To the Dingle Peninsula
That's our tour bus on the ferry, there were sheep aboard too!
Listowel
The following morning, we boarded the bus for our next destination: Dingle. We headed to Dingle via the town of Listowel, which is home to a national horse racing track that had just hosted a major race in the weeks before our visit. On our way to Listowel, we crossed the River Shannon on a ferry, where we were able to get off the bus for some bracing fresh air.
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In Listowel, we visited the late John B. Keane's pub where we enjoyed tea and scones while John B.'s son, Billy Keane, recounted humorous tales of his father, who had been a playwright and novelist, well known for his progressive ideas.
One of my concerns with traveling with a tour group was that I would not be able to keep up with the steady flow of tea it takes to maintain my charming disposition. I was relieved that our fearless guide, Gearoid, always had a bathroom break and coffee spot calculated perfectly into our travel days. Notably, there were never any tears shed due to lack of tea.
Our guide was from Dingle, and he told us it is the best (we don't disagree)! Dingle is a charming seaside town with colorful buildings and a dolphin mascot named Fungie.​
Upon arriving in Dingle, we had free time to eat lunch and browse the shops. We thoroughly enjoyed fish and chips, mushy peas, a glass of Guinness, and the friendly service at the Marina Inn. In Ireland, if you order a "glass" of Guinness, you will be served a half-pint. The perfect size for lunch!
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After lunch we had an orientation walk and Dingle history tour followed by an Irish whiskey tasting in a local pub. The evening concluded with a buffet dinner, complete with a performance by traditional Irish musicians.​
Dingle
