The Road to Dingle, Ireland - July 1979

After spending some time in County Clare, the next place I headed for was Dingle. Folks I'd met in Limerick suggested that it would be a good place to visit. It was. I spent a couple of nights in a small B&B, walked around, and sampled the nightlife. I saw the famous Irish folk group The Wolfe Tones perform one pleasant evening. Up the rebels.

I took this shot and the one below at the train station at (I think) Limerick Junction. The nun seems particularly concerned about the man's somewhat gaudy socks.

I had smuggled some medicinal herb into Ireland. I was worried about getting through customs - this was my first trip abroad - but two sleepy customs officers yawned me through customs and out of the airport. At the time, I was a fairly heavy user, and I remember being quite stoned in Dingle, but enjoying the whole atmosphere tremendously.

I wrote this in my journal, July 8, after sitting out on the quay along Dingle Bay:

"great clouds engulfing, big night uproaring,
Dingle Bay ding a ling, ring ding a ling"

I rented a bike one day and rode out to the end of the peninsula. From there one can see the now abandoned island of Great Blasket. It maintains a forlorn beauty, as does the entire peninsula.

Evening on a Dingle side street.

Walking down the road. My memory of hedge-lined roads like this one is strong. I don't know who the fellow traveler was, but I wish him well.

I had a rail/bus pass which allowed me unlimited travel, but I also hitchhiked when necessary. On July 2, a sports car picked me and I was pleased to be in the company of one Vinnie Reddin, who introduced himself as "the number 2 race car driver in Ireland." He even gave me a picture of himself driving in a race. Good man, Vinnie. Thanks for the lift. Wonder who was number 1?

One night I wrote in my journal:

walking dead drunk down the Irish countryside
walking dead drunk down the Irish countryside
if the people I meet have red hair and blue eyes
I'm too drunk to care
too drunk to try
to see their red hair
and blue eyes

I left Dingle on July 9, heading south for County Cork, O'Donovan country.