Tag: Fahan

Not A Euphemism, As It Turns Out

Well, the sunburn on the arms is not fun, but still not enough to ruin my mood. I got up early today, gave some laundry to Toni here at the B&B1, and went for a nice walk before my tour.

This is the church at the centre of town - the town being Killarney.
This is the church at the centre of town – the town being Killarney.
There are some nice statues in the Killarney town parks, including one of Johnny O'Leary, a renowned accordion player...
There are some nice statues in the Killarney town parks, including one of Johnny O’Leary, a renowned accordion player…
...and of Jesus.
…and of Jesus.

Then I made my way down to the Deros offices to get on my tour of the Dingle Peninsula.

Boo Boo guards the door at the Deros offices. She's a very nice old dog.
Boo Boo guards the door at the Deros offices. She’s a very nice old dog.

There were apparently more people signed up for the tour than expected, so I wound up on the second bus, leaving about a half-hour later. It was a small bus, with only about a dozen of us, so we got a lot of personal attention, and a more flexible, looser structure to the tour.

Inch Beach is a peninsular beach made by ocean drift, stretching almost all the way across Dingle Bay from the Dingle Peninsula to the Iveragh Peninsula.
Inch Beach is a peninsular beach made by ocean drift, stretching almost all the way across Dingle Bay from the Dingle Peninsula to the Iveragh Peninsula.
It's a pretty impressive stretch of beach, especially with the low tide the way it was today.
It’s a pretty impressive stretch of beach, especially with the low tide the way it was today.
There's a neat little cafe at the beach, with the mountains of the Dingle Peninsual rising behind it.
There’s a neat little cafe at the beach, with the mountains of the Dingle Peninsual rising behind it.
On up the coastal road is a little spot called Fahan. It's got great views of the Dingle Bay cliffs.
On up the coastal road is a little spot called Fahan. It’s got great views of the Dingle Bay cliffs.
The cliffs are pretty dramatic.
The cliffs are pretty dramatic.
Up the hill a ways from Fahan is a little neolithic farmstead, with stone fences and a surviving beehive hut.
Up the hill a ways from Fahan is a little neolithic farmstead, with stone fences and a surviving beehive hut.
The beehive hut is still standing. Some of the other structures are undergoing some restoration.
The beehive hut is still standing. Some of the other structures are undergoing some restoration.
The rough coastline here is near the Blasket Islands.
The rough coastline here is near the Blasket Islands.
The Blasket Islands are, by some measures, the westernmost part of Europe. They had folks living on them up until 1953 when the last of them left.
The Blasket Islands are, by some measures, the westernmost part of Europe. They had folks living on them up until 1953 when the last of them left.
They are beautiful, rocky, remote islands.
They are beautiful, rocky, remote islands.
The land on the Dingle coast opposite the Blaskets is still pretty rugged.
The land on the Dingle coast opposite the Blaskets is still pretty rugged.
Then it was back down to Dingle town, a very pretty little coastal town.
Then it was back down to Dingle town, a very pretty little coastal town.
Dingle is a working harbour, mainly with fishing boats.
Dingle is a working harbour, mainly with fishing boats.
One of the things Dingle is famous for is Fungie the Dolphin, who has lived near the harbour mouth since 1983, and is known to come in and play with swimmers and follow the boats around.
One of the things Dingle is famous for is Fungie the Dolphin, who has lived near the harbour mouth since 1983, and is known to come in and play with swimmers and follow the boats around.
There's actually a store called The Dolphin Shop on the high street, dedicated to Fungie memorabilia.
There’s actually a store called The Dolphin Shop on the high street, dedicated to Fungie memorabilia.

And then it was back to Killarney, and not being on time to pick up my laundry.

This is my last night in Killarney, and my last night at Larkinley Lodge. Larkinley is a great B&B – Toni and Danny are great hosts, the room is beautiful and comfortable and quiet, and the bed is very comfortable.

But I’m looking forward to moving on to Kilkenny.

  1. Laundry service here is Toni taking the laundry to the laundrette, and me picking it up at the end of the day. Unfortunately, my tour got back late, and the laundrette was closed. I’ll have to pick it up tomorrow morning before I get on the train. [↩]