Tomies Wood: A Mythical Woodland Escape

Tomies Wood, part of Killarney National Park, is a captivating woodland steeped in history and legend. Located at the base of Tomies Mountain on the southern shore of Lough Leane, it provides a scenic escape into nature. The wood primarily features oak and holly trees, with a section of pine trees higher up the trail. The forest floor is covered in moss, and various streams and small waterfalls flow from the mountain into the lake. Keep an eye out for sika and red deer, red squirrels, and pine martens. The diverse birdlife includes blue tits, wrens, chaffinches, and robins. Tomies Wood is intertwined with Irish mythology, said to have been the summer hunting grounds of Fionn MacCumhaill and his warriors, the Fianna. Legend says that the cairns on Tomies Mountain mark the burial place of an ancient Irish chieftain. O'Sullivan's Cascade is named after the last O'Sullivan Mór, who died at Tomies House in 1762. The highlight of Tomies Wood is O'Sullivan's Cascade, a stunning waterfall. Legend has it that the cascade once flowed with whiskey for Fionn MacCumhaill. Visitors can enjoy two main trails: a looped walk (6 km, 1.5-3 hours) and a shorter out-and-back trail to O'Sullivan's Cascade (3 km, 45 minutes - 1.5 hours). The trails are family-friendly, with the loop offering views of Lough Leane, Ross Castle, and the surrounding mountains.