Dingle town, is the heart and soul of the peninsula. It is the most westerly town in Europe and a stronghold of the arts. The town also has a long history.

In medieval times the harbour was the departure point for pilgrims to the grave of St James at Santiaog de Compostela in Spain .

So important was the pilgrimage that the Spanish are said to have built the first church on the site of the present Church of Ireland in Main Street , which is called St James's after the Spanish patron.  

Today it is a thriving tourist area and fishing port whose beauty has attracted musicians, artists and craft persons from many countries.

To this day the town provides the visitor with a truly cosmopolitan atmosphere.  

Dingle in the Irish language is "Daingean Uí Chúis". "Daingean" means fortress; "Uí Chúis" is generally accepted as translating to Hussey . . . Fortress of Hussey, the Husseys being a Flemish family that came to the area in the 13th Century.

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