Unique Places in Dingle

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If you dare! lol is what everyone was telling us before we decided to take the drive down Slea head Drive. One lady told us that people go in with there car in one piece and come out with broken mirrors, no hubcaps, broken windows. Hmm It wasn't that bad. If you are someone with a driving problem and you cannot manage to stay in your lane then I would highly suggest you NOT going. But, We took the drive with no problem. There were a few spots where we would have to stop and move over to let someone by going the opposite way by but, that was the worst of it. The views are absolutely worth the drive! It is not a very long drive and it will take you to the most western spot in Ireland. AGAIN... IT IS WORTH IT!

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These are to be found mainly in front of the main entrance to the church except the alphabet stone which is inside.

The three sites at Reask, Gallarus and Kilmalkedar are quite close together and could be done in an afternoon from Dingle.

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This is a fine medieval site with a Romanesque church sitting in the middle of the cemetery, dating from the 12th c. Said to have been modelled on the Cormac's chapel at Cashel it has a number of similar features, such as the blind arcading and the winged stones above the gables. The main doorway and the chancel arch are lovely examples of round-headed archways. Close to the chancel arch is an alphabet stone that has been brought in from the cemetery and put here after falling and breaking a part off the top. Around the church is also an early sundial; an Ogham stone with a pierced top, and a huge stone cross, some 2.5 metres high. After excavation there is another 1.8 metres below ground. Close by is a building known as St. Brendans house and a holy well but cannot be visited as they are on private land.

The site is still on the R559 about a 1.5 kms from the Gallarus oratory. Ask the man in the visitors centre for directions, as it is not easy to find.

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Probably the best preserved example of an oratory from the 6th/7th c in Ireland. Using local stone only and built without mortar, it looks like an inverted hull of a boat and is still perfectly waterproof. Used by early Christian farmers, until the sttlements around it were sacked and the inhabitants driven away, it retains a very proud but austere look in the middle of the fields around. At the side is a bed of stones, with a cross inscribed on a slab and an inscription that reads "COLUM MAC DINET".(This taken from www.sacred-destinations.com/ireland)

Entrance is 3€ passing through a visitors centre, but apparently going round by another path it is free, like all megalithic sites in Ireland on public land.

Not very far from the Reask site, follow the R559 about another km and you'll a sign pointing left.

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This monastic site is home to some fabulous ruins that have been dated as far back as the 6th c. Excavations in the 70's have revealed that the site contains a stone oratory, several clochans, and a couple of pillar stones engraved with latin crosses and initials. Close to the oratory is a cemetery where over 40 graves were found. The most impressive of the pillar stones is the Reask stone, standing some 1.65 metres high, inscribed with a Greek cross and pendant spirals, and on the left of the spirals is inscribed the letters DNE, latin for Domine or "Lord". On what is known as pillar stone D (photo 2) is a latin cross with the letters DNS, for Dominus and the on the other side the same cross with letters DNO for Domino.

Not easy to find this site. After Ballyferriter village there is a sign pointing to the right after about 2 kms. Down this lane you'll find the site, but don't miss the sign. Just before (100 metres) there is a pub and a small barn/garage. There may be kegs of beer outside this barn. This is where I asked for directions.

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A real step back in time when you walk into and around these cottages. It's hard to believe that there were people living here until 1950!!! Well laid out, although the mannekins are a bit weird, but the furniture, plates etc are all genuine 1800's. The main cottage dates from 1845 and was inhabited by the Kavanagh family. The other dwellings from 1880 were mainly for the farm animals but also for the farm labourers who didn't have their own hovel. The smallest cabin on the left and known as "Tigh Pait" was inhabited by a local peasant that had been evicted, and actually managed to raise a family in this 3 metres by 3 hut. One of the original people who lived here had the misfortune to have his 6 children die from hunger and malnutrition. They are buried a little higher up the hill, as not having been baptized the Catholic church would not allow them to be buried in the churchyard. Just to the rear of the cottages is a beehive hut, said to date back 800 years. Mr. Kavanagh kept his pig in there.
There are a few farm animals around the farm to see and also some Irish red deer, but these disappeared into a corner of the field when we approached.
Just behind the entrance kiosk, there is a dolmen in the field.

Entrance is 3€.

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A few kms from Dingle on the Slea Head drive, on a wide promontory sits the prehistoric Dunbeg fort. An impressive ringfort it dates from around 500BC. Quite well preserved it has incredibly thick walls (up to 5 metres) but was mainly used as an observatory over Dingle Bay.

Cost for entrance was 3€

This is also the area for "Clochàns" or beehive huts, mainly in the nearby village of Fahan. These lie on private land and there is a charge of 2€

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Adare Manor is another good daytrip from Dingle ! Adare Maror is one of the most famous luxury hotels in Ireland and it was built inside an old manor-house dating back to the year 1720. A large park is surrounding the hotel and during the summer guards will watch the entrance of that park - in winter you may enter freely and without restrictions and take a walk around :
There is a river flowing through the park and the golf-course of the hotel was built around an old friary - see my pictures.