The aul triangle goes DINGLE DANGLEEE

I went to Dingle for the most restorative and normal weekend I’ve had in a long time. I’ve been to Dingle loads, everyone in the music industry has because it’s the home of Other Voices. Usually it’s cold, snowy and snug. We all cram into tiny bars, listen to great music and hug the hell out of each other.

Heading to Dingle in 2021 was bound to be different. No indoor drinking or dining. No music, no people. Usually this would be a turn off and I’d just stay home, but I got an offer that I just couldn’t refuse. A few years back I had rented a little house called Harriets Cottage in the heart of Dingle and they followed me on social media since. They witnessed the year of cancellations and pivoting that I had. Out of nothing but the kindness of their hearts, they offered me a stay in their beautiful home, for free. A chance to just chill. I bit their hand off, packed the car and me and Sinead hit the road as soon as inter county travel was allowed.

We went full on “tourist” while we were there. We booked a Dingle Bay boat thingy and saw seals, puffins and pods of dolphins! We got takeaway pints from Geaneys and drank them under the big tree in the church grounds while sheltering from a shower. We had time to look around and see all the things that would usually be obscured by throngs of crowds and distracting friendly faces.

Sinead brought her guitar and made music in the living room, while I read some books in the attic nook. We drank wine and made a roast dinner. We fed snacks to the sheep and donkeys in the field next door and spent a fortune on handmade jewellery in the town.

I don’t think I’ve ever had a more relaxing Irish holiday. I really hope that by me doing up this wee post and telling everyone I know about the generosity of Melissa and Anthony at Harriets Cottage helps them recoup what must have been a hard year for themselves too. Whether you’re a group of mates, or a family or two with kids, this place is the bees knees.

See ya in Dingle x

Find out more about Harriets here: https://www.harrietscottage.com/