CASTLEGREGORY & THE MAHAREES
Caislean Ghriaire agus Na Machairí
Castlegregory is located on the north side of the Dingle Peninsula, halfway between Tralee and Dingle. The Maharees Peninsula, to the north of the village, is famous for it sandy beaches and clean water. Castlegregory village, the Maharees, and the surrounding areas offer a peace and beauty that are removed from the hustle and bustle of urban life and everything associated with it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Castlegregory ACTIVITIES / Gníomhaíochtaí
There are a wide range of activities available in the Castlegregory and Maharees area, including walking, mountain climbing, cycling, fishing, horseriding, golf and watersports. Glanteenassig Forest is an area of great beauty. There is road access to the forest, making it an ideal location for walking and fishing in its stocked lake. The Dingle Way walking route - Slí Chorca Dhuibhne - passes through Castlegregory and the Maharees on its way around the Dingle Peninsula. The area abounds in beaches! The longest beach in Ireland stretches from the Maharees westwards through Castlegregory to Cloghane village - 12 miles in length. There is a Blue Flag beach in the Maharees. All of the beaches are sandy, and many are suitable for surfing and other watersports. The sea water is clean throughout the entire area. For golfing enthusiasts, Castlegregory Golf and Fishing Club is located in Stradbally, just a few short miles from Castlegregory village. In the Maharees area, there is pony trekking along the beaches, as well as scuba diving, surfing, windsurfing, canoeing and waterskiing. Equipment and instruction are available locally. During the summer months, a wide variety of entertainment is available, from currach racing to a week-long carnival in July. Castlegregory Pattern Day is celebrated on 15 August, when the tradition is to eat locally-made mutton pies and wash them down with plenty of Guinness. On summer evenings, traditional music can be heard at several pubs in the village. There are a number of restaurants, cafes and pubs in Castlegregory and the Maharees, offering everything from take-away to fine dining, with local seafood a specialty. Lough Gill is just a quarter-mile from Castlegregory village and is of considerable significance as a major breeding ground of the rare Natterjack Toad. On a fine summer night, the natterjack can be heard for miles. Lough Gill is also one of the few places where Bewick's, Mute and Whooper swans can all be seen.