Dunquin Village, Dingle Peninsula, Ireland

Beauty Unsurpassed - Dún Chaoin (Dunquin) by Marian O'Flaherty, editor of www.dinglenews.com

The place legendary director David Lean once described as 'the edge of the world' the town land of Dún Chaoin (Dunquin) is Europe's most westerly village. Once you travel around the rugged beauty and cliffs of the Slea-Head, heading towards the area where movies Ryan's Daughter and Far and Away were filmed, you arrive at this picturesque village, cocooned from the stresses of the modern world. The unrelenting, unrestrained beauty of the place just gets you right in the gut as you witness the immense power of the Atlantic waves as it rushes into Commenouel beach, crashing against the Irish coastline.

Looking out into the ocean you can witness the unsurpassed beauty of the Blasket Islands where once lived a unique community of people (including the geological wonder, An Fear Marbh (the Sleeping Giant), one of the Blasket Islands which actually looks like a giant floating on the water!). While the last inhabitants left to come to the mainland in the 1950s, the literary works of Peig Sayers, Tomás Criothain and Muiris Ó Suilleabháin live on.

One of the best things to do while on holiday is to take a boat-trip to the Blasket Islands themselves as, aside from the immense history of the island communities; the islands possess their own unique eco-systems with seals, birds, dolphins and whales. Dún Chaoin is also the heartland of the Gaeltacht, culture, custom and the Irish language is of paramount importance. Ionad an Bhlascaod (the Blasket Centre) located in Dún Chaoin is dedicated to the Blasket Island literary movement and indeed the many West Kerry emigrants who left this place to travel to what is referred to locally as 'the next parish' of America. Visit www.dunchaoin.com for more information.

© Marian O'Flaherty 2009

Republication, without the permission of the author, is strictly prohibited

Dunquin Local Links

Information about Dunquin Village A Visitors Guide to Dunquin on the Dingle Peninsula , County Kerry in the Southwest of Ireland. www.dingle-peninsula.ie/dunquin

Dunquin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Dunquin (Irish: Dún Chaoin, meaning Caon's Fort) is a village in the West Kerry Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking area). Dunquin is situated at the ... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunquin

Dingle Way | Towns & Villages | Dunquin Dunquin shares close ties with the once-inhabited Blasket Islands as it was the nearest point on the mainland from which supplies were sent over to the .. . www.dingleway.net/towns-villages/dunquin

Dún Chaoin Hostel, Kerry Dún Chaoin hostel (Dunquin Hostel) is located in the most stunning location. A modern hostel in Kerry with ensuite rooms and a common room it is suitable ... www.anoige.ie