting or history that does not catch your eye here. Words we used to describe it:

Alex - ancient, mesmerizing and gothic
Joy – dramatic yew tree, haunting and shadowy
MO – picturesque, cool angles, old stones and cool air

Clonakilty

The drive to the country house we stayed at was harrowing with the narrowest roads for the longest distance of the trip thus far. YIKES!

After getting settled, we were hungry and decided to try Casey’s 7th Generation Pub. We enjoyed our meal and the live entertainment. The surprise song of the night was Stacy’s Mom (haha). We briefly walked the town of Clonakilty and enjoyed the cheer-even though it was later in the evening and kind of quiet.

While it is unclear why we did it, we got back to the house and wrestled (with moderate success) with the damn combination washer/dryer. UGH! Words to describe: annoying, aggravating, counter intuitive and inconvenient.