5 reasons why you’re going to love driving the Healy Pass road on the Beara Peninsula

16 Nov

I don’t know what it is with places like this… no matter how many times I’ve been here, they never fail to amaze me.

The spectacular Healy Pass Road connects Cork and Kerry and you probably already know that it’s one of my favourite places in Ireland.

Here’s why you’re going to love it, too.

#1 Views of Bantry Bay and Kenmare River

Healy Pass offers great views of Bantry Bay and the spectacular landscape of West Cork. Continue driving up the pass road to the other side of the Caha Mountains and you won’t be disappointed either with views on Kenmare River/Bay, Glanmore Lake and the beautiful and rugged landscape that is so unique for Beara. Hungry Hill is to the west of the pass - the highest mountain in the Caha Mountain range and great for hill walking and hiking.

#2 History

The Healy Pass road was built in the 19th century during the Great Famine. It was put in place to prevent starvation and was later named after Tim (Timothy) Healy, a famous Irish politician and the first governor-general of the Irish Free State.

Famine Roads were the result of forced labor of the Irish peasantry, who were made to work in exchange for food during the time. Famine roads like the (then called) Kerry Pass are quite common in Ireland and were part of an initiative to provide employment for those who had lost their income/job during the failure of the potato crop in 1845. Malnutrition, terrible weather and negligence led to works dying at the side of the roads. Their deaths and low wages eventually led to the abandonment of the famine roads initiative.

So keep that those brave men in mind when you’re driving up Healy Pass.

#3 Sheep, sheep, sheep

What can I say, Healy Pass has it all - peacefulness, nature, views and … sheep!

The sheep are very curious here and I bet they’ll come and say hello to you if you take some time to connect (with respect and patience, obvs). Have your camera ready!

#5 Waterfalls