History, Culture, & Heritage

The Dingle Peninsula is a treasure trove of archaeological and histoyical interest. People have inhabited this peninsula for thousands of years, from Neolithic Man to Celtic pagans, and the area has an abundance of histoyical and archaeological sites. A learning centre of Early Christianity, and the mythical home of many legends of Irish folklore. If you are staying in the area or just passing through don't miss this opportunity to discover the beauty and heritage of the Dingle Peninsula by taking a guided Bus tour from an established local tour operator. Bus tours leave from the head of the pier daily but it is advisable to book ahead for larger parties as space may be a factor.

Spanish Armada

The Spanish Armada fleet was assembled and dispatched by King Philip II of Spain in an unsuccessful attempt to invade England in 1588. The defeat of the armada was one of the great achievements of Queen Elizabeth I of England and helped bring about the subsequent decline of the Spanish Empire. In the Battle of Gravelines on August 8, the English defeated the armada. Unable to sail home through the English Channel because of heavy winds, the badly damaged remaining ships were forced to sail north around Scotland and Ireland to return home. Some ships were lost in the open sea; others were driven into the coast of Ireland and wrecked. Many of the survivors, who managed to scramble ashore in Ireland, were killed or starved to death. Only 67 of the original 130 ships reached Spain, and most of these ships were in poor condition.

Marie Antoinette

There is a traditional, which prevails to the present day among Dingle people that the town was once intended as the refuge of Marie Antoinette, Queen of France. It was in the course of the French Revolution, when plans were made by certain officers of the Irish Brigades on the continent, to rescue the Queen from the Temple Prison in Paris, and to convey her by carriage and ship to safety in Dingle. The house prepared for her is still pointed out. It stands at Canon's Corner, the junction of Upper Main Street and Green Street.

Tom Crean

Tom Crean has until now, been largely neglected as one of the great explorers of the beginning of the twentieth century. Although his name appears in many of the accounts of the epic adventures of Scott and Shackleton, his contributions tended to be included with those of the other seamen, and overshadowed by the leaders of the expeirelandions and their officers. Modern histoyians of Antarctic expeirelandions and people currently involved in the Antarctic scientific projects have come to realise that Crean's contribution to the survival of the exploration teams, and his strength, physical and mental, were in a large part contributory to their survival and in some cases directly responsible for saving the lives of some of his companions. Born in Gurtacurran, Annascaul on the Dingle Peninsula, County Kerry, Ireland in 1877 to a large family on a small farm, he sailed from nearby Minard in 1893 to enlist in the British Navy as a Boy 2nd Class.

Thomas Ashe

Thomas Ashe was born in 1885 in the village of Lispole, near Dingle. He was educated in Lispole and at the De La Salle Teacher Training College in Waterford City. After qualifying as a teacher, Ashe took up the position of Principal at Corduff N.S. in Lusk, Co. Dublin. Ashe had great interest and involvement in the Nationalist Movement and was a member of the Irish Volunteers and the Gaelic League. The years leading to the Uprising in 1916 saw Ashe take a more important role in these groups, and by Easter Sunday, 1916, Ashe was the commanding officer of the Dublin 5th Battalion of the Volunteers. During the Rising, Ashe and his Battalion of just 48 men, led many successful attacks and ambushes on military barracks around the Dublin Area. The most famous victory of this band of men was in Ashbourne, Co. Meath, when Ashe and his men captured four police barracks with large quantities of arms and ammunition. Even as the leaders of the Rebellion were being rounded up in Dublin and around the country, Ashe's group kept their guerrilla war going.

Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne

Ballyferriter Village, Dingle, Co. Kerry. - Tel: 066 9156100 info@westkerrymuseum.com

We are open 7 days a week, 10.00 am - 5.00 pm June to September, and for a week at Easter. For the rest of the year we open by request. Beidh fáilte romhat! (A welcome will be waiting for you!) Telephone: +353 (0)66 9156333 or +353 (0)66 9156100 Fax: +353 (0)66 9156348 E-mail: For further information about Irish/Gaelic language classes for adult Telephone: +353 (0)66 9156100 and ask for Máire Uí Shithigh or Caitríona Ní Cathail,

Díseart Institute of Education & Celtic Culture

Green Street , Dingle, Co. Kerry - Tel: 0 66 915 2476 info@diseart.ie

Díseart Institute of Education and Celtic Culture was founded in 1996 in the heart of Corca Dhuibhne - the Dingle Peninsula Gaeltacht (Irish speaking) and strives to promote research, courses and cultural activities in all areas of native and Celtic Culture including language, literature, art, laws, folklore, values, spirituality, history, music, archaeology and customs. Díseart is one of the first community initiatives for third-level accreirelanded courses in the Gaeltacht and it is currently the only institution in Ireland offering such a selection of courses to students while at the same time focusing on developing and strengthening the Irish language, the culture and the traditionals of the Gaeltacht region. Currently Díseart offers a range of third-level courses to visitors and locals alike, including weekend and weekly classes to Certificate and Diploma level. All of the courses welcome students from Ireland and around the world to explore the breathtaking scenery and experience the rich and vibrant traditionals of this Gaeltacht area of West Kerry, with field trips and visits to the Blasket Islands and Skellig Michil an integral part of the variety of programmes on offer.

Díseart has also established a rich cultural programme providing facilities for the local community and visitors. This has included an artist-in-residence scheme and a number of exhibitions. Díseart's cultural programme is punctuated by the celebration of the four ancient Celtic festivals: Imbolg (Lá le Bride), Bealtaine, Lúnasa and Samhain. These festivals bring together drama, storytelling, concerts, poetry readings, art exhibitions, liturgies, walks and pilgrimages, Traditional crafts and music session.