The Wild Rover

LETJOG E2W – Day 36: Sunday 19 May – MILLSTREET to KILLARNEY (20.6 miles)

A short Blog today, as I am camped out in the reception area of the hotel that I stayed in last night, due to a lack of wifi in my digs tonight, a noisy sports bar. In short, I have made it to Killarney, and into County Kerry, my final shire of this LETJOG E2W walk, following another long trek today through some beautiful countryside. The weather, perfect yesterday for walking, was much hotter today – and outside this evening there is a very summer-like atmosphere to this busy town.

A delightful start to today’s walk along lanes, was followed by a road walk in the afternoon, utilising cycle routes where possible. The mountains to the south were shrouded with cloud upon the tops this morning as I returned to Millstreet Station where I had completed yesterday’s ramble, but the sun broke through early and the warm day required sun protection and the consumption of around three litres of water – the first time that I have really had to deal with hot conditions on this walk.

I certainly enjoyed another fine day on the trail today, but challenges remain in booking accommodation for my final nights, as I near the final furlong of my LETJOG E2W walk. I am considering changing my course once again to find overnight shelter, and it is likely that I will be heading north-eastwards tomorrow to the town of Tralee, before I tackle the Dingle Peninsula itself. Hopefully, by this time tomorrow, I will have a more definite plan in place!

Well I could not really countenance a playlist of my E2W Blog song title headings as I progress through Ireland without ‘The Wild Rover’ as one such – regardless of the fact that I have already included another, different, song by a similar name, in ‘The Irish Rover’. ‘The Wild Rover’ is a traditional and well-travelled Irish folk song that (in the esteemed words of Wikipedia) ‘tells the story of a young man who has been away from his hometown for many years. When he returns to his former alehouse, the landlady refuses him credit, until he presents the gold which he has gained while he has been away. He sings of how his days of roving are over and how he intends to return to his home and settle down’. Many bands have performed and recorded ‘The Wild Rover’, but on my playlist I am including the version by The Dubliners, that they first recorded in 1964. I have mentioned the Dubliners in an earlier Blog; they are an interesting and influential group that formed in 1962 and endured for half a century, albeit with a fair number of line-up changes, and they are credited with re-popularising traditional Irish music both at home and internationally. Going back to the song itself, and heading into the final week of my adventure, along with all of the excitement of ‘wild rovering’ I am of course missing home somewhat, and I can associate with some of the traveller’s sentiments – but sadly, Rachel, I will be returning without any gold, and probably minus a few pounds as well!