Page 92 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL WINTER 2024 SCOTLAND

the top of the hill.
Our jarvey, Girard Healey is known as
“the singing jarvey,” and ss we clip-
clopped along, he sang us a haunting Irish
ballad. Then, he stopped the cart, pulled
out a tin whistle and played a popular Irish
melody. I always carry a harmonica with
me, so I reciprocated by playing him a
blues tune. We took turns performing and
then sang together all the way to the boat
dock. Music is such a strong bond that it
was really difficult to say goodbye to my
new musician/jarvey friend.
Time for a boat ride through the Lakes
of Killarney to Ross Castle, which dates
back to 1533 and is considered one of the
most haunted places in the world. Legend
has it that an old Irish chieftain sleeps un‐
der the lake and every seven years on the
morning of May 1st, rises on his white
horse. I love Irish legends. Just as good are
some of their road signs, such as the one
entering Killarney National Park which
says, “Traffic Calming Area.” It was a five-
minute hike up to the 70-foot-high Torc
Waterfall whose name comes from the Irish
translation for wild boar. Legend has it that
a man cursed by the Devil had to spend
each night as a wild boar hiding in a cave
beneath waterfall. I’d love to know the ori‐
gin of these legends.
Dinner was at The Europe’s floor-to-
ceiling glass Riva, with views of the lake
and Ireland’s highest mountain. The deli‐
cious Italian fare included freshly baked
bread and to-die-for Irish butter. The fol‐
lowing morning, we drove from Killarney to
the car ferry in Tarbert and crossed the
River Shannon, the longest river in Ireland.
From there, we drove along The Wild At‐
lantic Way passing the glittering ocean,
towering cliffs, crescent-shaped bays, and
views of mystical islands. We were headed
to the famous Cliffs of Moher, Ireland’s
most popular attraction.

92 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE WINTER 2025