A beautiful weekend away in Ballydavid - Baile na nGall


We, my gay best friend Shane and I, planned a little weekend away in Ballydavid, Co Kerry, but what we didn't plan was for, was beautiful weather, copious pints, a dawn chorus at Gallarus and a sense of otherworldliness that can really only be found at the edge of the world.


Ballydavid feels like a place the world forgot, in the best possible way. The sound of Gaeilge glistening on the crest and crescent's of water in the bay and the lively tunes of a trad band pull you into the present moment. It’s a place that reminds you to slow down, to notice the simple, everyday beauty around you. Here, at the crossroads, you can set down your worries and truly switch off.


While Ballydavid, is just far away from Dingle to be pleasant, but close enough for all the essentials, it really make it the perfect base for a holiday in Slea Head and felt, maybe for me, to be somewhat removed from the heavy toil of the tourism industry here which caters to hundreds and thousands of wanderers every year. There was a lot of talk of the harsh winter, and the joy of change of seasons, with Feile ne Balainte being a peninsula wide celebration of this. It made me slightly envious of a cold wet windy night down here, but alas I had to make do with the rare sun and the epic views - woe is me.


All shot on FUJIFILM X100V, Ballydavid by Sarah Kate Photography

Ocean view through window frame showing coastal cliffs and blue waters against clear sky.
Scenic beach landscape with rocky outcrops and mountains in the background against a tranquil blue sea and sky.
Hiker stands on verdant coastal cliffs overlooking blue ocean waters and distant islands on sunny summer day.
Scenic coastal landscape with rolling green hills and rugged cliffs overlooking a blue bay in Ireland under clear skies.
A stone harbor wall stretches into blue ocean waters along rocky cliffs under clear skies.
Small pink flowers bloom on a rocky cliff edge against a bright blue sky.
Delicate pink sea thrift flowers blooming among lush green foliage in a summer garden.
Old wooden boat hull rotting on green grassy hillside in coastal landscape lies abandoned and weathered.
A tangled pile of thick white nautical ropes lies on green grass in a backyard setting.
A large stone embedded in an old stone wall with grass and vegetation growing alongside it.
Stone ruins of old farm buildings with wooden gates and doorways stand along a rural path on a sunny day.
A stainless steel teapot rests on a rustic stone wall in a rural landscape with rolling hills in the background.
An old hammer rests against a white door on grass with scattered debris.
A rusty metal water trough sits along a stone wall and wire fence on a grassy hillside under blue sky.
A winding dirt path between stone walls leads through rolling green hills in rural Ireland under blue skies.
Rolling green hills and farmland stretch across a rural Irish landscape with scattered houses in the distance.
A hiker stands on a hillside overlooking green rolling valleys and mountains in Ireland's countryside.
Ancient stone ruins sit atop a grassy hilltop against a clear blue sky in a scenic landscape view.
A winding river flows through tall brown reeds with green hills and a cloudy blue sky in the background.
Someone in a yellow Nike sweatshirt and black cap reading a document outdoors near colorful buildings.
Pink thrift flowers bloom among rocks on a grassy hillside with dramatic cliffs rising in the misty background.
Hiker resting on stone wall along coastal trail with turquoise ocean and rocky islands visible in background.
Scenic crescent beach with turquoise waters nestled between green hills on the Dingle Peninsula in Ireland.

All shot on FUJIFILM X100V