Ireland

A long history of poverty, of misery and great famine.

Mainly north-west, west and south-west, poor soil condemned these people to a very basic food, mainly based on meagre crops of potatoes.

As families had a lot of children, and as food was always a great challenge at these times, people married earlier as in mainland, to leave their homes earlier, in the hope to flee famine.

Consequently, families already meagre holdings were divided quicker and the problems were only postponed, as the holdings got smaller and smaller.

With the sudden increase of population between 1785 and 1841, an increase from about 4 to 8 millions of inhabitants, with the catastrophic crops between 1845 and 1848, nearly a million of people died of famine.

This was at the base of a gigantic wave of emigration all over the world, mainly direction west. (see history of the great famine).

Ireland

A long history of emigration and settlements over centuries. Starting in the beginnings of the 17 th century accidentally in the Bermudas, in 1609, or with the flight of most of the Gaelic nobility to Belgium, to Leuwen, in 1607, to grow here to an important centre of learning for Irish priests, emigration is still a very actual theme here in Ireland, 400 years later.

Countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Argentina, America with towns such as New York and Boston and lots of others, where many people nowadays claim to have Irish descendants.

At the beginning of 21 st century, nearly 80 million of these people are living through the world. (see history of the Irish Diaspora)

Ireland

A long history of pre-monastic and ecclesiastic happenings, beginning in the 5 th and 6 th century on the Skellig Rocks, in Co Kerry. Up this small spot somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean, 10 miles ashore the Kerry coast, was a small pre-monastic settlement. This was going to be probably one of the most important, may-be the most important spot for the Christianity.

Chased by the Normans, these monks flee to the mainland in Ballingskellig where they build-up a small monastery in 8 th century.

This was the place, where monks started to go to Mainland to christianise the world. Hundreds of these relics of ancient times are still remaining and create a fantastic platform for historical wacks. (see history of the Skellig Experience as well as Unesco site "Skellig Rocks")

A long Celtic history. 4 th century B.C., the Celts were one of the most peripheral nations in the known world. They begin to intrude themselves, rudely and dramatically, into the affairs of the great Mediterranean centres of politic and cultural influence. From their original homeland, which comprised southern Germany and part of Bohemia, they moved to eastern and western limits of the European Continent and threatened the rising power of Rome. By the 5 th century B.C., they had considerably extended. Even in Spain, Celtic people were well established.

400 B.C., Celtic tribes invaded northern Italy. The main body settled there, known as "Gallia cisalpina".

390 B.C., they captured and sacked the city of Rome.

In eastern Europe, other tribes advanced into the Carpathians and the Balkans, where their presence is attested as early as the first half of the 4 th century B.C.

In 279 B.C., they entered Greece and plundered the shrine of Delphi.

3 years later, 3 of their tribes crossed into "Asia minor" and established themselves in the region under the name of "Galatia".

By this time, most of Britain was within the Celtic realm. The earliest immigration, confidentially defined as "Celtic", took place in the 5 th century B.C.

The final phase was reached with the arrival of the "Belgae" in the early part of the 1 st century B.C.

It's about the 3 rd century B.C., onwards, that the archaeological records permit us to speak about the Celts in Ireland.

Presumptions, that earlier settlements should be assigned to this, are allowed.

South-West Kerry as a great historical, mythological platform of Celtic history. (see Celtic Mythology)

Ireland

The oldest rocks on earth are dated 4500 millions of years. Oldest Irish rocks are dated 2400 millions of years.

Earth is much older. From the first 2/3, we know only very little. That the crust of earth was very thin and subjected to enourmsly violent disturbances.

There have been reported cycles of extreme rock deformation.

However, 600 million years ago, the intensively of this disturbations declined and the first fossils appears.

At these times, the sea covered the area we call Wales today.

In that early sea, there were many forms of animal life, and these left fossils in the local rocks, which are known as "Cambrian"

Around 350 million years ago, first animals came from the sea to land.

The "Tetra Pods" were born. The first known in the world, are the "Tetra Pods" of Valentia Island.

Follow the food paths of the "Tetra Pods" of Valentia Island.

Valentia Island, as platform for first terrestrial form of life on earth.

Ireland today:

Waterville: Golf-Links (within the top 10 world-wide) (location absolutely unique)

Waterville: sea-trout angling (top of the European list) (international rename for salmon-angling)

Skellig Rocks: diving (within the top 10 world-wide) (National Geographic)

Skellig Rocks: history (pre-Christian monastery of 5 th century) (the beginning of Christianity)

Valentia-Island: oldest history (follow the path-way of the Tetrapods) (350 million years old)

Valentia-Island: young history (first trans-Atlantic telegraph cable in 19 th century)

Valentia-Island: young history (the fabulous history of the "Knights of Kerry")

Valentia-Island: young history (the fabulous history of its slate factory, a world-rename in 19 th and beginning 20 th century)

Ballingskellig: "Cill Rialaig" (an international renowned Centre for Irish quality handcraft)

St.Finians Bay: great horse-riding experience in absolute unique sceneries

Finally: Cahersiveen: Capital of Iveragh

Town of Daniel O'Connell, "the Liberator"

Twinned town with Pluvignier in France (Brittany)

Host town of the "Celtic Music Festival" in August

International renowned platform for Sea-angling

(European Boat-angling Championship 2001 and 2004, Findlater Cup 2007)

Typical Irish pubs, Irish life music, some good restaurants, good accommodation possibilities, a new and modern

Marina harbour, lots of artistic galleries as well as beautiful gift shops.

You see, all this brings us to the point.

This place, the most westerly of the old world, is a unique place to stay for holidays. (Lot's of people once came here for a short holiday, and today they life here for a lifetime, like myself).

The combination between quality of activities and quality of sceneries is absolutely unique.

I am here to organize all this for you, as good as possible.

Let me know, when you are ready for the "South-West Kerry Experience".

It'll be a great time.

Now, up here: Slaínte

With the great success of our French site www.activeholidayskerry.com in 2007, it has been quoted by Google, Yellow Pages in Canada and Hot Frogs uk as the best fishing site for Ireland in French language.

We are registered in http://www.bigfishtackle.com/top50/3025

For more about Cahersiveen please visit www.cahersiveencentral.com