Thursday, February 26, 2015

Top 5 Things to do in Killarney National Park


Take a stroll through the magical Killarney National Park which is nestled on the edge of Killarney town. It is Ireland’s largest and first National Park and there is so much to see beyond its pristine lakes, rolling green mountains and largest native woodlands in Ireland. Here are a suggested number of must do’s in the park.
  1. Take a guided tour of Ross Castle
This impressive castle sits proud on the edge of Lough Leane and has stories pouring out of its walls. Built in the 15th century, Ross Castle has exchanged many hands throughout its history most notably during the Irish Confederate Wars. In this epic siege the castle was amongst the last to surrender to the notorious Roundheads of Oliver Cromwell. It was finally taken in a clever strategy that played a prophecy. Interested? Then I suggest go visit to find out more.
  1. Muckross House and Gardens
Muckross House is a 19th century Victorian mansion set against the stunning beauty of Muckross Lake and the majestic mountains of Killarney National Park. It was built for Henry Arthur Herbert and his wife, the water-colourist Mary Balfour Herbert. During the 1850s, the Herbert’s undertook extensive garden works in preparation for the visit of Queen Victoria and its splendor can still be seen today.
  1. Visit Innisfallen Island
This is a must do for everyone. The island is located on Lough Leane; one of the three lakes in the Killarney National Park. It is home to a herd of wild deer and according to tradition the Irish High King Brian Boru received his education on the island. Today it is home to the ruins of Innisfallen Abbey and monastery which was founded in 640 by St. Finian the Leper. It was occupied for approximately 850 years. During this period, the monks wrote the Annals of Innisfallen, which chronicle the early history of Ireland as it was known to the monks. A truly remarkable place to visit which you can do by an amazing kayak tour with Mor Active Tours.
  1. Muckross Abbey
Take a stroll to Muckross Abbey, a beautiful ecclesiastical ruin found in the heart of Killarney National Park. It was founded in 1448 as a Franciscan friary and is today a largely roofless building but has a prominent central courtyard which contains a large beautiful yew tree. Over its history it has been reconstructed many times due to being damaged or partially destroyed by marauding groups and by Cromwellian forces under Lord Ludlow. An impressive must do on any visit to Killarney National Park.
  1. Boat & Bike Tour of the Lakes of Killarney
Highly recommended way to get a bird’s eye view of the Killarney National Park. It is a full day tour departing at 10am and returning to Killarney by 3pm. You can bring your rented bike on the boat trip across the lakes before cycling through the Gap of Dunloe. You can stop off at the traditional Irish pub of Kate Kearney’s for lunch before returning by road to Killarney. This can be organised by Mor Active Tours.
Michael

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

The Aftermath of the Adventure Travel World Summit storm!


It came like a flash of lightning and disappeared with a bang as it crept over the hills of the MacGillycuddy Reek’s on route across the wild Atlantic Ocean towards its next destination, the land they call Chile (I hope I pronounced that correctly!). What could possibly make such a dramatic entrance and exit you may ask? Well, it was the spirit of the Adventure Travel World Summit (ATWS) 2014 that engulfed the green shores of our little island from the 6th-9th October. And again I hear you ask what on earth is the ATWS and is it contagious? Fear not, it isn’t anything that will have a long-term negative impact on you. In fact it has a positive bearing on your long-term well-being (as long as you take it easy on the nights out). So let me explain.
If you hadn’t already heard, Ireland was host to the ATTA’s 11th annual Adventure Travel World Summit (ATWS) in Killarney which brought together under one roof over 700 of the world’s top adventure travel media and buyers. Great but what does that mean to the person on the street? Well, as the global adventure tourism continues to grow at a rapid pace, this event provided Ireland with a unique opportunity to showcase first hand our unique culture, ecological wonders and adventurous landscapes. Equally, by trusting open our gateway for international outbound tour operators, agents, media and a host of other industry partners we were able sit our country upon their supporting shoulders and shout till our lungs gave up that here lays one of the most beautiful places on earth and do you know what? They heard our shouts.
Each person I met at the summit talked so affectionately at how wonderful this countries landscape is and most importantly how amazing its people are. From our genuine kindness and friendliness we have captured the hearts of many a wandering adventurer and believe it or not, even the Irish weather could not put a dampener on their new found love.
So after all the shouting has stopped what lays ahead for us? Well, even though the shouting may have stopped there is still an echo bouncing around the adventure globe about Ireland. We have created a tremendous legacy of what we can do in Ireland for visitors and it is now down to us all, from adventure companies, hotels, barber shops, cafes, florists, you name it, to make sure that that echo keeps moving and inspiring others to visit our green shores. Through this collective spirit all communities in Ireland will begin to feel the long-term tourism benefits that this mighty adventure storm brought us. From job creations to extending our tourism seasons, the benefits can be immense and yet true enough, the benefits I talk about are long-term and won’t be felt by all immediately. However, like any good tree a seed needs to be sowed first before it can grow successfully and already I can see the roots of the ATWS seed taking hold and it won’t be long before everyone will be booking that flight to these wild Atlantic shores in search of true beauty, adventurous landscapes and unique Irish charm. So whether you like to shout, whisper or just talk (we are renowned for it!) keep telling the story of the adventure storm that came and went in a flash but left an everlasting impression on the hearts and souls of many wandering adventurers.
Michael.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

What is Mór Active?


So what is Mór Active you ask? Well the answer is it has a double meaning. Firstly, it stands for Mountain Ocean River Active, which best describes the adventures we are passionate about and secondly Mór Active in our Gaelic language means BIG Active.
Our mantra at Mór Active is you. We want you to experience our home of unparalleled beauty, vibrant people and ancient traditions through our specially designed activity, culture and eco tours. We believe in creating personalized experiences through our high quality small group tours so you get know the real Ireland.
Since its creation in 2007 we have grown to be one of the leading tour experts in Ireland. We have built this reputation on:
  • Providing high-quality personalized tours
  • Small group tours that allow you to experience the real Ireland with a personal touch
  • Having experienced professional guides that are passionate, fun and know where all the hidden secrets are kept
  • Superb customer service, transport, accommodation and award winning Irish food and hospitality.
  • Continually developing and evolving our products that satisfy your needs and abilities
  • Providing experiences that reflect our strong beliefs in environmentally and culturally responsible tourism.
We hope you can experience the journey of a lifetime with an everlasting memory of Ireland as we take you to the edge of Europe to discover this island’s unique adventurous landscapes, vibrant culture and ecological wonders.
All of this is waiting for your eyes to explore, discover and fall in love with.
Michael.

Monday, February 23, 2015

A Cupla Focal – The Top Gaelic Survival Words

What would you do without the means of language? It is such a wonderful invention that has been around since the dawn of mankind (correct me if I am wrong!). However, there does exist a place where even the brightest of beings are found wandering dazed and confused after an encounter with a strange species we call globally and affectionately, the Irish.

A long, long, long time ago, us Irish, decided unanimously (meaning one person) that if we were not going to conquer the world through having a well-organized army (us Irish don’t believe in being organized) we would instead just create global pandemonium with our choice of language and sayings. Not content with expressing joy, sadness, happiness in a usual way we decided for a bit of CRAIC (here we go folks) to really confuse the rest of the world with our arrangement of colourful words and expressions in both Irish English(yes there is a difference from English English) and our own native tongue, Gaelic. So to help you in your hour of need (generally 2am in the morning after a couple of pints and holding a packet of chips i.e. fries) I have put together the Essential Guide to Communication with Irish Wild Folk.
Firstly, let’s get one thing straight, we are not born ventriloquists but we do however have an amazing ability to speak with our mouths shut. This leads to considerable confusion in a pub environment for the innocent visitor to our shores as they are left to decipher who are earth is really speaking and should I nod in agreement or shake my head in disagreement.  Don’t fear as most of the time we are just:
  1. ‘Talking Shite” – making entertaining stories up
  2. “Taking the piss” – implies you’re being made fun of … not something else (which is a forbidden act on this island you will be glad to hear).
  3. Looking for a bit of “Craic” – hold on now! Let me explainIt’s pronounced ‘crack’ like the illegal narcotic but the meaning is vastly different i.e. where’s the fun, music and good times – nothing illegal about that.
Now you all know that us Irish love nothing more than social interaction so if you happen to find yourself stranded in a pub (usually a self-inflicted situation) or you bump into a cross eyed Irish man who is hell bent on teaching you Gaelic but can’t seem to remember any words as he unfortunately left them in some classroom when he was 15 years old then quickly whip out this vital piece of kit – The Top Gaelic Survival Words which I have broken down into 3 small but manageable headings (just in case you are having difficulty focusing due to consumed liquids).
  1. Pub Survival Nights
  2. Everyday Greetings and Niceties
  3. Feed Me – Food and Drink
Pub Survival Nights:
  1. Sláinte - Cheers (Slawn-che, the literal translation means Health.)
  2. Pionta Beor - A pint of beer (Pee-un-ta byor)
  3. Gloine Uisce - A glass of water (Glin-eh ish-ke)
  4. Gloine Fuisce – A glass of whiskey (Glin-eh f-wish-ke)
  5. Airgead - money (ari-gid)
  6. Leithreas – Toilet (Le-hris)
Everyday Greetings and Niceties:
  1. Dia dhuit- Hello (Dea dit)
  2. Conas atá tú? - How are you? (Cun-ass a-taw two)
  3. Tá me go maith – I’m good. (TAH may guh MAH)
  4. Aon Scéal? – What’s up? (Ay-n Sh-kay-L)
  5. Más é do thoill é - Please (Moss ay duh hull ay)
  6. Go raibh maith agat – Thank you (Guh rev mah awgut)
  7. Slán - Bye (Slawn)
Feed Me – Food and Drink:
  1. Cupán Tae- A cup of tea (Cup-awn tay)
  2. Cupán Caife- A cup of coffee (Cup-awn Caff-ay)
  3. Bainne- Milk (Bon-ye)
  4. Siúcra- Sugar (shoe-kra)
  5. Bia- Food (Be-ah)
Hopefully these words will come in handy one day for you and just in case they don’t I will leave you with one of my favourite sayings in Irish “Tóg go bog é” (not to be confused with “póg mo thóin” – its meaning I am happy to divulge if you ask me politely in Killarney) – meaning take it easy.  On a road sign it means just as such, but also think of it as a reminder to “chill out”, explore the sites, enjoy the views and experience the real beauty of Ireland – its people.
Mick.

Friday, February 20, 2015

A Unforgettable Cycling Experience in Killarney National Park

Beside the picturesque town of Killarney there is a special place where one can escape from all the hustle and bustle of the town and enjoy a spectacular cycling trial through the exquisite National Park. Killarney National Park was the first National Park established in Ireland. The explicit cycling route is very relaxing and enjoyable.



Along the route you will see some of Killarney’s most beautiful scenery and not far off the route you will see attractions such as Ross Castle which is located on the edge of Lough Leane, Muckross House, Dinis Cottage which has operated as a tea-room for over 200 years and Torc Waterfall which is only a couple of minutes’ walk from the road. Cycling would be one of my favorite activities and it is a great therapy for the mind and the body. If you’re not feeling 100% and you still want to get out and exercise, cycling is the activity for you. You can hop on that bike and sail away at your own pace while the whisk of the breeze takes all your worries away and you will escape into a total different world. On this cycle you will take pictures with your mind and when you think back on the cycle trip you will have spectacular memories for a life time. Killarney National Park has a very relaxed atmosphere which will add to your experience.

Michael

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Rock climbing/Abseiling in the spectacular Gap of Dunloe

If you are looking for a memorable adventure experience then rock climbing and abseiling are two activities that you will definitely enjoy. One of the most beautiful locations for rock climbing and abseiling is the Gap of Dunloe just outside the picturesque town of Killarney. The Gap of Dunloe is one of those locations that when you go there once, you’ll want to go back again and again. One must really experience it to realize it’s through beauty. The walk up through the Gap of Dunloe is superb.




Peace and quiet and the sounds of the birds on the trees as you walk along. The water flowing down through the right of the Gap as you approach up through the Gap is so calming. I have rock climbed and abseiled in the Gap a number of times and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Not only do you experience the thrill of the activities you also experience the spectacular landscape. When all the gear is set up and you’re strapped on and you’re about to start abseiling down a rock face the adrenaline can kick in. At this stage you might experience a mix of nerves and excitement. Once you get into the routine of the abseil you will enjoy your spin down the rock. When you reach the bottom you will want to go back up to the top and do it again. When you reach the bottom the feeling is astatic. There are a wide variety of climbing routes in the Gap of Dunloe, some of these include; Bothán which is one of the well-known crags in the Gap of Dunloe for rock climbing. Brennan’s Leap is also a very popular and accessible crag and it has a variety of routes including Cronin’s Crack, Granuaile and Daffodils. Cub Crag in the Gap is an exciting location with some very easy and very difficult routes to climb. As the Gap is a huge tourist attraction, you will see many tourists passing in horse drawn carts up and down the valley by the local jarveys especially in the summer months. Even though the roads are narrow and windy up through the Gap of Dunloe valley, it is also a stunning cycling route. Experience the sensational beauty while embarking on your adventure activity in which you will have unforgettable memories!
Michael

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

The best of both from the top of Ireland – Carrauntoohil

When people hear the word Carrauntoohil numerous thoughts go through their head.Thoughts such as so high and steep, challenging, hard work, tiredness, vigorous exercise, blood, sweats and maybe even tears. However…this is not the case…

I have climbed Carrauntoohil twice, the first time with my first year class group from college and the second time with 3 friends. On preparation for the climb I was thinking about the challenge that was ahead but excited at the same time. Although the day started with thick low lying fog as we walked to the foot of the mountain, it did not take long to clear and it was gorgeous. Clear blue skies with a very light breeze just enough to keep us cool. Extra caution had to be taken as the terrain is rather steep and loose in places but once each watched their own footing it made it safer and easier on the rest of the group. As we progressed along the route, the scenery was absolutely spectacular; it would just take your breath away. The lakes surrounding the base of Carrauntoohil are very relaxing; water so still, one’s shadow is reflected like a mirror. We took a number of breaks along the way and when you stop and turn around to see how far you’ve come it is really satisfying. Especially on the final quarter, when the cross at the top comes into view it’s a  great feeling, the body was slightly tired at this stage but one final push got us up to the top. We all took off across the top to touch the steel cross on the peak. It was an amazing feeling and the view was mind blowing! The view of the acres and acres of land below us and the view across part of the Atlantic Ocean and the different town lands in county Kerry that were in view from the top was awesome! You could look so far into the distance and the stretch of the clear blue sky to the line of the horizon was incredible.
Some people may say that they’ve climbed Carrauntoohil once and that it’s ticked off the list and they wouldn’t do it again but for me it was different. The second time I climbed Carrauntoohil, the weather was dull and there were snow showers in the forecast. We were well equipped and had the right clothing. Approx. half way up we reached the snow and it was pretty amazing! It was my first time climbing in these snow conditions. I definitely got to experience the best weather conditions when climbing Carrauntoohil, from clear blue skies to snowcapped mountain it was amazingly breathtaking. Visibility was poor due to the snow showers and cloud but we had our navigating spot on so we didn’t have any worries of getting lost. It was a fascinating experience to summit Carrauntoohil in the snow. If you ever get the opportunity to go in these conditions with experienced guides I would encourage you to go.
Overall, the climb is challenging but the end result is a wonderful feeling. How many people can say they have climbed to the top of Ireland’s highest mountain? …Not too many! Will you challenge yourself to climb it and have it on your list of achievements??! Don’t rule it out thinking you won’t be able to do it. Go with an open mind and your adventure will be truly enjoyable!
Michael

Monday, February 16, 2015

Exhilarating Experience in the Gap of Dunloe

The Gap of Dunloe experience is a must do activity. The experience will take you on a journey through the glaciated valley of the Gap of Dunloe by pony and trap before embarking on a spectacular boat tour on the Lakes of Killarney. This is a truly unique adventure discovery. The pony and trap journey up through the Gap is very relaxing and enjoyable. You will be immersed in some of nature’s most beautiful spots while the birds chirp and sing as you pass along. The views in the Gap of Dunloe you won’t find anywhere else.





The boat tour on the Lakes of Killarney is a wonderful experience where you find yourself in a total different world. The Lakes of Killarney are a renowned tourist attraction, there are three lakes; Lough Leane, Muckross Lake and Upper Lake. The Lakes lie in a beautiful setting in a large mountain valley with mountains including Carrauntoohil (Ireland’s highest mountain), Purple Mountain, Mangerton and Torc Mountain in view. The scenery is breathtaking and you are sure to have a wonderful experience. I went to the Gap of Dunloe with my family when I was very young and I also had a number of boat tours on the Lakes of Killarney and it was amazing! The memories will stay with me forever. If you’re looking for that pleasant, relaxing, outdoor experience then the Gap of Dunloe experience is what you need to explore!
Michael