Dingle Peninsula

Time for another holiday by the sea in my summer of transition. I first came across the Dingle many years ago in the David Lean movie Ryan’s Daughter. Its memorable scenes shot on the sandy beaches and isolated rugged coast of West Ireland have always stayed with me.

Dingle Beach

Here, facing the full force of the Atlantic ocean, the wind is bracing, the sea is rough, and it’s cold, despite a full late summer sun and a near cloudless sky. The precipitous cliffs drop away dramatically to the sea and there is much evidence of the power of the elements to cut into the rock creating deep fissures in the cliff face.

Cliff Face

Dingle Gin Ice Cream

In the little town of Dingle, I came across a marvellous invention. Murphy’s Dingle Gin ice cream. The subtle flavour of the juniper berries emerge as the ice cream melts in your mouth and the alcoholic kick follows as a rather pleasant aftershock. Murphy’s also does Dingle Salt ice cream which, despite first impressions from the name, is very good too – the salt seems to bring out the flavour of the vanilla and cream within which it sits, and, being big dairy country, this place is home to what can only be described as an ‘A’ level cheese shopping experience. Continue reading →