With a mere population of 308, you may think it a small sleepy town but Glenbeigh is a popular tourist destination. Besides being on the Ring of Kerry it is home to the pristine Blue Flag award Rossbeigh Beach. A long sandy beach which annually hosts a Horse Racing Festival, Rossbeigh has fallen victim to high tides, wild storms and consequently sand erosion. In 2008 the beach had lost 1200 feet of sand dunes. It is estimated that since 2008 a further 10-15 million tonnes of sand has been lost raising concerns that without pro-active action the beach will eventually disappear.

Rossbeigh Tower, located at the end of Rossbeigh Beach was the beacon for safe navigation into Castlemaine Harbour for 150 years. Following heavy storms off the Atlantic Ocean it gave way and collapsed in 2011. After five years of campaigning, including salvaged parts of the original tower, a replica was built in the town centre as a way to preserve the history and heritage of the tower.

This wasn’t the end of surprises for the Glenbeigh residents. In early January 2014, Cyclone Christina left a trail of damage on the coasts of Ireland but on Rossbeigh Beach it fully unearthed a partially submerged 19th century schooner that has been buried for a hundred years. The schooner named, The Sunbeam, was built in 1860 England and was on a voyage shipping flour when it shipwrecked in 1903, fortunately with no loss of life.

In a field near Glenbeigh parish, stands the ruins of Wynn’s Castle, an 18th century castellated mansion. The exorbitant cost of building the castle was funded by rental income earned from the estate. The higher the costs went, the higher the rental increases. Tenants who were no longer able to meet their rental expenses were unfortunately evicted by the owner who himself eventually became insolvent and left Glenbeigh. During WWI, the castle was used as a training centre for reservists of the British Military Command and by 1921, the castle was burnt to the ground by Irish Republican forces and was never rebuilt.

Before you leave Glenbeigh to make your final trek back to Killarney, stop in at one of the local pubs for a traditional Irish Stew and a pint of Guinness. Finish with an Irish Coffee, the coffee and whiskey combination that was created by Chef Joe Sheridan in 1943 at Foynes Port near Limerick.

Joe Sheridan’s recipe for a true Irish Coffee:
Cream – Rich as an Irish Brogue
Coffee – Strong as a Friendly Hand
Sugar – Sweet as the tongue of a Rogue
Whiskey – Smooth as the Wit of the Land