Castlegregory

Introducing Castlegregory

Castlegregory (Caislean an Ghriare), which once rivalled Tralee as a busy local centre, is a quiet village enlivened only by the occasional souped-up car, driven by young men desperately searching for kicks among the hedgerows. However, things change when you drive up the sandstrewn road along the Rough Point peninsula, the broad spit of land between Tralee Bay and Brandon Bay. Up here, it’s a playground. Not content with being a prime windsurfing location, the peninsula sees strange new sports like wavesailing and kitesurfing. Divers can glimpse pilot whales, orcas, sunfish and dolphins. In the pub, the many-accented babble tells of a community of people who came for a day and couldn’t face leaving the playground.

Jamie Knox Watersports (713 9411; www.jamieknox.com ; Brandon Bay) offers surf, windsurf, kitesurf, canoe and pedaloe hire and lessons. Halfway along the peninsula, the centre runs a B&B (s/d €48/76) between Easter and ­November.

Beyond Rough Point are the seven Maharees Islands. The largest of the ‘hogs’, as the islands are known locally, is Illauntannig. The remains of a 6th-century monastic settlement there include a stone cross, a church and beehive huts. Two small adjoining islands can be reached on foot from Illauntannig at low tide, but make sure you know exactly what the tide is doing. The islands are privately owned, but trips (taking about 10 minutes) can be arranged through Castle House, or through Harbour House in conjunction with a scuba diving trip. There is great underwater visibility, making this one of Ireland’s best diving areas.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009