 |
| View from the Dingle Peninsula's Inch Beach |
BEST KILLARNEY TOUR GUIDE EVER! - Across the Pond Vacations set us up with tour guide Gerard Scott of Killarney guided tours. You can find him at: http://killarneyguidedtours.biz/. We learned that Gerard is also a singer and performer with the "Celtic Steps.' He enjoys singing Neil Diamond and John Denver songs, and so do we, so it was even more fun! Her recommended a couple of movies that we're going to check out: Ryan's Daughter, Michael Collins (with Liam Neeson) and Quiet Man (with John Wayne).
So, over the next several blogs, you'll read and see the Great Blasket Islands, the site of the Spanish Armada's fateful route, the spectacular Slea Head and so much more. We also got a bite to eat in charming Dingle Town. Gerard knows his geography and history like no other. He also knows the roads, do we didn't have to worry about trying to negotiate the winding Irish roads around the peninsula.
CASTLEMAINE HARBOR- This harbor in the beginning of the southern end of the Peninsula is where ocean farmers harvest mussels.
HERO FROG - Gerard told us the developers wanted to make a large part of Inch Beach into a large golf course. When a Natterjack Toad was found there, the site could not be developed.
WHAT IS A NATTERJACK TOAD? - This toad is native to sandy and heathland areas of Europe. Adults are 60–70 mm in length and are distinguished from common toads by a yellow line down the middle of the back, and parallel paratoid glands. They have relatively short legs, and this gives them a distinctive gait, contrasting with the hopping movement of many other toad species. Natterjacks have a very loud and distinctive mating call, amplified by the single vocal sac found under the chin of the male.
 |
| Natterjack Toad |
WHERE ELSE ARE THEY FOUND? - Populations of the natterjack extend through 17 European countries. In the British Isles the toad is almost completely confined to coastal sites. The natterjack is the only species of toad native to Ireland. It is found on the Dingle peninsula and at Derrynane in County Kerry, and also in County Wexford .
BLUSTERY INCH BEACH - Inch Beach is in Ireland's County Kerry. The beach is a sand spit jutting into the sea between Dingle Harbour and Castlemaine Harbour, where "Ryan's Daughter" was famously filmed. When we arrived, it was an extraordinarily windy day. Sustained winds were about 60 mph- tropical storm strength! Of course, the surf was extraordinarily rough. As we stood on the beach we got sandblasted by the strong winds kicking up sand.Fortunately, there was a little restaurant on the beach, so we went inside for some tea and scones so we could watch the waves and wind.
INCH BEACH'S DOLPHIN - Gerard told us that there was a dolphin named "Fungi" that keeps returning to Inch beach and nearby Dingle Harbor because tourists keep feeding him.
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/y_d8Enzh3-Y
NEXT: THE BEEHIVE HUTS!
