DINGLE
THE INTRIGUING DICK MACK'S - A VISIT WILL
LEAVE A LASTING IMPRESSION.
Stretching
out almost due west is the Dingle Peninsula which in its 30 mile
(50k) length probably encompasses more of the ancient history of Ireland
than the rest of the country put together. As well as being rich in
archaeological sites the peninsula is rich in the retention of many
of the traditional ways of life. It is one of the Gaeltacht areas, particularly
the area west of Dingle town where Irish is the spoken language. There
are also Irish language schools that operate during the summer with
resident students.
If your interest include archaeology you can spend considerable time
here exploring the many well preserved sites that date from 800 AD and
tend to congregate to the west in a line from Bandon Point in the north
to Lispole in the south.
Dingle is a special place for many and it is as popular with the younger
set as the older. Made famous through its Irish heritage, underscored
by the Hollywood film industry's acknow-ledgement of this by locating
several famous productions here (including Ryan's Daughter and Far
& Away).
Approaching from the south, over the River Maine is Castlemaine,
a small village that displays a sign at its limits as "The birthplace
of the Wild Colonial Boy" — a reference to Jack Doogan the
Australian outlaw made famous in a ballad of the same name.
The long straight road then runs west with the towering Slieve Mish
Mountains on one side and splendid views across Castlemaine Harbour
to the Iveragh peninsula and the Ring of Kerry on the other. Inch
(An Inse) is located close to a superb strand to which there
is easy access from the road just past the town. Leaving the mile long
strand the road rises up Red Cliff and provides excellent views of Dingle
Bay.
Dingle (An Daingean) is a picturesque town beside an excellent
natural harbour with narrow streets going back from the sea front. It
is a working harbour with a substantial fishing fleet and recent renovations
have done much to add to the harbour area.
The town proper is to the back of the harbour and is a pleasant mixture
of pastel coloured homes, bistro restaurants and literally dozens of
attractive little bars all check by jowl along a web of narrow streets.
One of the attractions of Dingle is people meeting and so the social
structure of time spent here revolves around the welcoming bars where
good conversation and sometimes song will hold you closer to your fellow
man (or woman).
Opposite St. Mary's Church is one such place to start —
Dick Mack's in Green Street, which is a lovely mixture of a leather
belt maker along the counter on one side of the bar room whilst facing
(literally six feet away) is the bar counter on the opposite side. More
than 12 people and you have a crush and any more could mean an overflow
going into the tiny snug at the front window. However with economy of
space the best part of 50 have been known to get in at one time –
under such circumstances it is impossible not to make new acquaintances.
Outside are stars cemented into the little pavement, Hollywood-style,
with the names of the famous who have visited Dick's including Robert
Mitchum, Christy Moore, Julia Roberts and Dolly Parton. The pub was
established in 1899 and is still run by the same family.
