Inch Strand ~ Dingle Peninsula

After we spent the day exploring the Dingle Peninsula it was time to find a nice place where we could play in the ocean waves and the Inch Strand was just that perfect place.  We had passed it by the day before but did not have time to stop and explore so we back tracked a few kilometers and were rewarded with an afternoon well spent.

It was hard to leave.  I think that we all could have stayed at Inch well into the night but it was supper time and we had reservations at Out of The Blue restaurant in Dingle.  And we had to change into dry unsalty clothes.

Dingle Town

Dingle town ~ not to be confused with Gingle town or any thing involving St. Nicolas.  Dingle is a cute busy port town and the main town on the peninsula.  We were able to explore just a bit that first day and even did a bit of shopping at the tourist spots as this is a great place to purchase Irish woolen wears.

Kilmalkedar Church ~ Dingle Peninsula

According to the information that I found about Kilmalkedar Church, it is the most important church site on the Dingle Peninsula. The site is traditionally associated with St. Brendan, but was reputedly founded by St. Maolcethair, whose death is recorded in the Martyrology of Donegal under the year 636. There are no remains of the early monastery except possibly for the Ogham stone with the inscription of "Anm Maile Inbir Maci Brocann". 

Sun dial 

It was a serene church and cemetery with headstones so old that the names and dates were no longer visible along with some that were only 30 years old which offered a wider view of our lives as a whole and how they might all be interconnected throughout history.

Gallarus Oratory ~ Dingle Peninsula

The Gallaras Oratory, build about A.D. 800, is a sightseeing highlight as we traveled around the Dingle Peninsula. One of Ireland's best-preserved early Christian churches, its shape is reminiscent of an upturned boat. Its watertight dry-stone walls have sheltered travelers and pilgrims for 1,200 years. It is also said the oratory has never had a need to be restored.  It is today what is was back then in all its glory.

As we were just about to leave the sun shown through a break in the clouds and illuminated the area in a warm glow.

Dingle Peninsula

There were many stone houses like the one above, they are famine houses.  House that were abandoned during the potato famine of 1845-1852.  These places no longer have the thatch roofs and are just empty reminders of the two million people that died or emigrated out of Ireland.

In 1844, a new form of potato blight was identified in America. It basically turned a potato into a mushy mess that was completely inedible. The American blight was first identified in France and the Isle of Wight in 1845. The summer of 1845 was mild but very wet in Britain. It was almost the perfect weather conditions for the blight to spread. The blight is still with us and is called ‘Phytophthora Infestans’ – an air carried fungus.


Between 1846 and 1850, the population of Ireland dropped by two million which represented 25% of the total population at the time. One million died of starvation or the diseases associated with the famine and one million emigrated to North America or parts of England.

On the high hillsides you can still see the rows where the potatoes rotted in the fields.  These fields have been untouched since 1845.

Slea Head ~ Dingle Peninsula

Slea Head Dingle Peninsula is the Western 

most point in Europe closest to America.

Looking back over our shoulder to the 

Ring of Kerry and Iveragh Peninsula.

"Hey look we were over there ~ and now ~ we are over here!"

"There is even sheep poop down there!"

Dun Beag Promontory Fort - Dingle Peninsula

Exploring yet another early A.D. ring fort in a farmers sheep field. The sea has taken out part of the edge of Dun Beag but it is for the most part all still standing. You might be wondering how did so much history and these ring forts survive throughout the centuries and the explanation is simply  because of superstitious beliefs that they were fairy forts.  Thus over the years they were left alone and just became part of the landscape.

Skellig Michael ~ Hike Down

It was an amazing view at the top even through the mist and fog.  The lives that the monks lead was tough and peaceful at the same time and I can see the attraction to this type of solitary life praying to God and finding inner peace.

The hike down was not so peaceful.  Going up for me was easy and tough on my husband and it was just the opposite on the way down.  Man was it tough for me and one step at a time for sure.  Josh had an easier time going down and was there to catch me if I needed help.  Just goes to show that we are such a good team!

On the boat ride back they took us past Little Skellig Michael Island. This is a true bird sanctuary home of some 27,000 pairs of gannets – the second largest colony of such seabirds in the world. It was remarkable watching all those birds nesting and flying around.  A noisy and smelly island and the eggs had not even hatched yet.  We also spotted a gray seal resting on a flat rock outcropping and as each wave came up to splash his head he would look up all annoyed, like the wave was disturbing his rest.

The boat ride back was much claimer and we enjoyed the ride and talking about the mystery and wonder that is Skellig Michael!  A must do if you are ever in that area of the world.

Docks at Portmagee Ireland.  

The boat we were on is the one at the far right.

Skellig Michael ~ The Top

The hike up all those steps was very rewarding and worth every moment it took to take the steps one at times, one slow step at a time.  These bee hive huts were build by Christian Monks 600-900 A.D. while they eked out a solitary life on the island praying and giving solace to God. They are the dry stone type of construction that I talked about before only stacked up to form a roof to keep the weather out.

They lived here for many 100 years, growing a garden, fishing and even had cows for milk up here which I imagine they brought up as a young calves.  They lived and many died on the island and their cemetery can be seen in one of the above photos.

Truly an awesome place ~ trip of a lifetime!