Lios Póil & An Mhin Ard - Lispole & Minard 

Lispole (Lios Póil) is bounded on the north by mountains and on the south by cliffs and inlets of Dingle Bay...

Lispole village, with its church and shops grew up around the bridge over the Owenalondrig River in the nineteenth century. Historically the area consists of two parishes, Kinard (Ceann Áird) and Minard (An Mhin Aird).

At Kinard is the small beach of Béal, overlooked by the seastack known as An Searrach or The Foal. The beach is loved by sea anglers.

At Minard are the remains of Minard Castle towering over a dramatic storm beach of large rounded boulders. Nearby is the holy well of St.John, still visited on the saint's "pattern day".

Lispole Viaduct

To the north of the main road can be seen Lispole Viaduct, an impressive relic of the Tralee and Dingle Railway. This seven-span rubble stone-built railway viaduct bridges the Owenalondrig river and opened in the 1890’s.

Lispole railway station station opened in 1891. Passenger services finished in April 1939. Regular goods trains continued until March 1947 with a monthly livestock train running until July 1953.

Minard Castle

5km south of Lispole the remains of Minard Castle stand dramatically above Kilmurray Bay. The castle, originally a stronghold for the Knights Of Kerry was attacked by the English Cromwellian army in 1650 and structurally damaged. Minard Castle which featured in the famous motion picture “Ryan’s Daughter” sits on private land and you are not permitted to enter but it is easily viewed from the road.

Thomas Ashe

Thomas Ashe (14 January 1885 – 25 September 1917). Lispole is the birthplace of Thomas Ashe the patriot famous for his part in the 1916 rising. A school teacher in Co.Dublin he was a member of the Gaelic League, the Irish Republican Brotherhood and a founding member of the Irish Volunteers. On 25 September 1917, Thomas Ashe died as a result of force-feeding. He is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery Dublin. He is remembered with a new monument at his birthplace in Kinard and a small display at the door of Dingle Library.

Sandstone boulders at storm beach Dingle Peninsula Ireland

Kilmurry Bay (Béal na gCloch)

This small inlet below Minard Castle is of great geological interest. 380 million year old fossilised sand dunes are visible in the cliffs. The large sandstone boulders form one of the finest examples of a storm beach in Ireland

medieval stone bridge at Garfinny Lispole on the Dingle Peninsula Ireland

Garfinny Bridge

This narrow stone bridge was built without the use of mortar and is one of the few medieval stone bridges still standing in Ireland. No longer in use it crosses the Garfinny River on the old Dingle to Lispole road above the N86. Garfinny bridge has been declared a national monument of Ireland and has been restored recently by the OPW.

Kinard - An Searrach

At Kinard is the small beach of ‘Béal’, overlooked by the dramatic seastack known as ‘An Searrach’ or ‘The Foal’ which is visible from the Conor pass as you descend into Dingle town.  The beach is a haven for sea anglers.

How to get to Lispole

Directions: Lispole is on the N86 Tralee Dingle road.

From Tralee: 41km and 45mins driving time. Take the N86 to Dingle making sure to take a left turn at Camp Junction.
From Dingle: 8km 9mins driving time. Take the N86 towards Tralee.

Bus Eireann has a service route 275 from Tralee to Dingle which stops at Lispole

Lispole - Directory

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