Swiss gem on the Ring

BUILDING a home in Killarney was a bit like a busman’s holiday for Ursula and Josef Waldis - they simply swapped the Alps for the Reeks, and Lake Zurich for the Lakes of Killarney.

“We came over to visit a friend for a weekend, and stayed for three wet days. Our friend has a 2.5 acre site he was selling, we bought the bigger part of it and decided to stay,” says Ursula who simply says they fell in love with Killarney’s beauty.

At first, they used this Lahard, Beaufort Ring of Kerry home for holidays, and five years ago Josef retired from stock broking in Switzerland and they took up full time residence here. They fish, play golf, sculpt do pottery, paint, entertain - but don’t really go up in the mountains. “They’re a little bit small here,” says Ursula, diplomatically trying not to offend those who are challenged by this country’s tallest peaks, barely a walk in the park for a hardy Swiss couple.