Co Kerry Visit

Subject: Dingle Peninsula
From: Raggytash
Date: 10 Mar 02 - 03:35 PM

A few of us will shortly be visiting Dingle Co Kerry, although I've been before has anyone got a "must-do" or "must see" apart from Dick Mack's and O'Flaherty's

Subject: RE: Co Kerry Visit
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 10 Mar 02 - 05:55 PM

Non Music DO take a ride round the Slea head peninsular it's fantastic especilly the view of the Blaskets and the Connor pass

best regards

Gerry

Subject: RE: Co Kerry Visit
From: boglion
Date: 10 Mar 02 - 06:24 PM

The Dingle Peninsula is my bolt hole from London. I own a cottage on the North side - across the Conor Pass from Dingle. It's a fabulous place and there's music to be found everywhere.

My favourite session of the week is Saturday night in Brandon at Tig a Cuinne (The Corner House). It's largely the same locals each week augmented by the regular tourists (such as me). This is an out of the way place that is on a dead-end so does not get masses of tourists. The session can start late and continue until much later! **I hope there's no Gardai on Mudcat**.

O'Connor's and Tig Tomsi's in Cloghane, my village, have paid musicians regularly - they put up a sign outside to say if there's anything on that night.

Impromtu sessions can happen anytime there's any excuse at all. A stranger walking in with an instrument is often enough! Dick Mac's and O'Flaherty's are well worth a visit but try also An Drochead Beag and a wonderful little bar down by the pier called P.Moriarty. This bar has family connections to the dark-haired temptress in Raglan Road - I've never heard music in there but it'll take you back to what bars used to be.

Have a great time. I'm over myself for the two weeks each side of Easter weekend.

Terry Cooney

Subject: RE: Co Kerry Visit
From: vectis
Date: 10 Mar 02 - 07:39 PM

Walk on Banna Beach at dusk. Beautiful and slightly eerie.

Subject: RE: Co Kerry Visit
From: Noreen
Date: 10 Mar 02 - 07:49 PM

Go to Valentia and look down from the hillside over the sea and the fields. One of the most beatiful sights I've ever seen.

But choose a bright day (!), I took some English friends there specifically to show them that view, but the cloud was down (a soft day) and we saw no view... the bars in Valentia were very welcoming though!

Have a lovely time.

Noreen

Subject: RE: Co Kerry Visit
From: greg stephens
Date: 10 Mar 02 - 07:52 PM

If you're lucky you might find Seamus Begley, who is the "must hear" man around Dingle.Singer and box player.

Subject: RE: Co Kerry Visit
From: alison
Date: 10 Mar 02 - 10:12 PM

get a boat from Ballinskelligs out to Skellig Michael (Greater Skellig)... and climb the steps up to the little deserted monastery at the top... wonderful place

failing that.. go to Valencia - I think they have some sort of visual display of it there "the Skellig experience" sort of thing...

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Co Kerry Visit
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 11 Mar 02 - 05:07 AM

Walking up to the Connor Pass - is lovely, great views to be seen up there - then just drive around the whole area - LOVELY! Plenty of beaches and great scenery.

You lucky thing!

Ella

Subject: RE: Co Kerry Visit
From: GUEST,mick mcgarry-punch the horse
Date: 11 Mar 02 - 07:07 AM

little known gems in dingle.

"Flahives bar" on the Quay,if you find him open(mention my name youl get a great welcome)

Mary Currans round the corner from dick macks in the main street

"Foxy john moriartys" opposite currans

I will be there from 13th of may

If i dont see yopu before see you at whitby!!!!!

Subject: RE: Co Kerry Visit
From: BanjoRay
Date: 11 Mar 02 - 11:05 AM

Go to Great Blasket island - You can get a launch from just South of Dunquin in good weather, and stroll along the central ridge - stunning views. The Blasket museum also near Dunquin is also superb - lovely pictures and books about and by the people who lived there until the thirties. Glimpses of a hard but full life lived by some wonderful people.

Cheers
Ray

Subject: RE: Co Kerry Visit
From: Raggytash
Date: 11 Mar 02 - 12:49 PM

Thanks to all so far, Terry I know Tig Tomsi's well, played there a few times in 2000. Brandon I don't mention to anyone. Paradise on earth indeed, many happy hours in Murphy's. Noreen, Valentia is about 80 miles away, therefore 160 miles round trip on roads so minor they are barely infants. Though I have visited it before.

Subject: RE: Co Kerry Visit
From: Raggytash
Date: 11 Mar 02 - 12:55 PM

Terry, We will be over there at Easter, there's 10 of us 3 who play Guitar, of whom one plays the Banjo as I do a little bit, 3 Bodhrans players, and I use the term loosely and 5 of us sing. We're staying in Stradbally so will in all liklihood get to Cloghane. I stayed in Mr's O'Neil house back in 2K love the place. May see you there

Subject: RE: Co Kerry Visit
From: boglion
Date: 11 Mar 02 - 04:21 PM

Raggy, If you are staying at Stradbally you're close enough to Castlegregory to visit Taigh Og's.

This bar only recently reopened after being closed for thirty years. They gave it a lick of paint and opened the doors - marvellous!

It sounds as if our paths will cross at Easter; anyone in O'Connor's, Cloghane wil point you in my direction. It strikes me I'll more than likely spot your group before you spot me. Three bodhran players!!!

Slainte,

Terry

Subject: RE: Co Kerry Visit
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Mar 02 - 06:11 PM

I echo Banjo Ray's advice to spend a few hours in the Blasket centre on the cliff at Dunquin, right out on the end of the Peninsula ('Ryan's Daughter' was partly made there). The history of the people who lived there up to the 1950s (not 1930s)is covered in as much detail as you wish - the books: 'Twenty Years A-growing', 'The Islandman', 'Peig', etc, the music and the way of life. Drop in to 'An Caife Litertha' in Dingle itself for a coffee and a browse through a fine little bookstore. In Ballyferriter there is a good folk museum and several old-style pubs. On the north coast of the Peninsula is Brendan's Creek at the foot of Mt Brandon, from where St Brendan is said to have sailed to North America. Not far away is the studio of Raidió na Gaeltachta. The traditional climb to the top of Mt Brandon (Barr a'chnuic) is now becoming a part of the visitors thing at mid-summer. The local tourism co-operative in Ballyferriter runs classes for adults in Irish, running for a week or so, and also conducted tours of the many prehistoric and historic sites that litter the countryside thereabouts. Though the entire Peninsula is relatively small allow plenty of time to get around because of narrow roads and (in summer) lots of coaches or buses.