I had a bit of free time yesterday, and since the weather was stunning, I decided to take a jaunt out Slea Head.
I don’t get back West as much as I would like, but when I’m there, looking out at the Blasket Islands, walking in the green grass, and basking in the calm, I think I surely must be blessed to have all of this at my doorstep.
By the way, in case you don’t get the top photo, Inis Tuaisceart is also called the Sleeping Giant…
Good news in terms of the Dingle Peninsula Food and Wine Festival (12th - 14th October, 2007) - it looks as if we have Kevin Sheridan coming down to do a tutored cheese and wine tasting.
Also, local man Kevin Flannery will guide a foraging walk with instructions on how to survive from the coast.
And I think that we will take out all other ice cream from our cabinet and do 16 shades of chocolate!
Technorati tags: Dingle, food, festival, wine, feile, gourmet
After such a wet summer, it truly is balm to the soul to have a run of weather that’s lifting all of us in Dingle into realms of giddiness. Perfect warmth in the sun, no wind, blue skies. It’s heaven!
Depending on your viewpoint, it’s either sweet or bittersweet, since the kids are back in school, most of the tourists gone home, and most of the enjoyment going to locals, catching their breath after the busy season.
For us, in the world of ice cream, it’s also a bittersweet time, as we say “good-bye” to many of our staff who have worked so hard, given us and our customers so much joy all summer, and are heading back to their courses and universtities both in Ireland and abroad.
Of course there is a core team who will stay, and in fact we’ll have to hire if we can (It’s only easy to find staff during the summer months).
So anyone who knows a good driver or baker, send them our way!
What I really wanted to say, though, is thanks to everyone who worked at Murphys Ice Cream this summer - in Killarney, Dingle, and Production, and I wish you all the best in the coming year.
Now I’m off to the beach!
For those interested, here’s the full programme for the Dingle Film Festival…
Programme: September 6th September 9th 2007
Thursday, 6th September
The Phoenix Cinema
9pm
2 Days in Paris Directed by Julie Delpy Sir Alan Parker to open festival
Friday 7th September
Ioand An Bhlascaoid Mhoir
Feature Film Premier, 12 noon
AZUR AND ASMAR: THE PRINCES’ QUEST (age 7+)Director Michel OcelotRyans Daughter Evening with Sarah Miles, 7pm
Screening of On Location Documentary With Godfrey
The Phoenix Cinema
3pm-7
Competition Shorts 3 35mm Feature Film
9pm - 8
Saturday 8th September
Hilery House
10am - 4pm - 25 Workshop Programme 3, The 3 Principals of plot, a master Class with Eoghan Harris
Krugers
10am - 1pm Free
Screen Test with Artist Andrew Duggan
St. James Church
10am - 12noon
Workshop programme 1 & 2, Brian Nolan & Owen McPolin Shorts Programme 1
12 noon
Feature Film - Ten Canoes
2.30pm
Competition Shorts
2 5pm
Premier The Running Mate
6.30pm
The Phoenix Cinema
9pm
The Killing of John Lennon directed by ANDREW PIDDINGTON
Sunday 9th September
St. James Church
10.30am
Workshop programme 4, Production, a Master Class with Ned Dowd(Last of the Mohicans, Apocolypto
Family Feature Premier Film
12noon - 4
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
Shorts Programme 4
2.30pm
Shorts Programme Local Local
5pm
Benners Hotel
Awards Ceremony Reception
Technorati tags: Dingle, film, festival, cinema, movie, Kerry
Even though it’s crazy this time of year, there are still preparations going on for the Dingle Peninsula Food and Wine Festival in October. So many people are helping including local artist June McIntyre, who did the painting for the logo.
There will be food trails in the shops, tasting menus in all the restaurants, a kitchen set up in St. James’ Church for demonstrations, lectures, stalls, and even food films in the Phoenix Cinema.
It should be lots of fun for anyone into food, Dingle or both, and you can check out the festival website here.
I will add more information as it becomes available!
Technorati tags: Dingle, food, festival, wine, feile, gourmet
For those of you who need an excuse to visit Dingle, there will be a film festival in town from the 6th - 9th of September. Opening the festival and serving as adjudicator will be Sir Alan Parker. There’s a lively lineup of shorts and feature films as well as workshops. Definitely worth checking out! Website here.
Technorati tags: Dingle, film, festival, cinema, movie, Kerry
When Colm, the farmer who supplies us with Kerry Cow milk and who owns the Dingle Corn Maze told me yesterday that he had hired a helicopter to take aerial photos of his maze and that there was a chance I could go up, I was excited indeed.
Today he rang telling me the helicopter was on its way, and although I was in the middle of production, I dropped everything and headed over to the Skellig Hotel, which has a helipad. I’ve never been in a helicopter before, and was dying to take a look at Dingle from above.
What an experience! It was breathtaking. There should be someone offering helicopter tours of this area.
The best part was that I was able to bring along my nephew, Conor, who is mad about helicopters.
My brother Sean (right with Conor) wasn’t able to come up with us, but he was there when we landed, and Conor was speechless with excitement.
What a great day!
Technorati tags: Dingle, corn, maze, helicopter, aerial photo
You know it’s summer, rain or shine, when the Dingle Corn Maze is open again for business.
Planted across five acres by the farmer who supplies us with Kerry Cow Milk, the maze has a Harry Potter theme this year. It’s located right in the centre of town and was laid out with computers and lasars, although the plucking of weeds and trimming is very much done by hand.
There are also picnic tables, a brand new bridge (see photo above) and other bits of entertainment.
At the end of the season, the majority of the corn will go to feed the cows, but for now, especially in this wet summer when the beach is so rarely appealing, the maze is a very attractive option for humans of all sizes.
Cian (far left), our shop manager for the summer in Dingle, decided a good way to beat back the rain that’s been afflicting us in these parts (and to cheer everyone up) was to throw a Hawaiian day in the Dingle shop. So on Saturday, the whole staff dressed up, and we put decorations about the place.
It really worked. Yesterday the sun shone brightly, so we kept it going today. Still no rain! Maybe it will have to become permanent…
I can hardly say the ice cream we gave him when he visited on the campaign trail played any part in it, but the Examiner reported today that one of the demands from Jackie Healey Rae in lending his support to the Government was that Dingle be given back its name and that the official name would reflect the will of the townspeople and be “Dingle/Daingean Uí Chúis.”
Apparently the Taoiseach has agreed, and all going well, the fractious and divisive battle over the name should soon be a thing of the past. Let’s just hope it happens fast enough to change the signs back to stop confusing tourists over the busy summer season!
Technorati tags: Dingle name, change, Jackie Healy Rae, Kerry, ice cream
Kieran Murphy is a chocoholic ice cream man (a director of Murphys Ice Cream) living in Dingle, Co. Kerry, Ireland.
Please ask if you wish to use text or images.
Copyright (c) Kieran Murphy 2006-2008.
