Ireland - The Gathering

Colourful Dingle

Dingle-4

There’s no reason to bring religion into it. I think we ought to have as great a regard for religion as we can, so as to keep it out of as many things as possible.

Sean O’Casey

Fishing Fleet - Dingle Harbour

Fishing Fleet – Dingle Harbour

Autumn arrives in early morning, but spring at the close of a winter day.

Elizabeth Bowen

Viking Heritage

Viking Heritage

A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it.

George A. Moore

Dingle Harbour

Dingle Harbour

Even if the hopes you started out with are dashed, hope has to be maintained.

Seamus Heaney

 

Dallying in Dingle

Minard Castle - Dingle

I am a daylight atheist.

Brendan Behan

A full day to explore Dingle, bike and hike to Eask Tower, horse riding, search for Fungie in the harbour or visit Great Blasket Island – so many options for a single one day so we rose early, headed down to breakfast and saw the fog enshrouding the bay. Thoughts of hiking, biking or sailing dissipated as quickly as the boat disappeared into the foggy expanse, we dallied over a magnificent breakfast spread contemplating the sightseeing options closer to town. Perhaps we can risk a walk out to the harbour entrance to see the 19th Century folly?

The grey mist persisted until after lunch but we walked out to the harbour entrance and sat under the folly watching tour boats searching forlornly for Fungie the dolphin; no Fungie, no cost is their guarantee I think they made little money that day. The English fishing along the shore no doubt happy that the dolphin was not there to scare the fish away.

Back in town, we lingered over lunch and in St. Joseph’s Convent we listened to the narration explaining the illumination of master craftsman Harry Clark’s six stained glass windows depicting scenes of the life of Christ. Outside the Sisters lie together under the spreading boughs of an old tree, their service to God complete they rest eternally in their adopted home.

An interesting if bleak day but the sun did emerge to bring colour to our Dingle stay.

Shark?

Shark?

Searching for Fungie

Searching for Fungie

Sisters Last Resting Place

Sisters Last Resting Place

Looping around the Dingle Pennisular

The Dingle Peninsular is a spectacular coastline, less travelled than the Ring of Kerry, and Rick recommends skirting the latter to concentrate on Dingle Peninsular’s views and history. For film buffs, it is also where Robert Mitchum filmed Ryan’s Daughter in 1970. Enjoy my images:

View from Slea Head

View from Slea Head

Life, it seems to me, is worth living, but only if we avoid the amusements of grown-up people.

Robert Lynd

Dingle Peninsular near Ballyferriter

Dingle Peninsular near Ballyferriter

I heard the old, old, men say ‘all that’s beautiful drifts away, like the waters.’

William Butler Yeats

The crew capturing the view.

The crew capturing the view.

The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible.

Oscar Wilde

An Riasc

An Riasc

Finding the right work is like discovering your own soul in the world.

Thomas Moore

Gallarus Oratory

Gallarus Oratory

You can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lips.

Oliver Goldsmith

Finding illumination in Gallarus Oratory

Finding illumination in Gallarus Oratory

God is a character, a real and consistent being, or He is nothing. If God did a miracle He would deny His own nature and the universe would simply blow up, vanish, become nothing.

Joyce Cary

Ruined church of Kilmalkedar

Ruined church of Kilmalkedar

The best decision I ever made was to become a priest and I think the second best was to resign.

John O’Donohue