Exploring Dingle Town
Faces of Dingle Leaders in Imaginative Painting of the Last Supper
An optional rainy walking tour with retired teacher, Michael O'Connor, covered the highlights and some of the long history of the town. Dingle was once a busy seaport and a gateway for trade with Spain during the Middle Ages. Today, Dingle's economy is mostly driven by tourism.
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The Dingle region is now a Gaeltacht, meaning that the government provides subsidies for the preservation of Irish culture and language. Irish language is taught in the schools, and, in some rural areas, locals primarily speak the Irish Gaelic language.
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Free Time on Day 7 – Exploring Green Street
The showers had passed and the sky was blue. Just around the corner from Benners, we discovered Green Street, the place in town to shop. We each bought books in a local book store (an Irish novel for me and the latest on Michael Collins for Gary). I found a handwoven scarf, and we visited several art galleries. My biggest splurge was a set of glasses from the Dingle Crystal shop.
Historic Highlights and Nearby Green Street
St. Mary's Sanctuary
Former Nuns' Convent
St. Mary's Church and Former Convent
Further down the street, we visited St. Mary's Church with its beautiful sanctuary and a former nuns' convent. The convent building has been converted to a center for community activities, Christian Celtic research and education.
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The whimsical painting of the Last Supper by Eleanor Yates (top of page), covers the wall of one of the meeting rooms at the convent. As noted, the faces in the painting have been replaced with those of Dingle leaders,
and in the background, Dingle harbor
can be seen out of the window.
The nuns' chapel in the convent building has six double stained glass windows designed in the 1920's by Ireland's most famous glass artist, Harry Clarke. The highly detailed windows were done in the Arts and Crafts style.
Pictured here: The Sermon on the Mount (left) and Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene (right). The oak choir stalls line both sides of the chapel.
Trad Session at O'Sullivan's Courthouse Pub
Familiar faces – Tommy O'Sullivan and Eoin Duignan joined an accordion player at Tommy's Courthouse Pub. This was our one and only venture out on our own to hear traditional music in an Irish pub. We learned an important lesson about Irish pub music: it starts whenever! We got there early to get a good seat and nursed our pints until Tommy finally arrived. The music started about 9:45! With the bus leaving the next morning, we only stayed for a few lively numbers. Still, it was fun to join the local Saturday night crowd. Gary reported back on the unique urinals!
