Slea Head

Coordinates: 52°6.37′N 10°28.15′W / 52.10617°N 10.46917°W / 52.10617; -10.46917

Slea Head is the promontory in the back to the right in this photo, taken from the very end of Dunmore Head, the westernmost point of Ireland.
The Ranga, here pictured in 1986, was wrecked in 1982

Slea Head (Irish: Ceann Sléibhe[1]) is a promontory in the westernmost part of the Dingle Peninsula, located in the barony of Corca Dhuibhne in southwest County Kerry, Ireland. It belongs to Munster's province (County Kerry) and is served by the R559 road; the nearest villages are Ballyickeen and Coumeenoole.

Slea Head is together with Dunmore Head the westernmost point of Ireland and arguably is the most western point of Europe[2] of the European mainland plinth.[3] It is a well known and recognised landmark and also a very scenic viewpoint, with a dramatic view of the Blasket Islands.[4] On the 11 March 1982, the Spanish container ship, Ranga, was wrecked at Dunmore Head, close to Slea Head after losing power in a storm.

The Slea Head Drive

The Slea Head Drive is one of the Dingle Peninsula's most stunning routes and should be driven West to East. En route are several famous landmarks such as Ventry Beach, Pre-historic Fort and Beehive Huts, The Dingle Famine Cottage, views of the Blaskets Islands and Coumenole Beach and Gallarus Oratory. The loop road returns towards Dingle (the capital of the Kerry Gaeltacht Irish-speaking area)

Students from all over the world come to learn and improve their Irish in Dingle. Dingle town is renowned for its culture and offers great pubs with live music, shops and seafood restaurants. Fungie, the Dingle Dolphin, is Dingle's most famous resident and has lived in the harbour for over 30 years.[5]

Visitor wishing to book a tour may do so with Atlantic Road Slea Head Tours[6]

A view of Blasket Islands and Dunmore Head from Slea Head.

References

  1. ↑ "Ceann Sléibhe". Placenames Database of Ireland. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
  2. ↑ MacCulloch, JR (1887). Statistical Account of the British Empire (volume 1). London: Charles Knight & Co. p. 345. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  3. ↑ http://atlanticroadtoursdingle.com
  4. ↑ "Dingle Peninsula". Discover Ireland. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
  5. ↑ Administrator. "Slea Head Drive Tours Dingle Minibus Tours of Wild Atlantic Way Kerry". atlanticroadtoursdingle.com. Retrieved 2016-06-24.
  6. ↑ Administrator. "Slea Head Drive Tours Dingle Minibus Tours of Wild Atlantic Way Kerry". atlanticroadtoursdingle.com. Retrieved 2016-06-24.


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