Fahan BeeHive Huts, Dingle (must see)

Nestled along the winding roads of Ireland's scenic Dingle Peninsula, you'll encounter a captivating sight: clusters of peculiar cone-shaped huts known as Fahan Beehive Huts. These humble dwellings, weathered and marked by the passage of time, stand as enduring testaments to the craftsmanship of medieval stonemasons on the island.

While beehive houses, or clocháns, can be found throughout County Kerry, the collection at Fahan is considered the most remarkable in the country. The exact age of these unique structures remains uncertain, with different theories placing their origins anywhere between the 8th and 12th centuries AD. It is believed that hermit monks and followers of Saint Peter once inhabited these huts, although some may have served as homes for pagans even earlier.

In the past, over 400 of these intriguing dwellings adorned the hillside. While the ravages of time have taken their toll on many, a significant number of these remarkable structures still stand. Visitors have the opportunity to approach these huts closely, and in some cases, even enter them, allowing for an up-close admiration of the masterful stonework that has withstood centuries of wind, rain, and the curious grazing of sheep.

What sets these beehive houses apart is the absence of mortar in their construction. Instead, the builders employed a meticulous method of stacking stone rings one on top of the other. Each subsequent layer was positioned a little further inward, gradually forming a snug, pointed roof that capped off the structure. This technique, known as corbelling, is one of the reasons why accurately dating these huts is challenging, as it transcends specific time periods and has been utilized in Ireland for thousands of years.