So, it’s Thursday, and the forecast called for rain. It was certainly cloudy, but the day went by without a drop and we even had some afternoon sun. We lazed about this morning. The fresh strawberries I bought yesterday were delicious with my yogurt and granola. Elaine had her usual morning walkabout and stopped by the Post Office to mail our token post cards to family.
We packed a picnic lunch, and, hoping for the best with the weather, headed out on Slea Head Drive for a picnic. There are not a lot of spots with picnic tables, but there are two stone ones on the bluff overlooking Coumeenoole Strand (beach). Scenes in Ryan’s Daughter, David Lean’s 1970 film were shot on this beach in 1968-69. On a hillside nearby the fictional village of Kirrary was created as the main set of the film. Nothing remains of the village today. Oddly, the nearby Tig Slea Head, a combination gift shop, café, and museum of Ryan’s Daughter pictures, seems permanently closed. We had our chilly picnic on one of the stone picnic tables. It wasn’t that cold, but the wind made it seem so.
CLICK PICS TO ENLARGE
Next we drove back to Ballyferriter, the filming base for the next Star Wars movie. You cannot get near the site, but we went for a walk on the long and mostly deserted Smerwick Strand. The wind wasn’t bad here, and we spent some time looking for interesting rocks and sea glass, without much luck, I’m afraid. This is the site for the annual Béal Bán horse races on the sand which we attended on our last visit.
Then a pint with Tom and Susie and back to the house for a nap. Dinner tonight was a return visit to the Chart House, my personal favorite. All the seafood except salmon is locally caught.
Elaine: Crabmeat and Shrimp starter; monkfish main; a decadent chocolate ganache dessert.
Joe: Cromane Mussels starter; delicious Hake main; Passion Fruit Crème Brûlée dessert.
After dinner we stopped briefly for music at the Dingle Pub and at O”Flaherty’s before heading home to bed. Due to threat of rain (it didn’t happen), we drove into town for the first time.
Here’s a video I shot in the Dingle Pub featuring Richie O’Brien singing “Sean South”. Excuse the bad ending. The password to access is “dingle”.
I see why you guys love Dingle so much — beautiful scenery, lots of great pubs with great music, fantastic food. Elaine, I hope you opted to wear your new fleece-lined Mac in a sac for the picnic overlooking the strand!!
What a lovely day. The stone bench was stunning as was location. Would have loved to have forwarded the Star Wars picture to my son-in-law Mike who is HUGE fan!
And dinner, the Chart House appears to be my favorite too.
Cheers! On our way out the door to Happy Hour up at Rhythm and Wine, celebrating our pal’s return to the working class. She’s glad. As is her partner! 😇😜👏
Dingle: A bit like America, and maybe Ireland, in the 50s. Very few restaurant chains, people are proud of their work, and life is simple and good. In addition the scenery is absolutely breathtaking. Glad you have found your home away from home.
I really enjoy enlarging the photographs. They are spectacular.