6 Free Things to do in Ballinskelligs That You Shouldn't Miss

Skelligs Chocolate is a family run business overlooking the magnificent Skelligs Rocks, on the south west coast of Ireland. Our factory opened its doors in 1996, consisting of two little production rooms; one for making chocolate and the other for packaging. The factory has since expanded to a state of the art production facility with adjoining seasonal cafe which serves delicious hot chocolate, tea, coffee and homemade treats. With the only open plan chocolate production facility in Ireland, we encourage you to call in to see our chocolate being made, taste the delicious treats and ask the friendly staff all about where chocolate comes from and how it is made. If you are travelling the Wild Atlantic Way in Kerry make sure to pop in.

The Cill Rialaig Arts Centre was built in 1995 in the little Gaeltacht village of Dun Geagan, Ballinskelligs near Waterville and Cahersiveen. It features a wide range of exhibitions, programmes and workshops. Described by the London Times recently as a most modern and impressive art centre it has never lost the welcoming and warm ambience despite its little museum like architecture. The Arts Centre is associated with the international artists' retreat, Cill Rialaig, and many of the artists, Irish and International, who have been resident at the retreat leave works for sale at the Arts Centre to help support the Project. You are likely to run into well known artists, poets, writers and film makers who enjoy meeting one another and the local community as well as sampling the excellent food in the Cill Rialaig Café. In 1991, The Cill Rialaig Project began the rescue and restoration of a small pre-famine village on Bolus Head at the very end of the Iveragh Peninsula, thus creating the artists' retreat that has now attracted more than 3,000 artists from Ireland and from across the world. The Cill Rialaig Arts Centre offers the local community and general public the opportunity to meet and experience the work of the resident artists without disturbing the more remote and protected Cill Rialaig Retreat. Here, in addition to painting and sculpture, you will find fine crafts, decorative items made by artists, books, photographs, unique postcards, and small gifts.