Seniors Find A Treasure In Cloghane

 Cloghane. I was “flummoxed” (love my new word) on this village in County Kerry, Ireland. It came up on this senior’s travel link on CNN as a great place to visit.  I, like you, have heard of many famous places in Ireland like Dublin, Galway, Killarney, Blarney and Cork, but not Cloghane.

It is time to go there and check the place out. Actually there is a little accent on that name, Clochán (anglicized as Cloghane) which changes the pronunciation. Cloghane, which means stone hut, is a small village on the Dingle Peninsula of County Kerry, Ireland, at the foot of Mount Brandon. In 1974 the village was added to the Corca Dhuibhne Gaeltacht.

So there you have it.  Are you still with me?

Cloghane village is nestled in a semi-circle of mountain peaks and overlooks the stunning Brandon Bay. This region offers many rivers, lakes, streams, and waterfalls. This is a Gaeltacht region, where the Irish language is spoken.

It has an abundance of sandy beaches, washed clean by the surf of Brandon Bay. Nearby is Brandon, a small fishing village with a quay still used by local fishermen.

Senior Visitors Discover One Of Ireland’s Beautiful Regions

There is a lot of beauty in the area.The village of 2,000 is set at the foot of Mount Brandon, on the north of the Dingle Peninsula and overlooking Brandon Bay. The Cloghane-Brandon area, or Clochán-Breannainn in Gaelic, is certainly among Ireland’s most beautiful regions.

The natural beauty surrounding these two villages stands alone as one of West Kerry’s unspoiled paradises for senior anglers, walkers, windsurfers, outdoors enthusiasts and families.

The magnificent valley between the Mount Brandon range and the awe-inspiring Connor Pass, Ireland’s most elevated mountain pass greets your arrival to the Cloghane-Brandon area.

For you senior hikers, the region is world famous for hill-walking and mountain climbing on Mount Brandon which links into the 180km Dingle Way. Golf and pony-trekking are available nearby.

Féile na Lughnasa takes place in the Clochán-Breannainn area every July, offering plenty of local music, song and cultural activities. The Cloghane/Brandon area has a rich heritage of music, language, and dance.

For senior “foodies,” there are several traditional pubs in the area serving fine food, some specializing in locally-caught seafood.

Sessions of music, song, and dance are held nightly in most of the local pubs, where young and old, tourist and local, blend together to create a unique atmosphere.

Be sure to check out O’Connors Guesthouse which is a major draw for tourists in the area. Benagh B&B also rates very high. Pinterest calls the area “a dream vacation”.  jeb