• "Sunset on The Blasket"
    Provided by: Peter Marshall/Flickr

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The Blasket Islands

The Blasket Islands

Off Slea Head – the most westerly tip of the Dingle Peninsula – lies a deserted archipelago with a poignant past: the mystical Blasket Islands, now an emblem of the Irish history of emigration. You can anchor a boat in the Blasket Sound on the edge of Europe, climb to the top of An Blascaod Mór, and explore the remote wilderness of this fascinating place. In Dingle, you can visit the Blasket Centre, an interpretive centre with a long, white hall ending in a wall-to-ceiling window overlooking the islands.
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Portmagee and The Skellig Islands

Portmagee and The Skellig Islands

Further west of Ireland, out to sea, is an extraordinary, far-flung place of pilgrimage: Skellig Michael. 1300 years ago, early Christian monks built a remarkable hermitage at the top of this jagged ocean crag – then at the furthest limits of the known world. This mysterious and awe-inspiring place, described by George Bernard Shaw as “part of our dream world”, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It can be reached by the adventurous on a small boat, only when the weather allows, from the small picturesque fishing village of Portmagee. Portmagee was the winner of Ireland’s first ever Tourism Town in 2012, and once you arrive it’s easy to see why. You can really get to know people here. There are small family-run businesses, local food producers, artists and craftspeople, pubs with peat fires and traditional music sessions. Across the bridge there is the Skelligs Experience Visitor Centre, where you can follow an audio-visual tour recreating the magic of the Skellig region and enjoy its history.
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Brandon Group Mountains

Brandon Group Mountains

The Brandon Mountains consist of 7 major peaks, including the 2nd highest peak in Ireland (the highest being Carrantouhill, about 2 hours drive away). Composed of Old Red Sandstone, the mountains have a distinctive red, orange and purple hue. Local lore has it that St Brendan, a 5th century Irish saint, was born here and later went on to become a legendary seafarer. A pilgrimage inspired by his journey began here in the medieval times - and pilgrims still flock here today. The "Faha" (or Pilgrim's Path) takes around 4-5 hours to hike, while the most challenging route takes 6-7.
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