Dingle in County Kerry

December 5, 2011 by Heather Lucier Stanley 1 Comment

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Dingle = The largest gem of our trip. Our guide Robbie had gotten to know me over the course of the week. After touring Dingle, I remarked, “By far, my favorite town.” Robbie said, “I knew you would like it.” Robbie said he could live in Dingle. I felt the same way.

Laid back, bohemian, artsy, friendly, good food, colorful buildings, many hiking trails, and relaxing = Dingle

Alan said, “We could spend a week here. This reminds me of Cannon Beach. Vicki and Brian would love it.”

On and on, we sung our praises for Dingle.

All week I had been looking for a piece of art. All week I came up empty handed.

I did not want the traditional souvenir. I wanted something a local would buy and put in his or her home that did not necessarily scream “Ireland.” I wanted a piece that someone may walk into our house, notice, and perhaps like. Then ask me where I bought it. Nothing obvious. Something subtle that reminded me of Ireland.

I got that piece of art in Dingle. It is not an original painting because I did not want to spend money on an original. Instead, I bought a print of a scene at dawn of the rolling meadows with trees and sheep by a local Dingle artist. The print is called Golden Dawn, not the expected green of Ireland.

Alan hung the print in our kitchen and every morning I am reminded of Dingle and how I want to return to experience a Golden Dawn.

After buying the print, Alan and I ate lunch at Out of the Blue. The food was exceptional. I had the freshest raw oyster I have ever had. We told the waitstaff, “This is the freshest seafood we have ever had.”

We told Robbie about our dining experience and he said, “It’s one of the 5 best restaurants in Ireland.”

Alan gets the credit for picking out the restaurant. I was drawn to the maize and blue exterior, the University of Michigan school colors. I thought, why not?

If I had a lot of money, I would find a way to maximize my time in Dingle on a regular basis. I would also take the time to learn Gaelic, which is proudly spoken in Dingle.

heather and alan

About Heather Lucier Stanley

Heather Lucier Stanley grew up in Central Massachusetts and lived in New England until she started studying at the University of Michigan where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and Literature. In her early 20s, she moved to San Antonio, Texas and started studying business and accounting. In her late 20s, she became a Certified Public Accountant. She has held many varied and interesting business and volunteer positions: public accountant, internal auditor, systems implementer, project manager, business analyst, tax preparer and Austin Skiers board member. While traveling 35% for a position she held, she earned her Master of Information Systems (MIS) at the University of Phoenix. She is enthusiastic about learning and trying new things. A few of her passions are personal development, fitness, snow skiing, and travel. She is outgoing and real. She feels that success is easy to attain if the individual defines what success means to her and then has a plan to achieve her individual success. No two definitions of success are the same because each of us is unique and has something original to share with the world.
View all posts by Heather Lucier Stanley →

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Exploring Ireland: How To See A Lot and Have a Blast | Heather Lucier Stanley - December 10, 2011

    [...] 14. Dingle in County Kerry [...]