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Dingle, as amended 28 May 2023

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  In celebration of Fungi - the maker of Dingle. There is also a small bust of Charlie Haughey who apparently siphoned a lot of support Dingle’s way (not only Dingle’s way!) Our plan was to go for a walk from Dingle to somewhere - so we set off for Eask Tower on top of the hill on the south side of Dingle Bay and overlooking the town.  We only got a short way out of town when we were thwarted by the busy, fairly narrow road with no pavement.  We had to come back, and could not find an alternative. Dingle is geared up for eaters, drinkers and boat trips, but it is not geared up for people on foot wanting some exercise.  We went into town for lunch and a look at the shops. At the west edge of town is the Dingle Distillery - making whiskey, but not open to the public due to renovation work.  We don’t know what the whiskey is like but the buildings certainly need renovation. Another landmark is the Dingle Union Workhouse and Hospital - now a doer-upper, this was originally opened in 1852 t
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Lawrence Cove to Dingle 27 May 2023

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  Lawrence Cove early this morning  Flat calm all night, and after a 09.00 start we are now at coffee time and it’s still flat calm.  Warm as well.  Happy days. We’ve been visited, albeit briefly, by Common Dolphins on a number of times, and we’ve seen several Harbour Porpoises. Common Dolphins riding our bow wave. The Cow (left) and The Bull (right) are at the end of the Beara peninsula, just beyond Dursey Island - the only Irish island connected to the mainland by cable car ( though not just at the moment because it’s broken).  The Bull has a substantial lighthouse on it, and the waters are full of Puffins and a big Atlantic swell. Next north were the Skelligs.  Skellig Michael on the left, where some of Star Wars was filmed, and Little Skellig on the right where Gannets have painted it white. There are lots of tourist boats coming and going from somewhere up Portmagee Channel which separates Valentia Island from the mainland. Our trip was 6.75 hours in total with the wind picking up
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Crookhaven to Lawrence Cove, Bere Island 26 May 2023

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  Crookhaven lighthouse Very relaxed start to the day. Shane bird watched, Gordon did a bit of maintenance, Susie exercised her painful arm and Mary talked to family at home.  Susie and Gordon then had a short (romantic?) walk ashore, before we were ready to slip the mooring at 12.00. Today’s journey is only about 2.5 hours to Lawrence Cove - a small marina on the north side of Bere Island.  Weather conditions are perfect - calm and sunny, and warm from the start. We quickly came to Mizen Head, the most southwesterly point of Ireland - dramatic and beautiful. We find it hard to believe that we are seeing it from this angle - we feel very lucky. Mizen Head from the south (bottom) and from the west (top). The views across Bantry Bay were outstanding - mountains all the way round except for the Atlantic bit - and I’m sure if we had tried we could have seen the Statue of Liberty, the weather was so clear and sunny and calm and lovely. No cetaceans - rather disappointingly. Bantry Bay Lovel
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Baltimore to Crookhaven 25 May 2023

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  Baltimore monuments  Left: “Heart of the Sea” In memory of those who have lost their lives to the sea. Never to be forgotten. Commissioned by Baltimore Rath and the Islands Community Council 2020. Right: The Beacon or Lot’s Wife.  Built to mark the harbour mouth for sailors far out to sea. It is shown on a map dated 1788.  The building of the present structure was completed in Feb 1849. The height and circumference are both 50 feet. We’ve fallen in love!  Baltimore became an incorporated market town in 1607 occupied by new English settlers. On 20 June 1631 Baltimore was attacked by pirates from the North African coast.  This bold and dramatic attack, known as the “Sack of Baltimore” was the only attack in history by these pirates on Irish soil, with over 100 town-folk kidnapped during the dead of night, taken from their beds, then chained and brought to Algiers and sold as slaves. Despite this, we love it! We might emigrate! At our mooring at Baltimore  Our route - but part of it is
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Kinsale to Baltimore - what a day! 24 May 2023

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  Old Kinsale Head lighthouse  A very civilised start to the day.  We planned to leave our berth at 10.00 to make the most of tide, and because our destination, Baltimore, was only 4.5 hours away.  It was chilly on deck before we left, but rapidly improved once we started motoring. Leaving Kinsale by boat is dominated by Charles Fort - an impressive bit of military hardware first occupied in 1682 and now a visitor site managed by Heritage Ireland. Through the day we then passed a series of headlands, all of them wonderful to see, particularly this superb calm sunny day. Old Head of Kinsale where there is only access for the members (and their guests) of the Old Head Golf Club (where annual membership starts at €30,000pa!). Everybody else is not happy. Seven Heads - no lighthouse, but the remains of a watchtower.  Galley Head.  As we were passing the Mizen Head coastguard called us up on VHF radio (much to our surprise, and, initially, some consternation) to ask us to keep an eye out fo
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