Castlegregory is located on the north shore of the Dingle Peninsula halfway between Tralee and Dingle. Also known as “The Gold Coast” of the Peninsula, it lies on one of Ireland’s longest beaches, which stretches 12 glorious miles (20 kilometres) in length from the Maharees westwards through Castlegregory to just short of Cloghane village. The Maharees Peninsula is to the north of the village and boasts spectacular views of Brandon Bay, Mount Brandon, the Atlantic Ocean, Kerry Head, and Tralee Bay across to Fenit. Castlegregory village is a great base for holidaymakers with a community Tourist Information Office, local shops, cafes and a great food scene. Traditional Irish music can be heard in the village’s pubs, particularly in the summer months.
The village is named after a castle constructed in the sixteenth century by Gregory Hoare, a local chieftain. The castle was destroyed during the Cromwellian wars in 1649. There are, however, a few stone fragments. One of these bears a mysterious inscription, and in the 1850s a tragic romantic (and completely fictitious) story was invented about the castle, and which can be read here.