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My Barber sent me to McMunn’s in Ballybunion

We ended our evening at McMunn’s of Ballybunion on the recommendation of my barber. How is that? 💈

Before leaving for vacation I made a stop at Dick’s Sports Barbers and got my regular 3 week cut from Gene. Gene’s been cutting my hair for a decade. I sat down for a trim and shared we were going to Ireland for vacation. After a bit Gene mentioned that if we ended up in Ballybunion I should go to McMunn’s. I knew Ballybunion was already on our itinerary. “We will for sure be there!”

It turns out that Tony McMunn is an “Edina guy” as Gene put it — a successful business guy and he owns McMunn’s in Ballybunion. Tony got his hair cut at Dick’s Barbers for many years. Dick, the owner, and Gene, both use to cut his hair. Gene said he was a nice guy and now lives in Florida but he still owns this pub in Ballybunion.

So tonight we stopped in for a pint of Guinness and desert for the family. When checking out I asked the waitress if she knew Tony McMunn and she did. I shared the connection and all had a laugh.

I grabbed a few McMunn’s golf tees to bring back to Gene at Dick’s Barbers. ⛳️

Pint of Guinness stout with a creamy head on a wooden table beside a leather-bound McMunns of Ballybunion pub restaurant menu Middle-aged bald man in a dark polo shirt leaning on a green barber chair inside a busy barbershop Man in a black jacket and plaid shirt smiling outside McMunns pub in Ballybunion Ireland
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After dinner at Namir’s we took the Cliff Walk for an evening stroll.

Family of four smiling at a coastal cliff overlook with rocky sea inlet and green headlands behind them.Rocky sea arch rising from green-topped cliffs along an Irish coastline under a cloudy sky

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Ballybunion Beach Day

We took a big part of the day today to explore and wander around the beach at Ballybunion. It was cool and windy all day so not a day for warming yourself on the beach. Instead a day to explore to rock walls, investigate tide pools, examine jellyfish and crabs that were in the sand, attempt to escape the waves, and in general chill and relax. The water and waves were beautiful.

We enjoyed the day as the tide came in and the water eventually separated what used to be the Men’s and Women’s beaches. The tide moves the waterline about 100 meters in or out, and completely swallows a large rock outcropping.

Even though the weather was cool at 55 °F with heavy winds both Mazie and Tyler did eventually get swimsuits on and attempt to bogey board. I made Tyler stop when he was incessantly shivering.

Tall layered sea cliff with rust and black rock strata meets sandy beach, a small cave at its base, waves and cloudy sky beyondTwo people in hooded Columbia rain jackets stand smiling on a wide wet sandy beach with waves breaking behind them.Two people in hooded jackets stand on a wide wet sandy beach reflecting clouds, with waves and a rocky cliff in the background.Four people in rain jackets smile for a selfie on a sandy beach below dramatic coastal cliffsRocky coastal tide pools with green algae and small pebbles, ocean visible in the background under a partly cloudy sky.Red and yellow lifeguard flag on an empty sandy beach backed by dark layered cliffs with green grass on top, a rescue board lying nearby.Jellyfish washed ashore on wet sand at Ballybunion Beach, its translucent body leaving an intricate imprint in the sandRuins of Ballybunion Castle atop a grass-covered rock outcropping rising from sandy beach, with people climbing the dark layered rock face below.Wide sandy beach at Ballybunion with crashing Atlantic waves, green clifftops, lifeguard flag poles, and a small coastal village in the distance under cloudy skies.

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Walking the beach in Ballybunion.

Wide sandy beach at Ballybunion with breaking waves, scattered seaweed, and dark cliffs topped with green grass in the background.
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Ireland 2024 Log - Day 4

Weather: Windy and rainy today and very cool. Highs around 55 °F.

Google Maps showing 3 driving routes from Killarney to Ballybunion Ireland, all approximately 55 to 58 minutes and 62 to 67 km

Jump to day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 or see Ireland 2024 Collection.

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The view from where we are staying in Ballybunion with the sun low in the sky behind the cliffs as the tide is out.

Sandy beach at low tide beside dark layered cliffs topped with green grass, warm sunset light reflecting on wet sand with calm sea beyond.
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Today’s pint of Guinness from Kate Kearney’s Cottage after completing hike over the Gap of Dunloe.

Pint of Guinness stout with creamy head on an outdoor wooden table, white bucket of daisies and red door behind it.
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Hike the Gap of Dunloe

We had an amazing time hiking the Gap of Dunloe today. We started at Lord Brandon’s Cottage and hiked up the steeper side. The first mile or two were pretty easy. Then the road tipped up as we went to the top. You walk the whole way on the road so it is easy stepping just a steady climb. You also need to watch out for cars, bicycles, and the horse-drawn jaunting cars. Plenty of sweating on the way up.

When we got to the top we took a family selfie holding on to the high point marker as the wind blasted us from the other side. I don’t know how strong the winds were but you could lean into them quite a bit. That wind persisted most of the way as we gradually dropped back down and finished the hike at 7.00 miles exactly at Kate Kearney’s Cottage.

Four people take a selfie beside the Gap of Dunloe road sign on a narrow tree-lined road in IrelandThree hikers in colorful jackets walk past a Kerry Way and Gap of Dunloe trail signpost amid lush green ferns and misty mountains in Ireland.Winding narrow road curving through a lush green valley of ferns and scattered trees with misty mountains behind under cloudy skiesFamily of four taking a windy selfie at the Gap of Dunloe summit marker, green mountains behind themNarrow winding road snaking through a lush green mountain valley flanked by rocky slopes under a partly cloudy skyNarrow mountain road curving past a stone arch bridge where two hikers in blue and red jackets rest beside a stream, rocky hillside behindTwo young people smiling beside a mountain lake on a narrow road through a rocky green valley in IrelandBlack Ford Kuga passing between two large boulders on a narrow mountain road, with a hiker in an orange jacket nearby and a lake behindTwo young black-and-white lambs with blue markings resting among ferns and rocks on a grassy hillside

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We had an amazing time with Dux and Gap of Dunloe Traditional Boat Tour today going from Ross Castle to Lord Brandon’s Cottage to then hike the Gap of Dunloe.

Elderly man in a flat cap and dark jacket steering a small motorboat toward a ruined stone arch bridge over calm water, surrounded by treesTwo people in orange Baltic life jackets smile for a selfie on a rainy boat trip across a misty lake with hills in the background.Yellow cottage with chimneys nestled among lush green trees beside a calm lake with a small stone landing dock in the foreground.Elderly man in a black cap and jacket steers a small motorboat through a calm lake flanked by green rocky hills

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Boats at Ross Castle readying to go out for the day.

Dozens of wooden and aluminum rowboats moored along a narrow tree-lined channel at Ross Castle, with one person rowing a blue boat through the middle.