Frolicking Around The Dingle Peninsula
The day after our wedding! September 22
The first day as married women, and we decided to frolic along the Dingle Peninsula. By 10a.m. our faithful bus driver Kenny picked us up from Ballyseede Castle, and once through the scenic green rolling hills of our drive, we landed in Dingle. The streets welcomed us as we whistled through them, shopping, stopping, drinking Bailey’s cocoa, and taking as many photos as time allowed. We bought wool socks galore, sheepskin rugs, local artwork, and some whiskey. Matt and Julia bought surf shirts, April found jewelry and teas, and Debbie found some ornaments. We piled back into the tour bus with our Irish loot, beaming from the hugeness of such a small town.
The roads in dingle are small, and lined with pastel colored buildings that look like the land of Oz. We stopped outside McCarty’s Pub, traversed a bridge over a ravine, and hung out with Fungi the Dolphin statue. Sitting along the water, Dingle was nestled in a pocket surrounded by fishing boats and rolling green hills spotted with sheep and rock walls. Everything you’d hope it would be.
From town we took our 60 - person sized bus along Slea Head Drive. It is a great unknown how Kenny actually drove that bus along cliff sides without tumbling over, however, we sat comfortably knowing his skills were other-wordly. Stopping at many points, some of them labeled as Star Wars film locations, we truly frolicked on the Peninsula. Stefanie rolled, however. But the sun was above us, and the wind wrapped us in fresh, salty air. It was a day that could challenge the bliss of the wedding day prior. I remember standing there, looking over its blue waters, grey weathered stones, and emerald hills — we made it. Nothing can go wrong when something is this right.
With one last toastie from Dingle, we returned to Ballyseede Castle for food and drinks. Some cousins and friends had already left, and some were staying to further their travels along the Irish country side. We had tea on the patio as Matt played his bagpipes again for us all. Jamie and I packed all that we could from the wedding, while Julia and Peggy untangled origami roses for their own souvenirs. Little Jameson Whiskey bottles from the wedding day Slainté were still seen in people’s pockets. Everyone paid their bills, and kissed Molly the Irish Wolfhound one last time.
The next day would be another adventure in the heart of Ireland, but leaving Ballyseede Castle behind felt like we left a bit of our heart there. We buried some of Boo’s ashes beside the gazebo, and we are excited to celebrate there as a family again.
