What Makes Dingle Such A Great Destination
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The magnificent Dingle Peninsula (or Corca Dhuibhne in Irish) is an essential destination in order for the visitor to get a taste of 'real Ireland'. Most of the Peninsula is a Gaeltacht. This means it is in an area where the Irish language (Gaeilge or Gaelainn) is spoken in day to day life and Irish, not English is officially recognised as the primary language in order to preserve the local culture.
Time and time again Dingle comes up tops in travel polls; word of a good thing gets around quickly! The National Geographic once called it 'the most beautiful place on earth'. Contributors on Trip Advisor voted for it as one of their top 100 destinations in the world. CNN have also given it the thumbs up as a good idea for a winter destination, and it recently won its place in the list of top 10 places to be on New Year's Eve.
The Blasket Islands (or Na Blascaodai in Irish) are the most westerly islands in Europe, and are to be found 5km out into the Atlantic. The largest Island, the mountainous Great Blasket (An Blascaod Mor), is the most popular amongst visitors. If you enjoy walks that leave you panting yet exhilarated, head here for your fix. Bearing in mind that it is 6km by 1.2km, there is sufficient area to ramble in to your heart's content. The Blaskets all used to be inhabited, and archaeological finds have indicated that people lived on Great Blasket during the Iron Age and early Christian times. However, in 1953 everyone involved decided that the isolation and tough living conditions of the Blaskets was too extreme to allow for year round habitation, and the islands were abandoned. Nowadays, camping is possible on the islands, if you don't mind the absence of facilities and are completely self sufficient. Lodgings are available in Dunquin, however.
The peninsula's capital, Dingle town, is amongst the largest of the towns in the Gaeltacht. All who wander around its streets and pier agree that there is something different about this place. The huge amount of visitors to this town has given it a uniquely cosmopolitan air, and supported its burgeoning arts & crafts industry.
About 25 years ago, a dolphin appeared in the bay and has stuck around since. His curiosity of, and benevolence towards, humans has won him a huge following and he has affectionately been named Fungie. A considerable number of pubs double job as shops, so one can enjoy the surreal experience of popping in for a pint, a packet of screws and a pair of wellies.
Cloghane (An Clochan) is located between Mount Brandon and Brandon Bay. This village offers welcoming pubs and accommodation with views of the Stradbally mountains. Walkers can either choose to take on the might of Mount Brandon, or stroll as far along the coast as they like.
Lughnasa, a Celtic harvest festival dating back to time immemorial, is celebrated by Cloghane on the last weekend in July. Festivities take place in the village itself and on the summit of Mount Brandon. The Brandon Regatta (where traditional currach canoes race each other) is held in late August. Cloghane's tourist office is open from May to September, and is located opposite the church.
Christine Brookes writes for various travel journals and websites including Stay in Kerry where Dingle hotels and Dingle Self Catering can be booked.
Category Article destination, Dingle, great, makes
