I loved the history behind the Famine Cottages and can not believe that they are still in such good…read moreshape considering they were built in the mid nineteenth century. The cottages has been preserved so that when you step inside you get a good idea of how people had to live in this difficult time. I do think that they took things a little far when they placed mannequins in the bed and by the fireplace. It is creepy and I don't think added anything to the site. You have to walk up a step hill to view the cottages. Once you arrive at the top the view will take your breath away. On a clear day you can see as far as Skellig Rocks. There is a large farmer's cottage and three smaller cottages, The large one has outhouses attached for the horse and cow. These cottages were made from mud and stone and any wood used was washed up from shipwrecks. There are burials on the property that are sectioned off and protected. The last person to live in the cottages moved out in the 1950's.

The Irish Famine Cottages are a neat piece of history: as close as one can come to understanding…read moresome of the living conditions of the Irish in the early 19th century. FYI, admission is listed in travel books as €4, but we were quoted €3 at the entrance. Ask for feed to feed the donkeys, sheep, and ponies in the Animal Park on your ascent. (Though the greedy buggers only want your food: no pets after you oblige!) The first cottage is "Pat's House": a peasant laborer. The second is the Kavanaghs. The cottages were built using mud and stone, and had thatched roofs (though no longer). The latter has multiple rooms with furniture and information. It also has an adjoining cow house/outhouse and stable. Finally, there is a beehive hut that was used to house the pig. There is also a path that leads you to an old (non-Catholic) burial ground, though it's not accessible and can only be viewed from the fence. Still very neat! Overall the Irish Famine Cottages was an interesting historical look into one of the most trying times for the Irish! It's worth a visit if you're in the area seeing the other ancient attractions!

The Crucifix Shrine is a life size scene of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is made of white…read morestone and it jumps out in contrast against the dark cliffs. The shrine is popular landmark along Slea Head Drive. Some people call it the Slea Head Crucifix. The exact area is named the "Cornerstone of the Peninsula" because it marks the boundary between two Parishes of the Dingle Peninsula. It was funded by an Irish-American and erected before the1960"s. It stands as a memorial to the fishermen who have lost their lives at sea. I visited the Shrine while driving the 33 mile Dingle loop. The road is very narrow but there is a turn out in front of the statue that will allow you to comfortably access the shrine and take photos. It is pretty popular so you may have to wait your turn to visit.

Another ancient site along Slea Head Drive (R 559) in Dingle, County Kerry, is Dunbeg Fort. It was…read morebuilt in the Iron Age - wood excavated from the site was dated at 580 BCE. There is a ~16m defense wall and ditches still intact. The fort was built close to Dingle Bay and, as a result, has suffered damage when the cliff has eroded and parts have fallen into the sea. Visitors will see the steep, precarious drop near the fence line. Unfortunately at the time of this review, Dunbeg Fort is closed due to seasonal storms having again caused damage. Links to more information: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/future-of-precarious-kerry-fort-dunbeg-hangs-in-the-balance-1.3346234 http://www.thejournal.ie/kerry-fort-ancient-3781702-Jan2018/ Hopefully what is left will be preserved and made safe so visitors can continue to enjoy this ancient, impressive piece of history.

We visited Dunbeg Fort as part of the Slea Head Drive. The fort is well marked with a spacious…read moreparking area. You pay a small fee to enter and then walk down a narrow path to the fort. The fort is falling off the cliff so there are areas that are blocked off and you can see the reinforcement to try and preserve what is remaining. Needless to say, don't ignore the signs or disregard the fences. We had already seen Dun Aengus on the largest of the Aran Islands - Inishmore. Dunbeg Fort simply didn't compare. Dun Aengus is also on a cliff and falling into the ocean but is MUCH larger and the area is more scenic. The next day we visited the Staigue Stone Fort along the Ring of Kerry and it was also much more impressive. If you've seen Dun Aengus, you can probably skip this. 2 stars.

Conor Pass, situated on the Dingle Peninsula, is a twisty and narrow mountain passage that connects…read moreDingle with Brandon Bay and Castlegregory. This 3.5 mile drive is considered as one of Ireland's prettiest drives. The scenic road leading to the pass weaves around the edges of coastal cliffs and past blue glacial lakes. Prior to our visit we heard the horror stories of how dangerous this drive was. The drive really isn't that bad; although this was our third day of driving on the left side of the road! There were a few spots that were too narrow for two cars to pass at once, but we would just pull off the road in a passable spot and there were no issues. We approached several sheep in the middle of the road so be cautious as you make each turn. There is only one spot to pull off the road and take photos. It was very foggy on the morning that we were on Conor Pass, but I think the fog adds an eerie and romantic touch to the photos we took!

We got lucky with clear skies and were rewarded with majestic views as we traversed the cliff side…read moreroad to a summit that allowed us to see as far as the eye would allow! Just. Beautiful. We had a driver. Truthfully, I'd be scared out of my wits if myself or a family member tried driving this. The lanes are super narrow and literally one lane in places. Plan to take your time and enjoy the views. Unless you're the driver... then, just plan to take your time, please. You need to keep your eyes on the road! ;) P.S. The ice cream bordered on custard and was the perfect treat!

We visited the Tetrapod Trackway in the evening as the sun was setting. There is a small parking…read morelot and then a short walk down to the water. There is an informational board at the bottom that you should not ignore. We had limited time before we ran out of daylight and only skimmed the board. We walked down to the water to view the tracks up close and spent most of our time trying to figure out if we were looking at the tracks or random markings. Save yourself some confusion and read the board! It clearly shows where the tracks are and it's much easier to see it from above. 3 stars.

This is a most historic site. This is an ancient fortress. It is now a ruin. One can climb all over…read moreit and it appears to be safe. It is surrounded by a wood and it is near to a forest. It is most atmospheric and well worth a visit even if one does not tarry for a long spell. There is little information given there - a couple of plaques in English and Irish. It is not very wide or tall. It withstood a siege in 1602. Rebel forces under the O'Sullivan Beare held out here for a few weeks until they withdrew to Leitrim - the march of the O'Sullivan Beare. How did they hold off their besiegers and how did they break out? Some who did not escape were captured by Crown Forces and executed.

Due to the weather and timing, we only stopped by the visitor center…read more There was an interesting movie to watch that gave some good information about the island, monks and wildlife. It looked beautiful but challenging to see as part of an island tour. The exhibits about the Skellig monastery and details about how the monks eeked out a living were quite good. Very amazed about their perseverance to live on such a remote and isolated island. A small cafe was also onsite and one could take in views of Portmagee here or outside the center. Hopefully next time we will have time and good weather to see the island.

Best boat ride in the world. it was really fun even though I got sea sick the view was awesome tooread more

Small fee and short walk to the cliffs but even in the summer it was really cold and windy. I was…read morereally cold but it was so beautiful and enjoyed watching the waves hit the rocks ... the colors of the water. I got sick bronchitis and laryngitis day after. Definitely worth seeing if you're in the area. We had hats with brims and chin straps... tighten the chin strap as tight as possible or the hat will end up in the ocean.

When we arrived at the Kerry Cliffs parking lot the rain and wind were picking up. It was a bit of…read morea hike up a gravel path to get to the viewing spots. A couple beehive hut reproductions could be visited about midway up. For some reason a car passed us by and parked up at the top. Maybe there was a special fee or permit? By the time we reached the viewing areas it was really coming down and we were getting pushed around. Umbrellas were useless in the wind. It made it tough to see everything and a result had to cut our visit short since we were already soaked. The views we did manage to take in were quite amazing. The views here were much higher than The Cliffs of Moher and much less crowded. Hopefully will try to come back under better weather in the future.