Ballinskelligs – County Kerry

Ballinskelligs, situated on the shores of Ballinskelligs Bay in Co. Kerry in the south of Ireland, is a little seaside village with a beautiful blue flag beach 5 minutes’ walk from Trident Holiday Homes. One of the unique visitor attractions are the Skellig Rocks, designated a World Heritage site, dating back to 600 AD, it is the earliest monastic settlement in Ireland. Boats make regular excursions (weather permitting) from the pier in Ballinskelligs out to Skellig Michael.  

There is a convenience store, post office, and a local pub, Cable O’Leary’s, which has a great beer garden leading down to the beach, overlooking the bay. During the summer season, they serve delicious pub food. Nearby is Renards Point, a fishing harbour, where you will find O’Neill’s excellent restaurant and bar serving locally caught seafood. Fresh fish can also be purchased daily from the pier at Portmagee. It is from this pier that the ferry for Valentia Island leaves, though the island can also be reached by land bridge. 

There are any number of spectacular walks along the coast near Ballinskelligs, one of the best being the Bolus Head Walk which takes you up onto the headlands overlooking St. Finian’s Bay with stunning views of the Skelligs. Travel on past Cill Rialaig Art Centre, a restored famine village and artists’ retreat. See the ruins of an ancient monastic settlement at the Gaeltacht village Dungegan and other local heritage sites include, Staigue Fort, one of Ireland’s largest preserved ring forts, and Derrynane House & Park, the ancestral home of national hero Daniel O’Connell.