Chauffeurdriven tour of Dingle with Dave Hogan and Dovechauffeurdrive

The town of Castlemaine is famous for being the birthplace of the Wild Colonial Boy, and we passed through there today on our way to the Dingle peninsula.

Here we have Barbara pictured outside Paidi O Shea's pub in Ventry on the Dingle peninsula. Barbara's Irish connection goes back to the Shea's in Ventry. The late Paidi O Shea and his historic connection to our Irish Gaelic football game, and the Gaelic Athletic Association, is something she can be proud of.

This bronze of Paidi in Ventry pays tribute to his long list of trophies both as a player and a manager.

Our visit to the home of the late Maire Houlihan near Slea Head turned out to be a wonderful surprise as they found out that the Houlihan family have a connection to Springfield Mass. (Pictured above outside one of the Beehive huts on Maire's land.)

Here we have from the left, Jim, Barbara, John, Rosemary, and Maire Houlihan's son, Michael. The great surprise here today was the discovery that the Houlihan's were related to Fr Francis Manning who had a hand in the education of all of my friends in this picture, many years ago, back in Springfield. John is pictured here holding the picture of Fr Manning ,which is proudly displayed in the late Maire's home.

My friends, pictured outside the Houlihan home near Slea Head. This house was originally a cottage, but an upper storey was added on in later years. The ground floor of this house still dates back over five hundred years. If you are in this area, drop in, and visit the house and the historic beehive huts here beside the house.

The scene of the crucifixion at Slea Head, was erected for the sailors and fishermen who constantly navigate the treacherous waters surrounding Slea Head, and the Blasket Islands offshore at Slea Head. In this picture we have, from the left, Marie, John, Barbara and Jim. 

Seated on the wall just across the road from the crucifixion scene, we have from the left, Ted, Rosemary, Marie, John, Barbara, and Jim. In the haze in the background, we have the Greater Blasket Island, the home of the ancestors of many Irish in Springfield Mass,who finally abandoned this island back in the middle of the nineteen hundreds, and settled in Springfield.
Do not lean back please.

The famous Benner's Hotel in Dingle town, which was once owned by friends of Jim and Barbara's back in Springfield.

Our final visit today was a stop-off at the beautiful Killarney Golf course. In this picture we have the full party, with the lovely lakes and mountains of Killarney in the background.