Tour of Dingle Peninsula -- Saturday June 15, 2013

Despite the forecast of rain we have decided we are going to spend today going to see the Dingle Peninsula.  I'm thinking the ocean is better to look at in the rain then the clouded over mountain tops.

Our breakfast is very nice this morning continuing our opinion of this Bed and Breakfast, and then we head out.  The roads don't start out as narrow as the Ring of Kerry and there are beautiful views so I'm happy!


I was hoping to see Fungie, The Dingle Dolphin, on our ride, but alas, I did not! The Dingle Dolphin -- or Fungie, the name given to him by the fishermen in the harbor -- is a fully grown, possibly middle aged, male bottlenose, Tursiops Truncatus. He weighs in at around one-quarter tonne (500 lbs.) and measures in the region of four metres (13 feet).  In 1984, Paddy Ferriter, the Dingle Harbour lighthouse keeper, first began watching a lone wild dolphin escort the town's fishing boats to and from port. By August of that year, local Ministry of Marine manager Kevin Flannery was able to officially record the dolphin as a "permanent" resident of the entrance channel and self-appointed "pilot" of the fleet.  Maybe next time we come!

Visitor Centre made of stone

Along our ride we came across The Dunbeg Promontory Fort and Visitor Centre & Café.  We had a light lunch
and decided to watch the video and take the tour.  It was very interesting!  The date at which the Dunbeg Fort was built is very uncertain, although its structure resembles other Western Stone Forts. It may have been built around the same time as Iron Age blockhouse forts in Scotland such as the Crosskirk Fort in Caithness and the Clickimin Fort, Ness of Burgi Fort and Huxter Fort in Shetland.^[8] A sample of wood

Opening to the Dunbeg Fort

found in a ditch lying partly under the stone wall was dated to around 580 BC, so the wall is no older than that. Another piece of wood in a deposit overlaying the base of a retaining wall was dated to around 800 AD, indicating that the wall was built before that date.^[8] There is no trace of occupation other than the drystone clochán within the fort, which was built in the 10th century AD
 
Within two hours of driving, the sun breaks thru!  Ed is ecstatic!  We found a site up on a hill overlooking the ocean and decided to stop there for a few hours.  Ed then proceeded to take a zillion pictures of what he saw.  Can't say I blame him.  It is beautiful!

 

 

 

The Dingle Peninsula is truly one of my favorite spots in Ireland!  Thanks. Cindy Blum for recommending the area!