You will also need to keep a look out for the horse.

The first time We drove over the Conor Pass, on our return to where we were staying I went down to the local for a pint.

Now my local where we go in Ireland was Dan O'Connell's in Knocknagree, now sadly closed, having been opened by Dan in 1963 with the intension of preserving the local set dancing, which, with the demise of the local dance halls was in danger of passing out of existence.   

So, I'm in O'Connells chatting with Dan and happened to mention that we had driven over the pass and how magnificent the scenery had been. So Dan says to me "Did you hear about the Yank who came over from the states with his Cadillac and drove through the pass?"
"No" says I
"Well" says he "This Yank was driving from Tralee to Dingle to take in the scenery when he came to a fork in the road where the sign post which pointed right had Dingle written on it as did the sign post pointing to the left.
Not knowing which one to take, he happened to spot an old man with his cow tethered on the side of the road.
'I'm going to Dingle old man' he said 'Which road should I take?
'Well' said the old man 'If you're in a hurry, then take the left fork, the lower road is more direct. If you want the scenery though, then the upper road is the one for you, that will take you over the Connor Pass.'
'Yea, the scenery's what I want' he said as he drove off towards the Connor Pass.
He'd been driving for a while taking in the magnificent views when with steam coming from under the bonnet (hood) of his Cadillac he was forced to pull over.
He got out of the car and lifted the bonnet when from behind him he heard a voice say 'It's your fan belt.'
He turned around to see a horse standing there.
'It's your fan belt' the horse said again.
When he looked down he was surprised to find that his fan belt had broken, when he turned round, the horse had gone. He had some spare parts in the boot (trunk) and so was able to replace the fan belt and carry on his way.
He felt pretty shaken by his experience as he drove over the pass and down the other side towards Dingle, so when he spotted a bar he decided to stop for a drink.
As he walked up to the bar 'Give me a whiskey' he said to the girl behind the bar. As she turned, 'No, make it a double' he said.
'Your looking a bit shook' she said 'Anything the matter?
As he sipped his whiskey he told her the story of his journey, the fork in the road, the old man, the breaking down, the horse, the fan belt……….
'What do you think of that girl?' he said
'Well sir, it's a good job you took the upper rod' she replied 'the horse on the lower knows feck all about cars!"

I heard Dan tell the story to visiting tourists more than once, I'll bet if he had a pound for every one he'd have been a rich man.

Anyway, if you on the Connor Pass, listen out for the horse!

Rog