History | Dingle Hotels | Competition

The Dingle Skellig Hotel stands on the site of the Coastguard Station, which was destroyed in the Civil War of 1922. The Coastguard Station was built in 1891 by the Board of Trade to deal with increased shipping at Dingle Port. It consisted of 8 2-storied houses, a boathouse and a rocket house. The rocket house, which still stands, was a rescue centre for ships and boats in distress in Dingle Harbour and along the coast. A practice session or drill is still held at the rocket house every year. The volunteer crew are mostly local fishermen who helped to get some of the crew off the “Ranga” when it went aground near Coumeenole Strand in a storm in 1982. The remaining crew of the “Ranga” were taken to safety by helicopter.

1968 saw the construction of the Dingle Skellig Hotel, and in 1969 one of its first guests was

David Lean and the film crew of Ryan’s Daughter. The film took a year to shoot in fabulous locations such as Coumeenole Strand, Minard Castle, Inch Beach and Ceann Sraithe. Having waited a year for “The Perfect Storm”, David Lean actually shot the final storm on location just south of Cape Town in South Africa, which also boasts the same magnificent coastal contours and spectacular light.

By 1998, a very large refurbishment programme had been carried out on the Hotel, building additional rooms along with Public Areas, Leisure Centre and Conference and Banqueting Facilities. In 1999, the Dingle Skellig Hotel was awarded its 4th Star. Benner's Hotel in Dingle and the Dingle Marina Cottages are also part of the rapidly expanding company.

The Dingle Skellig Hotel enjoys a high percentage of return guests and is renowned for its friendly welcome and warm care.