Ireland 2008: Dingle--Days 19, 20, and 21

Friday (july 11) half of the Irish studies group took a trip down to Dingle for the weekend. We left at about 11.30 on Friday morning and made a pit stop at Bunratty castle for lunch, and to tour the castle. It was really crazy being back there again, I remember being there so vividly from my last trip. That was the day there was a really pretty rainbow in the sky, and it was one of the last nights we were in Ireland. We mostly looked in the little shops before we went into the castle, I actually ended up spending quite a bit of money while at Bunratty. I bought some stuff from the pottery shop, but they had a bigger, more touristy shop, at the end and I bought a couple things. They had these handmade dolls that were super cute, and they all had names. They were 60 euro so I was like, "well, if I can find my name, I'll buy it." So there were about 15 dolls and I looked through everyone and just as I was about to give up, the last doll I looked at had my name, so I bought it. They are dressed up in traditional Irish clothes which are all handmade, and she even has red hair.

The top of Bunratty Castle

The view from the top of Bunratty

So after we left the castle we still had a couple hours till we arrived in Dingle. The bus ride was nice, I read some, and listened to my mp3 player. The scenery was amazing. We finally got there, and our accomodation was pretty nice, it was sort of a cross between a hostel and a bed and breakfast. Katie, Sarah and I shared a room and were right next door to Teegan, Michelle, and Rachel...our little group of friends. We didn't get to dingle till about 6:30 so we didn't have time to do a whole lot. We ended up just having some fish and chips in a pub, walking around the town and getting this REALLY good ice cream at a place called Murphys. Then we headed back and went to sleep.

The view from our hostel

The place where we got ice cream

A little carnival in Dingle

I thought this sign was cool, and its my great grandparents surname :)

The next morning (July 12) we had to be up at like, 6.30 so that we could get up and around for breakfast at 7.30...it was REALLY early. After breakfast, it was off for a jam packed day full of site seeing at historical places. We saw a replica of a bee-hive hut, an unmortered stone church (gallarus oratory), another church ruin inside a graveyard, and a really pretty beach where they filmed part of Ryans Daughter. It was a long day, I think they try to fit too much into one day, and a lot of the stuff could have been cut out. Oh yeah, we went to the Blasket Island center as well, we had very little time here, and I wish that we could have spent more time. Although it was a long day, it was fun as well.

The beehive hut

View looking down on the beach

Gallarus Oratory

Statue in the graveyard

View from the graveyard

After the last site we were only about 15 minutes away from Dingle, so we got back home at about "half four" as the Irish would say it. (4:30) So the group decided to go get some dinner, then head back, get ready and go out to this pub that our school helper, John, suggested. Teegan and I ate at this little place that was cheap, but everyone else went to an Indian resturant...and apparently got horrible service. After dinner we went to look in more of the shops and then we headed back to the hostel. We went out at about 9pm but most of the group didn't want to stay out that late...so Rachel and I stayed after everyone else left.

Let me tell you...that night was a night that I will remember for the rest of my life. It was probably one of the most exciting nights of my life; it started off a bit strange, but it turned out to be great in the end. One of my missions was completed :)

So yeah, I'm pretty excited to go back to Dingle. I thought that it was going to suck to have to go with the school even though I was going on my own, but it will actually have benefited me. I know the layout of the town--the good pubs and where things are and such. I also got to see where I am staying, which is nice, so I won't get lost. Dingle was also a place that I would love to spend a lot of time in. It was very picturesque and quaint. It is also a great place to hear trad. All it all, it was a fantastic weekend.

Part of Dingle Harbor