Féile na Bealtaine
Dingle Peninsula Arts Festival
April 30th-May 5thFeách ar www.feilenabealtaine.ie do liosta iomlán de eachtaraí áitiúla.
Check out www.feilenebealtaine.ie for a full and comprehensive listing of events taking place during Féile na Bealtaine, the Dingle Peninsula's annual arts festival, April 30th - May 5th.
Dingle and Galicia to forge links this summer
Spanish lessons for 'El Dinguel' as offical visit looms
Dingle will hope to further extend its links with the Spanish region of Galicia in north western Spain this summer as the West Kerry town prepares to welcome a group of dignitaries from the northern Spanish cultural authority, Xacobeo, this May. Preparations for a number of cultural exchanges and civic receptions are currently underway and is hoped that the group, which will include many Ministers from the region and tourism heads, will arrive in Dingle on Saturday May 3rd for an official two visit, where they will meet with Dingle Business Chamber, Udaras na Gaeltachta and other local authorities. The exchange has arisen from the trip made by 28 pilgrims from West Kerry to Santiago De Compestela last year aboard the tall ship built in Tralee, the Jeanie Johnston, where they revived the tradition of walking the pilgrim of St. James, a event which had at one time, been an annual event. One of the sea-farers, Colm Bambury, made a number of contacts while in Spain and it is now hoped that a link may be forged between Dingle and Galicia. There has always been a strong Spanish influence in Dingle due to its harbour port and the Church of St. James on the Main Street which was built by Spanish settlers in the area. It is also said that the name of the town of Dingle has been derived from Spanish, El Dinguel. "The Jeanie Johnston trip and the walk of St. James reignited a link that had existed between Dingle and Spain for centuries" Colm explained. "We now hope to further encourage exchanges between the two regions in terms of business, language, the harbours, music and culture."
Colm and six others will travel to Galicia region in Spain this Saturday where they will undertake a three-day walk from Santiago De Compestela to Fisterra, which will involve walking 94 kms in three days. Upon the walks completion they will meet with a number of prominent figures in the area to finalise the official visit to Dingle.
Hello, my name is Mary Garvey, and I am going to be coming to Dingle in late May I hope. I would love to meet any relatives, no matter how distant. I am a descendant of Timothy Garvey of Ballyferriter, who left the area during or after the famine, with his brothers Dan, Pat and John. A sister, Mary, married John Fitzgerald and stayed behind. Some of you might recall that other descendents of Timothy Garvey returned here a few years ago. They would be my second cousins. It will just be a short trip, but I am sure it will be great. I hope to hear a lot of music, perhaps do a bit of family research (we have known almost nothing for so long), and meet some of the clan. I’ll try to bring some family trees, as well as those of other Dingle families who seemed to travel and work with my relatives. Hope to meet you soon. You can email me at maryogarvey@yahoo.com if you would like. M. Garvey
Innovative gardening workshops to take place in West Kerry
Some have a Midas touch when it comes to wildlife and gardening, none more-so than Burnham based horticulturalist Julí Ní Mhaoileoin, who launches a series of gardening workshops at the Dingle Seaside Garden Centre, Gairdiní an Daingin, this Saturday. Julí hopes to encourage both novices and those with an existing knowledge of horticulture to spring into summer by making their gardens come alive, be it in a window box, vegetable patch or full scale garden, either in a rural or urban setting.One of West Kerry's best known and colourful characters, Julí has over 15 years of experience, harboring a dedicated knowledge and passion for gardening and wildlife.
Such is her flair for the outdoors, she even shares her home with a robin (pictured above) who built a nest in her kitchen! "He lives here" said Julí, as the robin hopped around Julí's home, "he built a nest here last year behind one of my kitchen shelves!" Julí is keen to extend an invitation to all to join her in West Kerry this Saturday. "I would like to invite everyone, no matter how much knowledge they have, to come along and take part in this workshop" said Julí. "Gardening fulfills the soul, there is no better feeling than producing your own vegetables or growing your own flowers and its something anyone, of any age, can achieve successfully."Julí will touch on a number of areas this Saturday, in the beauty of her West Kerry home overlooking Dingle Harbour in the picturesque area of Burnham, such as organic vegetable growing, setting, wildlife gardening (encouraging wildlife to come to the garden), information on trees and shrub planting, how to cater for coastal gardens, using natural fertilizers, companion planting, making organic natural pesticides among other areas of horticultural interest. "We will also touch on encouraging bio-diversity in the garden which is very important" Julí added.
Saturday's workshop will mark the first of many upcoming workshops that include flower arranging, basket making, art workshops using nature and a special horticultural workshop for children. Anyone interested in taking part in the workshops over the next few weeks can do so by contacting Julí at 086-8337733 or visit www.julimalone.com
Féile na Bealtaine 
