Dingle and its Hinterland

People, Places and Heritage

'For those of us who have been long been under the spell of the Dingle Peninsula, and for those who have yet to discover it, this book is a brilliant guide to the land, the culture, the history, and especially its people.'
Boris Weintraub, former Senior Writer, National Geographic

The western Dingle Peninsula, at the edge of Europe, is one of Ireland's most remote regions. For millenia, it has also been a hub for foreign visitors; its position made it a medieval centre for traders, and the wildness of its rugged landscape has been the setting for spiritual pilgrimage. This seeming paradox is what makes Dingle and its western hinterland unique: the ancient, native culture is preserved, while also being influenced by the world at large. It's a rich heritage, best understood by chatting with the people who live and work here. But how many visitors get that opportunity?

Starting with Dingle town, and following the Slea Head Drive, Felicity Hayes-McCoy and Wilf Judd take us on an insiders' tour of the region, interviewing locals, ranging from farmers, postmasters and boatmen to museum curators, radio presenters and sean-nós singers. Residents for the last twenty years, Felicity and Wilf offer practical information and advice as well as cultural insights that will give any visitor a deeper understanding of this special place.