Ireland Day 5: Dingle Peninsula

After checking out of our Killarney hotel early in the morning we headed for the Dingle Peninsula.  Once again the weather could not have been more perfect.  Our first stop was this lovely beach, the view across to the Kerry peninsula and the Skellig Islands was perfect, and then on to Dingle Town where we ate breakfast.  

Following Rick Steve's instructions we drove onto Eask Tower and hiked up in the mud.  Rob went barefoot.  It was so beautiful.  A farmer has a shack where you leave a few Euro and then tromp through the fields to the ancient tower.  After the farmer and his wife let us scrub up with their hose. 

 The distant island is Skellig Michael, where Luke Skywalker was at the end of The Force Awakens.

A better view of the Skelligs. 

Our next stop was an unexcavated ring fort, which were called fairy rings, which is why they exist still (superstitious people left them alone).  This fort dates to 500 BC

Next stop was Dunberg Fort, dating back to 500BC-500AD.  Part of it fell into the sea, so it is a bit precarious.  

Behind the fort are the barren hills on which the Irish farmed.  They took the stony hills and hauled up and laid down layers of seaweed until the land was fertile enough to graze sheep and plant potatoes.  And then came the great famine which I didn't know much about.  The potato crops failed and the peasants starved to death.  But it turns out there was plenty of food on the Island to sustain life, but the wealthy jerkhead rulers shipped it all out (because, you know, free market) and millions of people starved to death, or left Ireland and came to America.  It was crazy.  Anyway, we crossed the road and went up the hill to the famine cottages.  So many abandoned cottages because of the famine.  This particlar place was a museum to the famine.  Also there was an ancient beehive hut.  Also we could feed the animals.  And we fed Lil' Sebastian, to the delight of the chilluns. 

Slea Head is sort of the tip of the peninsula and there were great views over to Ring of Kerry and to the north the Blasket Islands.  There was also a kitschy Catholic shrine.  So much Catholic kitsch in Ireland.  Also the roads were bitsy. Glad we had a bitsy car. 

Dun Chaoin, and Dunmore head were next.  This, according to Rick Steves is the westernmost point of Europe.  It was a lovely beach.

Our next stop was the Great Blasket Island Center which gave a fascinating history of the Blasket Islands.  They were sparsely populated until the government ordered them to evacuate in the early 20th century.  Interestingly there were many residents who wrote about life on the Blaskets.  I liked this photo, because so  many Irish left for America. 

 The fields on the hills have been uncultivated since the failed potato crops.

Clogher head was a great stop.  Boggy in parts, but the views were INCREDIBLE.  This place was spectacular.

 That particular Blasket Island is called the Sleeping Giant.  Apt. 

 Some very boggy bits.

Our last stop of the day before we had to make the long drive to our Airbnb in Kinvarra was Gallarus Oratory.  It was in ancient church.  The amazing stonework has made it leak free since it was built about 1300 years ago.  

Charming window at the visitor center.

 Rob did great on the crazy tiny roads.