For the final day of our whirlwind long weekend in Ireland, we set out from Killarney to explore one of the most breathtaking stretches of coastline on Earth: the Dingle Peninsula.

It was the ultimate grand finale to our trip before heading back to the airport to catch our flight home to Germany. From wind-swept Atlantic beaches to holding a baby lamb and stepping inside 1,400-year-old stone huts, every stop was pure Irish magic.

Morning Stop: Inch Beach

We boarded our coach in central Killarney mid-morning and journeyed west toward the rocky Atlantic coast. Our first official stop was Inch Beach—a stunning, three-mile sand spit jutting out into Dingle Bay.

Famous for its rolling waves and strong ocean winds, it’s a favorite haunt for local surfers and kite flyers. We took time to stretch our legs, breathe in the salty ocean air, and grab a cozy cup of morning tea and coffee at the beachfront café while watching the waves crash against the shore.

The breathtaking curves of Slea Head Drive.. Source: Ireland Highlights

Slea Head Drive & Living History at Aedán’s Farm

From Inch Beach, we navigated the jaw-dropping curves of Slea Head Drive, where steep green cliffs plunge straight into the crashing Atlantic Ocean.

Along the route, we stopped at Aedán’s Farm, a family-run property nestled right on the cliffs that offers a fascinating window into rural Irish history.

Cuddling Baby Lambs 🐑

A total highlight of the day was getting to cuddle and bottle-feed adorable baby lambs on the farm! Dingle is famous for its sheep farming, and getting to hold these sweet little animals up close brought so many smiles to our group.

1,400-year-old Clochán (Beehive Hut) built without mortar.. Source: Wikipedia

The Ancient Beehive Huts (Clocháns)

Right on the farm grounds stand incredible 1,400-year-old Beehive Huts (Clocháns in Irish). These ancient stone dwellings were built by early Christian monks and farmers around the 6th and 7th centuries.

How Did They Survive 1,400 Years? The huts were constructed using an ancient architectural technique called corbelling. The stone layers were stacked slanting slightly outward and upward without a single drop of mortar or cement. Water simply trickles off the exterior, keeping the inside bone-dry—a engineering marvel that has resisted Atlantic storms for over a millennium!

Lunch in Dingle Town & Fungie the Dolphin

After soaking in the ancient history, our coach brought us into Dingle, a colorful, artistic port town nestled between mountains and sea.

Dingle is famously part of the Gaeltacht—regions in Ireland where the Irish language (Gaeilge) is still actively spoken in daily life. The town’s streets are lined with brightly painted shopfronts, artisan bakeries, and cozy traditional pubs.

Down by the waterfront, we paused at the bronze statue of Fungie the Dolphin.

• The Legend of Fungie: In 1983, a wild, solitary bottlenose dolphin swam into Dingle Harbour and decided to make it his permanent home. For nearly 40 years, Fungie greeted fishing boats, played with swimmers, and single-handedly put Dingle on the international tourism map until his disappearance in 2020.

Saying Slán to Ireland ✈️

After an amazing afternoon wandering the harbor and scenic outlooks of Slea Head, we boarded the coach back to Killarney, gathered our bags, and made our way to the airport for our flight back to Germany.

Looking back on our three jam-packed days—from Killarney’s national park and carriage rides to Star Wars filming sites, college pub nostalgia, losing a tooth, and holding baby lambs on the edge of the Atlantic—our “first dip” into Ireland couldn’t have been more perfect.

Slán go fóill (goodbye for now), Ireland—we’ll definitely be back!