Ireland.
Dingle
From mystical misty mornings to lively musical evenings, Dingle has more to offer than just Fungi the dolphin.
Before traveling to Ireland, all I knew of Dingle was that it had the most pubs per capita and hosted a lot of hen and stag parties; now I appreciate it for so much more! We spent three nights in Dingle enjoying more live music, gourmet dining, pints at the pubs, touring the peninsula and fishing.
Upon arriving in Dingle, we were treated to some music lessons at the Dingle Music Shop. You could feel the passion they have for Irish music and history. Then it was off to our B&B, which felt like home and served the best eggs benedict that I have ever had.
Over the next two days, the group had the option of attending music and dance performances. Stephen's favorite singer was performing at a local pub and there was also a local hurling game on in town. Lots to do and see; this was a perfect few days.
Foodies in Dingle
If some think that Kinsale is the gourmet capital of Ireland, they should take a second look at Dingle. All of our meals were excellent. Dingle offered everything from pub style fish & chips to award winning gourmet restaurants. Dining in Dingle at The Global Village, Out of the Blue, and The Chart House were an absolute foodies treat.
Around the Peninsula
Our first morning in Dingle, reserved for our bus tour around the peninsula, was layered with fog. No complaints came from us because...still no rain. Even though we couldn't see the Blasket Islands from the main land or witness the views of the ocean, the rugged coastline itself was worth the drive. On our tour that morning we visited the Blasket Island Information Centre, Gallaras Oratory (A.D. 800), Kilmalkedar Church and a Dingle Crystal demonstration. The Peninsula is packed with history and archaeological sites.
Fishing in Dingle
My brother Mike is a huge fan of fishing, he almost had a hard time leaving summer fishing season to go to Ireland. So of course on our free day in Dingle he booked a fishing boat. Captain Rory O'Connor was fantastic. We spent the morning and early afternoon sight seeing along the coastline, learning about life in Dingle, and catching pollock and mackerel for lunch. It was a beautiful day to be out on the water. The pollock lines have four separate hooks and on one cast Mike caught a fish on each hook, quite exciting. Then Rory filleted some of our catch for lunch. We took our fresh bag of fish to a local pub and they cooked it for us. It was delicious!
Cliffs of Moher & The Burren
On our way to Galway, we traveled to the Cliffs of Moher and through The Burren. The cliffs were breathtakingly beautiful, yet scary at the same time. I am a little shaky when it comes to heights and after a while I just had to sit down to get my bearings, but in the end it was worth it. I sat on the edge of the cliff line and took it all in. I even witnessed two different people almost trip off the edge...unbelievable. After the cliffs we enjoyed The Burren, which is a limestone formation in a national park. Glenda and I wandered off to practice our photography on flowers. The area was desolate, yet it was still very charming.
Next stop
