Driving along the road from the town of Tralee, we see the lush green grass giving farmers a comfortable income. With the Gulf Stream bringing this temperate climate to the region, farmers are not burdened with the cost of having animals indoors for as long a period as in other parts of the country. Dairy cows a plenty to be seen, not to mention the thousands of sheep. Forestry has been a recent development. Peat bog land for harvesting turf to keep the home fires burning.

The town of Dingle is a major fishing port, a hive of activity along the harbour front with trawlers and boats landing their catch and trucks loading for destinations at home and in Europe. Jockeying for space are the cruise boats and sailing vessels taking visitors out on the bay.

Dingle, a Bohemian town has a pulse driven by an arty variety of dwellers, galleries, handcraft stores, interesting streets lined with pubs, cafes and shops. This is a town that depends on the tourism trade. A very welcoming atmosphere where the locals are sometimes as informative as any guide. The restaurants and pubs have an array of food choice. Relaxed in their dedication to excellence, they are there to help and please. If you want a full meal or a snack it's here. John Benny's pub is a great place to get food and/or drink during the day and they often have a great session (Irish music) at night.

Hikers, bikers, those that enjoy the walking trails, cyclist, golf, and horseback riding, all take delight in the region. Water activities, surfing, kayaking, swimming, or angling, there is lots of choice. Education holidays where you can learn the language. Dingle is one of the areas in the country where most locals are bilingual and the Gaelic language is cherished. The Gaelic games can also be experienced. Heritage, geology and religion, what more could you ask for?

Dingle is well known for the film location of movies like Star Wars episode VIII, The Last Jedi, Ryan's Daughter, Far and Away. Writers and musicians are also drawn to the area. The road west out of the town is the most scenic drive you will ever experience. Described by National Geographic as "The most beautiful place on earth".

As we leave the town we are into the countryside immediately. We cross the bridge that has us hugging the hedges. Looking at the variety of vegetation as we pass, Palm trees, Bamboo, Fuchsias, and Montbretia, certainly are not native to Ireland, they were introduced to these parts mainly by Lord Ventry, the Land owner of this region in years past.

We travel past a small national school with only two classrooms. This would be characteristic of rural Ireland. Looking out on the ocean you can see two rocky outcrops, "The Skelligs". Skellig Michael contains the remains of a sixth century monastic settlement, today a nesting and breeding ground for Gannets (seagull like bird). Across the bay we see Valentia Island. It was from here that the first transatlantic cable was laid to Canada's Newfoundland in 1866 and was in use until 1965.  

We pass a Stone Age ring fort on the waters edge dating from 500 BC. Bee Hive shaped huts dot the landscape. These would have been the homes of Hermits in early Christian times. 

In 1927 as Charles Lindbergh flew over this spot, imagine the thrill both for himself to see the land and for the people underneath to see this thing flying overhead. He was on his way to Paris. 

Moving along the drive we come to Dun Chaoin, the most western point in Europe. Here you can see the Blasket Islands, a group of five islands now uninhabited since 1953, with a history all of its own, storytellers and writers, tragedy and love.

Driving through villages, with character and where characters abound. Ballyferriter, Baile is the Gaelic for town, Ferriter a family name from the Normans of the 12th century and giving the village its name, Anglicized to Ballyferriter. 

Kilmalhedar church, a ruin dating back to the 13th century has some great examples of Ogham writing, as well as a Sundial stone. 

Gallarus Oratory, a place of worship standing for over 1200 years, is a typical example of a corbeled structure. The walls having been raised to the required height are then progressively overlapped inwards to form the roof and finish with single slabs on the ridge to complete the building. 

As we arrive back in Dingle we stop to explore this world's hidden gem of beauty and grandeur.

Suggested Tours

Stories Written Into the Land, May 9, 2022

Discover Ireland, May 21, 2022