I have always been a bit of a lighthouse enthusiast. Growing up, I watched my brother Tim jump off of Minots Ledge Lighthouse outside of Cohasset harbor. I thought he was crazy, but I loved being out there on the boats. A dream of mine is to someday live in Old Scituate Lighthouse, an easy walk from Stacey’s parent’s home on that pretty harbor. During my 25 years in the Navy, I gained a whole new appreciation for lighthouses, as they helped us navigate the open oceans safely. During my five sea tours, I learned the most about them during my years on the submarine, USS PHILADELPHIA (SSN-690). I spent more time on watch on that great warship than the four others, and I came to love two particular lighthouses the most. Whenever we transited home to Groton, Montauk Point Lighthouse appearing through the periscope gave us our first real sense that we were close again to family. A few hours later, we would pass Race Rock Lighthouse, and that absolutely signaled home to me. I still have a print of Race Rock hanging on our wall to remind me of that great feeling of homecoming from sea.
After our morning coffee today, we walked out to Dingle Lighthouse to take in her beauty on yet another lovely day here. I loved seeing her from both the water yesterday and the shore today. Her distinctive features have assuredly meant the world to many a mariner over the decades returning from the Atlantic to the relative calm of Dingle Bay, and the comforts of home within this protected harbor. The walk was less than a mile from the cottage along the cliffs, with cattle eyeing us curiously along the way. I’m adding Dingle Lighthouse to my shorter list of favorites!
We hopped in the car to take in Slea Head drive, and headed along the coast towards Dunmore Head. Stacey was thrilled to stop and see beehive huts along the way. These fascinating structures were lived in many centuries ago. At Dunmore Head, we hiked up the cliffs to the most western point in Europe before the Blasket Islands. It was a spectacular view and well worth both the drive and the hike. Sailors at sea use landmarks and structures to aid in navigation too, and I imagine the cottages I saw and photographed on the edge of Great Blasket Island were just as welcoming to those heading home as Race Rock was to me, and Dingle Lighthouse was and is to the mariners of this stunning piece of God’s great earth.
We returned to Dingle for some walking and shopping. It is really a lovely town. For the men like me, I can personally attest that there are some strategically positioned pubs right next to jewelry stores where one can have a seat, and maybe a pint, while the wife browses. There’s something for everyone here!
We head back to town later this evening for dinner reservations and some traditional Irish music on our last night here on the Dingle Peninsula. Tomorrow we pass through Killarney National Park on our way to our next stop in Kinsale. The adventures continue! 🇮🇪
