Dingle Peninsula, Dingle

The three sisters..
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The part of the peninsula west of Dingle is a Gaeltacht, or Irish speaking area. Meaning all road signs etc will be in Gaelic as it is the main language in the area rather than English

This island, off the Dingle coast, is known as the Sleeping Giant because it looks like a body - with the head, beer belly, and then down to the feet! The Irish legend has it that a giant fell into the sea at this point, creating the island.

There is fantastic scenery all over the Dingle Peninsula. I'm not sure what mountain this is (if anyone knows the name let me know!) but our bus driver said the day we were there was only the 3rd time she had ever seen the top of it as it was a really clear day. Lucky us!

courthouse & jail....

Experience the harsh prison system of the 1830s......

The 1830s were difficult and upsetting times in Ireland.
Punishment was handed out often and...harshly!

Visiting this place you will follow the horror of the judicial regime of that period and the plight of one poor soul!

THOMAS DILLON, who suffered under the system.

This is an experience of the past - the scenes, sounds and character expressions all recreate the authentic atmosphere ot that awful era.

It must have been horrible to be "SENT DOWN" in the Bridewell of the 1830s.

It is terribly awful but yet a good experience.....

driving here (and driving is the best way to explore & discover Ireland every nook & cranny!) you will see many clochans, small stone huts, looking like bee-hives.

There are somm 400 of these huts on DINGLE PENINSULA . Some farmers ask a small entrance fee if you want to have a close look......which is reasonable, I think.

The most splendid ones are at DUNBERG, in the south west of DINGLE PENSINSULA.

DUNBERG is a fort, a stronghold on a hill top near VENTRY and dates back to the IRON AGE....built between 400 BC - 5- BC

Even if you aren't that much interested in archaeology, there is a lot to enjoy such as e.g. the spectacular landscape, a rough & tough one, of BLASKIT ISLANDS.

You can see these Island when you round cape SLEA HEAD.....

Nowadays the Islands are inhabited, since 1953 when the population moved to the continent of Ireland.........

Even my scanner thinks the photos are black & white, the day was black & grey and each time I have to correct the thing and tell it: this is a photograph taken in GREENGREENGREEN IRELAND!!!

I reached KILLIMER and was so lucky that I didn't have to wait for the FERRY to take me to the other side.......

Rain, rain, rain and of course the same LIGHTHOUSE I have already seen several times during earlier made trips.....
never ever have I had a sunny bright day there!!

This is that particular lighthouse......and believe me I was soon back inside.....

The main tourists' routes of the west of Ireland's SHANNON region are linked via this KILLIMER-TARBERT CAR FERRY!

This pleasant (!), 20 min. journey across the SHANNON ESTUARY will save 137 km. from ferry terminal to ferry terminal, providing a launching-point to the many attractions of CLARE, KERRY and adjoining counties!

Whatever your reason for visiting the west and south west of Ireland (a VT meeting perhaps???) plan on taking the SHANNON FERRY across Ireland's finest river.

As you make the short journey, you MAY be in for an added bonus......you may catch sight of the resident schools of dolphins, which regular display their talents for the passengers.

Wit our new state-of-the-art ferries, we can assure you of a relaxing trip and a warm welcome, even on a rainy day, (as I experienced myself, more than once!!)

Never ever ask Irish people to show you the way!! The answer will always start with :"Ohhh, but that is easy, Love, just....etc. etc.." and that particular day I simply had to do it......the roadsigns aren't always that clear....

Anyway, I drove in the wrong direction, noticed it but drove on, knowing that there was a lighthouse at the end of LOOP HEAD ......
It really seemed to be the end of the world and if ever I would have had a puncture there or something else with the car (or me!!) I would have been completely lost! and not missed........

In the end there was the lighthouse and see those raindrops on my lense.....huge, fat, enormous drops........

I turned back and found the right way that time but had to have a break for something substantial and warm.....and that is easy to get in Ireland and soon I was in a warm pub, surrounded by families who were keeping an eye on Dad and/or Husband.......the races, you know, the races and gambling.......

Well I enjoyed my meal and disappeared again.....

The wind was blowing extremely hard and a walk along the shoreline was quite a job, although a challenge...

But in the end it was great to be able to walk back through the dunes and to my surprise there were some fine, deep valleys where it was good to have a rest, take off my coat and enjoy the warmth of the sun......

Very welcome that was and also the hot tea with cake in the little restaurant at the end of the beach.

It was a pity that CARS were allowed on the beach here: a SHAME......

This photo is of your typical old Irish faithful "Sheep Dog". I love this shot, the textures and color.

Dingle’s surrounding country side, its hills and lakes are some of Ireland’s finest. Use the village as a base for a night and drive around the peninsula for a day.