Greetings from Ireland's Magical Dingle Peninsula
Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig ó mhuintir Leithinis Chorca Dhuibhne anseo in Éireann. Bainigí sult is taitneamh as an lá le rince, ceol is craic. Ár mbeannachtai go speicialta díbh go léir gur imigh bhur sinsear ar imirce ón dtír so trasna na farraige go Ceanada.
Saint Patrick’s day blessings from the Dingle Peninsula on the west coast of Ireland to all in Canada. Have fun and enjoy our music and dance where you can. Special regards to all of you whose people emigrated from Ireland across the Atlantic to Canada.
Savour the magic of the Dingle Peninsula on this special day by logging into www.dingle-peninsula.ie . We look forward to welcoming those of you who get to visit this very special part of the world this coming year.
Sláinte Saol chugaibh go léir is go mairfidh sibh céad.
(A healthy life to you all and may you live to be a hundred)
Sile Gorman
Chairperson, Dingle Peninsula Tourism
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
Along with her position as chairperson for Dingle Peninsula Tourism, Sile Gorman and her husband Vincent, own and operate the Gorman’s Clifftophouse bed and breakfast.
 |
| THE DINGLE PENINSULA on the west coast of Ireland is a magical place renown for its spectacular scenery. |
“Tourism is a very important part of the economy of the peninsula. There would be very few who would not in some way be dependent on tourism, whether it be students working for their college fees or families totally dependent,”said Sile.
“As a committee, we try to represent the interests of the peninsula and market the Dingle Peninsula by keeping an eye on things like planning and sustainable development and other areas that would affect our lives here on the peninsula.”
Kicking off the tourist season is a spring festival which features traditional music. There arel be workshops on traditional instruments, traditional singing and traditional dancing. Sile said, “our traditional dancing is not the kind of dancing that you would see in the world championships where everyone is dressed-up with their ringlets.
“It’s a looser form of dancing, not so stiff and structured. It would have been in the rural areas before it got all organized and competitions started. Actually, it would have been the kind of dancing where long ago in the old kitchens, they would have a half-door and that would be taken off the hinges and thrown down on the floor and somebody would just jump on it and dance a few steps.”
 |
| SILE and Vincent Gorman are the owners of the Gorman’s Clifftop bed and breakfast. |
She said, “We also have a great festival the first week in May called Feile na Bealtiane, which is ‘Festival of May’. Bealtaine means ‘mouth of the fire’ and it is a most Celtic thing to welcome in the summer. This festival is very much a cultural festival. It has events going on all over the peninsula, not just Dingle town. There are art exhibitions, poetry readings and music...something for everyone.
“All through the summer each area would have their own currach race. In this area they are called laomhogs. These light boats are still used by some people for lobster fishing, because they are very good for fishing in close to the coast and into the little bays and around rocks.”
Being close to the sea, the Dingle Peninsula has great fish. In the height of summer, in June and July, they have fresh wild salmon, crabs, prawns, lobster, and a fish called john dory, which is a flat white fish with good texture and taste. The john dory fish has a thumb print on one side, which is said to be the mark of St. Peter.
“The high tourist season is July and August when all the schools are out,” said Sile, “however we have people in Dingle all times of the year now. In Europe, there are now such cheap air flights that people are travelling at all times, taking short breaks.”
*
For more information about the Dingle Peninsula, visit: www.dingle-peninsula.ie. For bookings and information about Gorman’s Clifftop House and Restaurant, Glaise Bheag, Ballydavid, Dingle Peninsula, call (011) 353-66-9155-162, or visit: www.gormans-clifftophouse.com.
|
