Dingle Peninsula - Ireland 2014 - page 358

sula. Beyond the Ring of Kerry you may just make out the jagged Skellig Michael, noted
for its sixth-century monastic settlement (see previous chapter).
South Pole Inn
This pub, once owned by Antarctic explorer Tom Crean, is still open for business. As you
pass through Annascaul on N-86, consider dropping in. On its walls you can peruse the
loving photo gallery devoted to Crean's incredible adventures (see sidebar).
Inch Strand
This four-mile sandy beach, was made famous by the movie Ryan's Daughter. It's rated a
“Blue Flag” beach for its clean water and safe swimming (usually has a lifeguard in sum-
mer).
Shopping in Dingle
Dingle is a petri dish of capitalism, with boutiques and charming shops popping up all the
time to meet the rising demand of all the tourists and its newly affluent residents. Shop-
pers enjoy plenty of options.
Local Crafts
Many fine Dingle shops show off work by local artisans. The West Kerry Craft
Guild —a co-op selling the work of 14 area artists—is a delight, even if you're just
browsing. The prices here are good, since you're buying directly from the artists (daily
June-Aug 10:00-18:00; Sept-May Wed-Mon 11:00-17:00, closed Tue; 18 Main Street,
tel. [phone]). Dingle Crystal, on Green Street with a cozy little café, features
Sean Daly and his Waterford-trained crystal-cutting skills. Sean prides himself on his
deeper, sharper design cuts (daily 10:00-19:00 in summer, shorter hours off-season;
ask about crystal-cutting demonstrations in their workshop just outside town; tel. 066/
915-1550, www.dinglecrystal.ie ) . Lisbeth Mulcahy Weaver, filled with traditional but
stylish woven wear, is also the Dingle sales outlet of the well-known potter from out
on Slea Head (Mon-Sat 10:00-18:00, Sun 12:00-17:00, Green Street, tel. [phone]).
John Weldon Jewellers features fine, handcrafted workmanship of Celtic designs by the
local Dingle goldsmith (Mon-Sat 10:00-17:00, Sun 12:00-17:00, Green Street, tel. 066/
915-2522, www.johnweldonjewellers.com ).
Music Shops
Danlann Gallery sellsmusicalinstrumentsandwoodcrafts(Mon-Fri10:00-18:00insum-
mer, “flexible hours” on weekends, shorter hours off-season, owner makes violins, Green