Dingle Peninsula, Co. Kerry, Ireland

Thanksgiving is maybe one of the most difficult days to spend in a foreign country. Doing an entire Thanksgiving Dinner in two hours after work is a challenge. Going to work the day after the feast is no picnic either. Most American expats in London push the holiday to the Saturday, but we escaped London altogether and went to the Dingle Peninsula in Ireland.

It was actually a perfect trip for a Thanksgiving weekend away from the States. The weather was on our side, cold but sunny during the day, rainy at night when we were holed up in our B&B with our books. The people of Dingle were so genuinely friendly, you couldn't help but feel part of what was around. 

The trip was also a bit of a history lesson for me. In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue, but from Europe he wasn't the first to head west, as in 542 AD Saint Brendan of Ireland had already achieved the quest. Tradition and lore say that St. Brendan of Kerry, along with fourteen other monks, constructed a boat of wood tied together with leather strips. The start of the seven year journey was from this inlet (pictured below), now called Brandon Creek. His mission was to bring the Gospel to the West.

Legend says he traveled from here to the Isle of Sheep (The Hebrides), to the Paradise of Birds (The Faroes), to the Isle of Smiths (Iceland), to the Land of Crystal Pillars (Greenland), and through the Region of Fog (Newfoundland), to the Promised Land (America).

The Dingle Peninsula also had some interesting architecture. We saw many beehive huts made of stone and the Gallarus Oratory, a church built sometime between the 6th and 9th centuries. The huts and Oratory are built with stones, use no mortar, and slant slightly down to let rainwater run off.

It got dark pretty early, so what did we do when it got too dark for trolling around the Irish countryside? Head to the pubs for some Irish music, stout - Guinness and Murphy's, and Irish whiskey.

The Irish love their whisky - our host was shocked that I didn't want Jameson stirred into my breakfast porridge. Whisky before coffee? In Ireland, yes! I also discovered white pudding. White pudding is a sausage made of oats, suet, pork, onion, herbs, and spices. It's sliced and fried up on either side for Irish Breakfast. Irish Breakfasts are similar to English Breakfasts, but with the addition of this white pudding. Much more appealing to me than the black blood pudding.

 

Comments

[Tangled Noodle]

What a wonderful way and place to spend Thanksgiving! We were close to but didn't explore the Dingle Peninsula, spending most of our time in Killarney and Kenmare. But once again, your post has me itching to start traveling again. I'm definitely a fan of both white and black puddings but whiskey with my morning oats is something I'll have to work up to!

[Lori]

I completely agree about Thanksgiving. It is such a big holiday in the States and abroad no one cares (at least in Brazil) and it is so hard to adjust to.

My husband missed it so much as did I, but at least I was home at the apartment and could tune into US tv for the parade! This year he made up for two years lost in football and food!

What a gorgeous place! I simply can't get enough of Ireland. Whiskey in porridge?! You just gave me a great idea. ;)

[Sam]

I love Ireland, it's been a long time since I've been but I'd love to go back. Last time I was there I went on a tour around the Jameson factory so I know all about their love of whisky!

I hope you had a good thanksgiving, I'm always jealous of Americans, you get two big holidays in the winter and we only get one!

[mycookinghut]

I have never been to Ireland... opss.. shame on me.

[elra]

Always want to visit this island, not sure when. But it is in m list. I have to negotiate with my husband first...

Beautiful pictures.

[Daily Spud]

You picked a lovely corner of the country in which to spend a weekend. Of course we're very familiar with the travels of St. Brendan here in Ireland, though he's probably little known outside the country. Goodness knows he would probably have needed some whiskey in his porridge to fuel his exploits!

[lisa]

Beautiful photos and a lovely way to spend the weekend. Ireland is has such breathtaking beauty.

My friend in London talks about Thanksgiving just as you do--sounds like you made a great decision as to how to spend it this year!

[Natasha - 5 Star Foodie]

What a wonderful getaway! I hope we get to visit Dingle Peninsula next summer when we will be in Ireland. Beautiful and so much history!

[Jamie]

Oh, I would love to spend Thanksgiving in Ireland. Or any day! And you have just stirred back up the desire to discover that beautiful land! And love the historical tidbits. Yum to porridge in the morning, but ooh no thanks to the whiskey addition. They have something like white pudding in France and it is so much tastier than the black!

[Juliana]

Oh! Never been in Ireland...your picturesas are lovely...thanks for sharing them :-)

[OysterCulture]

I love the stories that come up with these travel experiences. We were not offered whiskey with our porridge but we had both the black and white pudding for breakfast - a bit over the top for me, but oh so tasty.

I remember a Thanksgiving I could not make it home for, and ended up invited to a Moroccan feast - oh so tasty, but somehow I kept thinking about the turkey. As good as it is, sometimes its just not the same.

[Paul V. O'Leary]

Gosh and Golly Gee! To see those photos again brings back so many fond memories. As David has likely told you, Chris an I owned a house not far from the Gallarus Oratory for seven years, and David and Anniken visited once for two weeks. A very memorable trip. Glad you had a chance to see the real Ireland.

[Sophie]

Indeed, what a wonderful way to enjoy Thanks Giving!!
Lovely breath taking pictures!!

Ireland is such a beautiful country!!!

[gastroanthropologist]

Paul - I think you may have been the original inspiration for this trip. Hopefully we can make it back in the summertime!