Page 73 - Guerin Media | Cork Airport Holiday & Destination Guide 2015
P. 73
The harbour below is a smugglers dream but is road then carries on down towards Brandon Bay
not much in use today. Be sure to park carefully past cliffs and a waterfall. Stop at the waterfall
if you choose to stop here for a closer sea view. and brave the climb to spy one of these remarkable
Stand well back from the cliff edge as we never can mountain lakes and an elevated view of the valley
know if there is an overhang or a risk of the earth below.
giving way. In this heady landscape, it is wise to
be cautious and travel safely - the ocean takes no Brandon - Cé Bhréannain
prisoners! “Brendan’s Quay”
From Feothanach, if you cross the bridge at the The pace of life here is wonderful. Despite its
junction, you can follow the road around to take location the village has a warm and cosy
in the treacherous rocky inlet of Brandon’s cove atmosphere, good food and a lively cultural
where Saint Brendan is said to have embarked calendar. In this Gaeltacht village and
on his perilous journey across to the “Isle of the surrounding area, the ancient Celtic harvest
Blessed” - his was thefirst record of a visiting that festival, a pre-Christian celebration called Féile
landmass today known as “America”. The journey Lughnasa takes place yearly on the last Sunday of
of Brendan (489–583AD.) or “Brendan the voyager” July. Here you will find one of the top windsurfing
as he is sometimes known, was re-created by Tim locations in the country and you can learn for
Severin in a hand crafted naomhóg in 1976. yourself at the local windsurfing school that is
Severin and his crew sailed their tiny boat The based in the bay. Brandon together with its sister
Brendan, 4,500 miles (7,200 km) from Ireland village, An Clochán, will bring gentle respite from
to Newfoundland, stopping at the Hebrides and any residual stresses that have not yet been blown
Iceland en route. Latin texts of Navigatio Sancti away by the Wild Atlantic.
Brendani Abbatis (The Voyage of St. Brendan the
Abbot) date back to at least 800 AD. From here, Cloghane- An Clochán “The Stone Hut”
the road will take you straight to the foot of Mount
Brandon, where the Saint was reputed to have Clochán is a quaint and colorful village elegantly
fasted for 40 days before undertaking his famous flourishing on the shores of the Owenmore estuary.
voyage. Climbing to the summit is both strenuous It has a rich heritage of music, language, and dance
and rewarding. Mount Brandon itself is the end and boasts fine dining and a warm welcome. Music
of a Christian pilgrimage trail known as Cosán na sessions nightly in the local pubs will keep you
Naomh. The walk can take about four hours and entertained after a day of drinking in the fresh air.
the route is marked out clearly by white crosses.
Pilgrims have come to this place for thousands of Castlegregory- Caisleán Ghriaire
years prior to Christianity and this route was “Gregory’s Castle”
originally associated with the festival of
Lughnasadh. The mountain’s importance may be A gentleman by the name of Gregory Hoare built
due to the fact that, being so far west and so high, a house here on the north side of the peninsula in
it is the last place where the sun can be seen the 16th century. The population of the region is
before it sets. now only one quarter of what it was prior to the
Great Famine. The village is surrounded by the ever
Conor Pass- “An Chonair” looming mountains of the Dingle peninsula and
overlooked directly by Beenoskee and Stradbally
This unique route known among locals as “An Mountains. Rising to the west we see Mount
Chonair”, crosses the peninsula between Dingle Brandon.Castlegregory Pattern Day is celebrated on
Town and Brandon Bay on the other side. The 15 August, and a local tradition is to eat
Mountains the Pass crosses are the Brandon locally-made mutton pies. This event is known to
Mountains and contain Ireland’s second highest attract several celebrities each year. Colin Farrell
peak Brandon Mountain at 3127 ft. From Dingle and Cathal Lafferty attended in 2007. A nine hole
Town the road runs some 41⁄2 miles with some links golf course “Castlegregory Golf and Fishing
jaw dropping views of the landscape beyond. At club”, is also located nearby, to the west of the
the summit of the Pass there is a car park where village on the shores of Lough Gill, a freshwater
you are confronted with this magnificent sight. The lake.
73
not much in use today. Be sure to park carefully past cliffs and a waterfall. Stop at the waterfall
if you choose to stop here for a closer sea view. and brave the climb to spy one of these remarkable
Stand well back from the cliff edge as we never can mountain lakes and an elevated view of the valley
know if there is an overhang or a risk of the earth below.
giving way. In this heady landscape, it is wise to
be cautious and travel safely - the ocean takes no Brandon - Cé Bhréannain
prisoners! “Brendan’s Quay”
From Feothanach, if you cross the bridge at the The pace of life here is wonderful. Despite its
junction, you can follow the road around to take location the village has a warm and cosy
in the treacherous rocky inlet of Brandon’s cove atmosphere, good food and a lively cultural
where Saint Brendan is said to have embarked calendar. In this Gaeltacht village and
on his perilous journey across to the “Isle of the surrounding area, the ancient Celtic harvest
Blessed” - his was thefirst record of a visiting that festival, a pre-Christian celebration called Féile
landmass today known as “America”. The journey Lughnasa takes place yearly on the last Sunday of
of Brendan (489–583AD.) or “Brendan the voyager” July. Here you will find one of the top windsurfing
as he is sometimes known, was re-created by Tim locations in the country and you can learn for
Severin in a hand crafted naomhóg in 1976. yourself at the local windsurfing school that is
Severin and his crew sailed their tiny boat The based in the bay. Brandon together with its sister
Brendan, 4,500 miles (7,200 km) from Ireland village, An Clochán, will bring gentle respite from
to Newfoundland, stopping at the Hebrides and any residual stresses that have not yet been blown
Iceland en route. Latin texts of Navigatio Sancti away by the Wild Atlantic.
Brendani Abbatis (The Voyage of St. Brendan the
Abbot) date back to at least 800 AD. From here, Cloghane- An Clochán “The Stone Hut”
the road will take you straight to the foot of Mount
Brandon, where the Saint was reputed to have Clochán is a quaint and colorful village elegantly
fasted for 40 days before undertaking his famous flourishing on the shores of the Owenmore estuary.
voyage. Climbing to the summit is both strenuous It has a rich heritage of music, language, and dance
and rewarding. Mount Brandon itself is the end and boasts fine dining and a warm welcome. Music
of a Christian pilgrimage trail known as Cosán na sessions nightly in the local pubs will keep you
Naomh. The walk can take about four hours and entertained after a day of drinking in the fresh air.
the route is marked out clearly by white crosses.
Pilgrims have come to this place for thousands of Castlegregory- Caisleán Ghriaire
years prior to Christianity and this route was “Gregory’s Castle”
originally associated with the festival of
Lughnasadh. The mountain’s importance may be A gentleman by the name of Gregory Hoare built
due to the fact that, being so far west and so high, a house here on the north side of the peninsula in
it is the last place where the sun can be seen the 16th century. The population of the region is
before it sets. now only one quarter of what it was prior to the
Great Famine. The village is surrounded by the ever
Conor Pass- “An Chonair” looming mountains of the Dingle peninsula and
overlooked directly by Beenoskee and Stradbally
This unique route known among locals as “An Mountains. Rising to the west we see Mount
Chonair”, crosses the peninsula between Dingle Brandon.Castlegregory Pattern Day is celebrated on
Town and Brandon Bay on the other side. The 15 August, and a local tradition is to eat
Mountains the Pass crosses are the Brandon locally-made mutton pies. This event is known to
Mountains and contain Ireland’s second highest attract several celebrities each year. Colin Farrell
peak Brandon Mountain at 3127 ft. From Dingle and Cathal Lafferty attended in 2007. A nine hole
Town the road runs some 41⁄2 miles with some links golf course “Castlegregory Golf and Fishing
jaw dropping views of the landscape beyond. At club”, is also located nearby, to the west of the
the summit of the Pass there is a car park where village on the shores of Lough Gill, a freshwater
you are confronted with this magnificent sight. The lake.
73
