The smell of turf fires lingers in the air on a chilly August evening, while sounds of laughter and traditional Irish music spill out of the pub doors as you walk past. In the warm town of Dingle on the West Coast of Ireland, you feel more like a temporary local than a tourist.
Now, I might be upsetting a few Irish folks who may disagree, but for me, Dingle was the perfect Irish town. Brightly coloured, tidy buildings lined the waterfront of this small fishing village. Interesting artists' shops, restaurants, and plenty of pubs abound here in Dingle, making it a joy to discover. Many people pass through Dingle on the Slea Head Drive around the Dingle Peninsula but don't stop in and spend enough time in the town itself. Dingle is a Gaeltacht town, meaning that many residents speak Irish to each other and in their homes. I loved overhearing conversations in Irish, making Dingle feel authentic and not touristy. There seems to be something for everyone to enjoy in this tiny West Coast town of just under 2,000 people. Here are 7 reasons why Dingle is my favourite Irish town...
1. AQUARIUM & INCH STRAND
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| Inch Strand |
A favourite thing to do with children in Dingle is to visit Oceanworld Aquarium right on Dingle's waterfront. TIP: If you purchase tickets online, you save a few Euros on the entrance fee.
My teen didn't want to check out the aquarium, so instead, we headed to Inch Strand to the surfing school. Inch Beach, or strand, is a gorgeous sandy beach just out of town that sticks out four miles into Dingle Bay. The clean waters and safe swimming at Inch Strand made it a kid-friendly place to stop. Kingdom Waves is a surfing school on Inch Strand popular with teens and kids of all ages, and there is a convenient beach bistro to stop in and get a nice hot drink or lunch.
2. MURPHYS ICE CREAM
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| The Best Ice Cream In Ireland |
Right along Dingle's main street, stop in for a treat at Murphy's Ice Cream, the most delicious ice cream in Ireland. I am not exaggerating when I say this. My jaunting car driver in Killarney National Park told me that if there is ONE THING we must do in Dingle, it was to have ice cream at Murphy's. Why is this ice cream so special? Murphy's not only uses fresh local ingredients like free-range eggs, local honey, and Dingle GIN, but Murphy's also makes their own sea salt from the Dingle coast and their big SECRET: cream from the rare indigenous Kerry cow. The high-fat cream from these small black cows you see grazing in the fields around the Dingle Peninsula is what makes this ice cream worth the €6 price tag. You must try the Sea Salt and Caramel/Honeycomb two-scoop combo; it was OUT OF THIS WORLD! If you can't make it out to Dingle -no worries! Murphy's now has shops in Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, and Killarney.
3. BOAT TOUR
What would Dingle be without its lovable maritime friend, the dolphin? Two companies offer Dolphin Tours around Dingle Bay and Harbour. The one-hour harbour cruise costs €19 and is a massive hit. Dingle Boat Tours also provide ferry service to Great Blasket Island off the coast of Slea Head, a Blasket Islands Eco-Tour, and Deep Sea Fishing Excursions. A quick note about Fungie the dolphin, who was an inhabitant of Dingle Bay for 30 years. He is deeply missed by the residents, and his memory is part of the magic that draws people to Dingle to this day.4. SHOPPING
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| St Mary's Church |
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| Dingle Charm |
5. FISH & CHIPS
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| Table At Harringtons! |
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| Smoked Haddock & Chips! |
All that exploring can work up one's appetite! My son got to choose where we ate for lunch, and in Dingle, it was fish and chips! Harrington's Family Restaurant on Strand Street, right across from the Tourist Office, is a local favourite. Just look for the bright yellow and blue building at the end of Strand Street.
Menus are glued onto each table, and the decor is random and eclectic. The fish and chips were cooked to heavenly perfection, the burgers were homemade, milkshakes used real ice cream, and the fries were crisp on the outside and soft in the middle. I recommend the lightly smoked haddock and chips -OUT OF THIS WORLD!
6. TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC
Dingle is known for its traditional Irish music scene (called Trad music), and the best place to see a Trad Music session is in the pubs. The music usually starts around 9:30 and pubs close at 11:30. If you are travelling to Ireland with your children, it may be a bit more challenging to hear Trad music because children under 14 must leave the pubs by 9:00. Children over 14 and under 18, however, may remain in the pub after 9:00 as long as they are accompanied by their parents (we had no problem bringing our 16-year-old into the pubs). If you have younger children, fear not, you can still hear the same musicians play at St. James Church just off Main Street at the top of town. You can buy tickets at the Dingle Music Shop Siopa Ceoil.7. CONNOR PASS
For a grand finale of Dingle, I recommend taking a scenic drive up the infamous Connor Pass. Connor Pass, or An Chonair in Irish Gaelic, is a narrow, twisting (mostly one-lane) road that is the highest mountain pass in Ireland. The Connor Pass road runs from Dingle to Kilmore Cross and then on to Tralee on the North side of the Dingle Peninsula, offering scenic views in either direction traveled. To get to the Connor Pass, head to the R560, which starts as "The Mall" from the roundabout in Dingle centre. The road then becomes Spa Road once it crosses John Street at the top of town; follow this road all the way to the Connor Pass summit.
At the summit, there's a large car park where you can stop and take in views of both sides of the Dingle Peninsula. This is a fabulous spot to watch the sun go down over Dingle Town and the Dingle Peninsula.
Have you visited Dingle? What was your favourite activity? Please share in the comments below; I would love some suggestions for the next time I visit this colourful Irish town...
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