Our GPS told us to take this short cut. When I looked at its map it did look like a shortcut between Bantry and Kenmare. Well, we decided to turn right when Phyllida (I named our sat nav voice) told us to. We followed the instructions and ended up on an exhilarating and terrifying road. Really, a sheep trail, with grass growing down the middle. Mind you, when we drove to Mizen Head the sat nav made it look like we were off-roading even though the road was clearly a well-travelled way.
I thought if this road shows on the gps it must be ok. Very faulty logic!!! When we first arrived in Ireland several people told us to throw our gps out the window because it's not all that useful here. It was/is useful but a good map is also essential. Lesson learned. Not sorry we did this road. The day was sunny and we could see all the way to the Atlantic but if the brakes fail or a tire gets a puncture we may not get to the other side. Also, if we meet another car (we did not) there are no lay-bys so there'd be a lot of backing up to do. The tip top is super steep and really not for amateurs. Luckily Jon has nerves of steel and a never say die attitude so it all worked out and was one of the more amazing experiences of our trip. 
Oh My! Sounds as if you had quite an adventure!.. Glad you made it OK!...OK, I'll ASK... What's "Priests Leap"?
ReplyDeleteOh My! Sounds as if you had quite an adventure!.. Glad you made it OK!...OK, I'll ASK... What's "Priests Leap"?
ReplyDeleteThe short version is: legend has it that a priest was being pursued by the law. The priest was on a horse. The horse and priest leapt off the mountain and landed in a village below. A rock in the village commemorates the event. The leap would have defied gravity in many ways.
DeleteFrom Banane.com: "The origin of the placename “The Priest’s Leap” is quite intriguing. According to tradition in the locality it derives from an episode in which a priest pursued by soldiers escaped through having his horse make a miraculous leap from a mountain cliff in the townland of Cummeenshrule into the county Cork. The pursuit of the priest began in the townland of Killabunane where a rock, which miraculously melted under the pursuing hounds, is pointed out to this day. The rock, deeply pitted with what look like pawmarks, is situated close beside the main road from Kenmare. It is known locally as “Carraig na Gadharaigh” (i.e., Carraig na nGadhar or the Rock of the Dogs?). The present writer remembers his father often pointing it out to him as a child when driving past the spot. Marks of the priest’s knees and hands and of the horse’s hooves appear on another rock a few miles from Bantry where he is said to have landed after his miraculous leap."
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