Islands of Ireland: MacCarthy’s Island in Kerry — set in a little piece of heaven

The lake is surrounded by mountains and woods... Tomies, Purple, and Shehy Mountain stand on the northside while Torc, Mangerton, and Peakeen form the southern part of what is in effect a giant bowl

MacCarthy's Island, Upper Lake, Killarney, County Kerry. Picture: Dan MacCarthy

On the Upper Lake of Killarney, County Kerry lies a group of islands among which is one of the last remnants of a mighty Gaelic kingdom which once dominated the southwest of the country. MacCarthy’s Island is the westernmost of a cluster of five islands: Juniper, Ronayne’s, Duck, and Eagle [link below].

The lake is surrounded by mountains and woods including Derrycunihy Wood on the south of the lake. Tomies, Purple, and Shehy Mountain stand on the northside while Torc, Mangerton, and Peakeen form the southern part of what is in effect a giant bowl. The lake is filled by numerous rivers cascading down from higher ground. To describe this place as a little piece of heaven is to do it an injustice.