Quick Toodle to Dingle
One of the keys reasons to get ourselves to Dingle is to meet a couple of Salt makers. The Dingle Peninsulas is 3 hours South of Galway City in the remote South West of Ireland. It’s a landscape crafted out of storms and wind , but littered with gorgeous white sand beaches and pretty coves. Its jaw breakingly pretty. If I needed further proof of how different the North and the South of Ireland are then this was further proof.
Dingle Peninsula
One thing I remember from my time in the UK and Ireland previously is that the green colour of the hills, field and mountains is completely different to anything in NZ. Nothing has changed. The intense greens, hedgerows bursting with wildflowers and glistening bays and coves. It’s simple stunning.
The other thing is that being surrounded by water - fresh, clean, cold Atlantic water its famous for its seafood and now sea salt!
We meet up with Moe and Tom from Dingle Salt at Dickie Mac’s an infamous local pub. Being Solar salt makers we had lots of shared experiences and both these fellows have had a good few years travelling and spending time in NZ …so plenty of shared experiences. I pity the people that shared our table at the pub…two hours of talking solar sea salt production would be enough to do anyone in except the most dedicated salt fan!
Tom and Moe of Dingle Salt
We couldn’t leave Dingle with out calling in to see Marie and Brian from West of Dingle Sea Salt. Brian is a chef and he’s bought that knowledge of flavour and technique to their salt business. Marie is a potter and users her knowledge of that practical art form to also create beautiful earthen containers for their sea salt. These guys collect their water from a gorgeous little cove near Barryferriter. Both these businesses were inspired and came to fruition over lockdown. They make their respective sea salt in different ways but both are reflective of the small artisan community of sea salt makers. I cant wait to try there salts!
Dingles a hell of a little village. Full of quirky pubs that double as hardware stores, fishing folk everywhere…gotta love a working port. And of course an extravaganza of seafood. Its a hard working place with lots of artisan crafts people…kinda like Whitianga and Coromandel but with 200 x the tourists!
Last stop is Dublin then on to the UK!
The Temple Bar
