The Charm of Dingle

While Dublin may be one of the first stops on a trip to Ireland, Dingle has the top spot in my heart for places to visit! It wraps its arm around you like a warm hug, embracing you with its charm, its scenic harbor and locals who love to get to know the tourists. Once you start walking through town and stop in a store or find yourself at one of the pubs, you'll be whisked away in conversation. Before you know it, you'll get to experience what the Irish call "craic" or a mighty good time.

Dingle, located in County Kerry, sits on a harbor on the southwest coast of the Dingle peninsula. It isn't in the best location for accessibility to other destinations in Ireland; but to me this just adds to its charm. It is a place meant to be savored, like a warm cup of tea. Things move slower here, and that definitely takes some time getting used to. Once you do, it will be hard to leave! As you drive onto the peninsula, make sure to stop at Inch Beach for incredible views of the Atlantic Ocean and the adjacent patchwork quilted fields famous in Ireland.

On my first visit to Dingle, we hired a driver to drive us around the Slea Head Drive, a very scenic and dramatic loop around the south-western part of the peninsula. Here you can visit a sheep farm, watch in amazement as the sheepdogs herd the sheep, and if you are lucky, hold a baby lamb. There is a lot of history to be found as well, such as prehistoric structures called Beehive huts. Made of dry stacked stone, some of these primitive homes were built well over 1,400 years ago! They resemble a beehive shape, hence the name.

The Slea Head Drive also has some of the most beautiful scenery I have seen in Ireland, from wide and expansive beaches that rival the Caribbean to dramatic cliffs overlooking azure blue waters. Hiring a driver is highly recommended due to the winding and narrow roads. At the end of our tour, we asked our driver where we should go to dinner. He recommended John Benny's Pub because there was a trio playing that evening. It was incredibly lucky that we were able to secure not just a table, but the front row table to what I consider one of my most memorable nights in Ireland. The musical trio consisted of two female singers, one who also played the violin. Accompanying them was a guitarist. It became known to us that one of the singers, who had the voice of an angel, was none other that Eilis Kennedy, a former member of the Irish group Solace, and the wife of the owner of the establishment, John Benny. If she had been the only singer we heard that night, we would have left feeling extremely happy. However, as our luck had it, we were also to be introduced to Niamh Varian-Barry, who was on the verge of releasing her first album, entitled Wings. I cannot tell you whether it was her voice, or the incredible sounds coming from her violin, but it was a night to remember! Regardless of which pub you visit in Dingle, you will be treated to some of the best traditional Irish music in Ireland.

While walking through town, be sure to stop at Murphy's Ice Cream Parlor for the best ice cream in all of Ireland. There is something for everyone in Dingle, from families with young children to retirees. During our second trip to Dingle, we visited the Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium with our then 1 year old grandson on a rainy day. We were quite impressed with the variety of things to see and do, including an igloo which led to the penguin exhibition. For the adults, there is also the Dingle Distillery and Kingdom Falconry on the outskirts of town. If you prefer to be on the water, head to the harbor and hop on a boat cruise. You might get lucky and see some dolphins swimming alongside you!

Most people who visit Ireland are looking for that quintessential Irish experience, and I for one can think of nowhere better to experience it than Dingle!

Slainte! Tracey