The Great Blasket Centre in Dunquin is open daily from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. in July and August and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. in September and October. The centre has a café and bookshop with an extensive range of material about the Blaskets and west Kerry.
(www.heritageireland.ie/en/HistoricSites/South, 066-9156444). leave for the Blaskets, weather permitting, from Dunquin every half-hour, €20 per person, 066-9154864 or from Dingle Marina every two hours, €30 per person, 066-9151344.
We stayed with the Kavanagh family at Emlagh House in Dingle, overlooking Dingle Bay. The attention to detail made this a lovely place to stay: Bose stereos, free Internet access, mattresses that mould to fit you, work by local artists. We ate here on the first night in their impressive restaurant. All produce is locally sourced and a straightforward menu was beautifully executed. The chef, Ted, who trained in Ballymaloe, told us about the goats whose milk had been used to make the cheese. Nice goats, apparently, friendly. Not like most goats. Breakfast was extensive and cooked to order. Rates €90-€110 per person. Dinner is €50-€70 per person. (www.emlaghhouse.com, 066-9152345).
Doyle's Seafood Restaurant and Townhouse, also in Dingle, has a wide-ranging menu, specialising in fish and seafood and a nice wine list. Wild salmon and monkfish tail on the bone were particularly good. Dinner, €60 per person. (www.doylesofdingle.com, 066-9151174).
T.P. Ó Conchúir is a Fáilte Ireland-registered tour guide available for guided walks to archaeological sites in the west Kerry and Blasket areas, (086-8191942). Dingle Marine Eco Tours runs guided sea tours from Dingle Harbour passing Ventry, Dunbeg Fort, the Blaskets, Bull's Head and Minard Castle. Book in advance (086-2858802). They stop to see Fungie on the way. Apparently he is still coming into Dingle Bay every day (info@dinglemarine.com). Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium has tanks with salmon, cod, trout, crab, lobster, turbot and other less delicious species such as tipped sharks and conger eels. (www.dingle-oceanworld.ie, 066-9152111). Further information from www.dodingle.com.