Just returned from IE with our last week in Dingle! The sea kayaking tour leaders told us Fungie’s story, which is very endearing. Did not find that Fungie dominated the town at all- for us his presence was very much in the background. If we had little kids it would probably have been more central. Amazing music at Nelligans!
My happiest childhood memory was turning seven and going to Dingle to see Fungie. I spent hours upon hours in that shop too, spending all my pocket money on Tshirts and clocks made out of CDs with dolphins printed on it.
As a child we used to joke that Fungie was a robot since he's been around longer than I have! But I just assumed his natural time had come. Luckily Dingle has a lot more going on!
I remember going to Dingle in the early 1990s. The Fungie excitement was growing. I don't think we saw him but Dingle is a good place and that was enough. Nice atmosphere and great pubs.
A friend named their dog Dingle after visiting the town. 🙂
I get why a town would want to find something to make itself more of a tourist destination but I have to say when a place gets completely overtaken by something like Fungie, my interest in visiting plummets...
I completely get this - I think for me it makes me feel like the town is going to be one big gimmick. I would say Dingle is well worth a visit though, Fungie or no Fungie.
I was just here two weeks ago. I didn’t even pick up on the Fungie craze, so I wouldn’t say it overtakes the town. I did see the Dolphin Shop, statue and other dolphin related themes. Dingle is a delightful town with the nicest people and definitely worth the visit. Don’t miss the Dick Mack pub and the fish and chips place right up the street! Even better....get take out and you can eat it in the pub, which is what I did.
My friend Patrick and I joke that it’s like a horror movie series and there will be fungie, son of fungie, and so forth. Return of fungie may be next? There’s no way it’s just one single long lived dolphin. We made that joke in 2017 and then ended up dancing in an droichead beag till everything was spinning which is to say our theories were probably influenced by alcohol and how long do dolphins actually live? Had a great visit overall. The music scene in the summer was incredible. Sang myself hoarse for days. Thanks for providing the flashback.
Thanks so much for your comment and for sharing this Bess! I share your scepticism about this - I love how many theories there are around Fungie! This sounds like a great trip.
Tigers. Never thought about it before, and I don’t even particularly like them, but when I read your question I instantly thought tigers. I think the color scheme just seems fun, a town orange buildings and white roads, that looks straight out of a fairy tale, lol. And just think: huge tiger statues and tiger graffiti! Wouldn’t that be awesome?
Shoot. I first met Fungie right around when that Waterboys song came out that mentioned him. Played a gig there in Dingle. Slept in a tent behind a hostel. It was a wild Summer on the road in my youth, hitchhiking around Ireland. I think about it a lot. I should probably write about it.
There was a definite rather sweet moment when he was being summoned by all the other boats were smashing their oars on the water to attract him but I was tapping the side of the boat quietly in a steady rhythm and he was intrigued so we sat together for a bit before he went to see the others. 😊
Alas for Dingle. Alas for Fungie. Maybe it won't matter that Fungi isn't there any more. I mean, look at Stratford-upon-Avon. They have a bronze statue of their famous son too, but no-one has seen the real guy for 400 years. The visitors keep coming.
In about 2002 Kathy Avrich-Johnson and I went to Dingle Bay and became temporary members of the Dingle Bay yacht club, rented a sailboat and headed out to sea with a chase boat provided by the club. We weren’t looking for a dolphin, we were trying to keep pace with a tall ship that was headed out to sea (we failed, they disappeared towards the open ocean). Fungie showed up and cavorted beside us. No one would believe that it happened, except we have photos of us in the boat, and then with Fungie beside the boat. Fungie was an amazing surprise. Only in Ireland. V sorry that Fungie isn’t there any more.
The gall to have a dolphin shop that doesn't even sell dolphins.
I know! And to have so many stuck to the outside too!
Just returned from IE with our last week in Dingle! The sea kayaking tour leaders told us Fungie’s story, which is very endearing. Did not find that Fungie dominated the town at all- for us his presence was very much in the background. If we had little kids it would probably have been more central. Amazing music at Nelligans!
Ah I didn't go to Nelligans - will have to go next time!
My happiest childhood memory was turning seven and going to Dingle to see Fungie. I spent hours upon hours in that shop too, spending all my pocket money on Tshirts and clocks made out of CDs with dolphins printed on it.
I love this!
As a child we used to joke that Fungie was a robot since he's been around longer than I have! But I just assumed his natural time had come. Luckily Dingle has a lot more going on!
Yes unfortunately I imagine time just took its course! But you're right Dingle is so nice too.
I remember going to Dingle in the early 1990s. The Fungie excitement was growing. I don't think we saw him but Dingle is a good place and that was enough. Nice atmosphere and great pubs.
A friend named their dog Dingle after visiting the town. 🙂
Oh I love the dog being called Dingle! It is such a lovely place.
I get why a town would want to find something to make itself more of a tourist destination but I have to say when a place gets completely overtaken by something like Fungie, my interest in visiting plummets...
I completely get this - I think for me it makes me feel like the town is going to be one big gimmick. I would say Dingle is well worth a visit though, Fungie or no Fungie.
I just realized we've actually been there. But I think it was before Fungie became quite such a thing...
I was just here two weeks ago. I didn’t even pick up on the Fungie craze, so I wouldn’t say it overtakes the town. I did see the Dolphin Shop, statue and other dolphin related themes. Dingle is a delightful town with the nicest people and definitely worth the visit. Don’t miss the Dick Mack pub and the fish and chips place right up the street! Even better....get take out and you can eat it in the pub, which is what I did.
Long live Fungie
My friend Patrick and I joke that it’s like a horror movie series and there will be fungie, son of fungie, and so forth. Return of fungie may be next? There’s no way it’s just one single long lived dolphin. We made that joke in 2017 and then ended up dancing in an droichead beag till everything was spinning which is to say our theories were probably influenced by alcohol and how long do dolphins actually live? Had a great visit overall. The music scene in the summer was incredible. Sang myself hoarse for days. Thanks for providing the flashback.
Thanks so much for your comment and for sharing this Bess! I share your scepticism about this - I love how many theories there are around Fungie! This sounds like a great trip.
Tigers. Never thought about it before, and I don’t even particularly like them, but when I read your question I instantly thought tigers. I think the color scheme just seems fun, a town orange buildings and white roads, that looks straight out of a fairy tale, lol. And just think: huge tiger statues and tiger graffiti! Wouldn’t that be awesome?
Now THAT is a town I would visit in a heartbeat.
Shoot. I first met Fungie right around when that Waterboys song came out that mentioned him. Played a gig there in Dingle. Slept in a tent behind a hostel. It was a wild Summer on the road in my youth, hitchhiking around Ireland. I think about it a lot. I should probably write about it.
That sounds fantastic Tim, I'd definitely read it!
My lifetime happiest time was spent in Dingle in 2005. Sadly we did not see Fungie. But the day remains one of magic.
Ah that sounds fantastic - glad Dingle was such a great place for you!
I met Fungie in 1987 and he was wonderful. I’ll never forget it or the lovely Dingle.
Ah - amazing! Quite jealous you met the man himself.
There was a definite rather sweet moment when he was being summoned by all the other boats were smashing their oars on the water to attract him but I was tapping the side of the boat quietly in a steady rhythm and he was intrigued so we sat together for a bit before he went to see the others. 😊
This sounds incredible!
Alas for Dingle. Alas for Fungie. Maybe it won't matter that Fungi isn't there any more. I mean, look at Stratford-upon-Avon. They have a bronze statue of their famous son too, but no-one has seen the real guy for 400 years. The visitors keep coming.
Oh yes I'd say they've got enough going on, it's a lovely place. :-)
I love that a whole town revolves around a dolphin named Bungie. Are there still boat tours to see other dolphins there?
I love that a whole town revolves around Fungie. Are there still boat tours there to see other dolphins?
I believe Fungie was the only dolphin! But there are still boat tours of the bay!
In about 2002 Kathy Avrich-Johnson and I went to Dingle Bay and became temporary members of the Dingle Bay yacht club, rented a sailboat and headed out to sea with a chase boat provided by the club. We weren’t looking for a dolphin, we were trying to keep pace with a tall ship that was headed out to sea (we failed, they disappeared towards the open ocean). Fungie showed up and cavorted beside us. No one would believe that it happened, except we have photos of us in the boat, and then with Fungie beside the boat. Fungie was an amazing surprise. Only in Ireland. V sorry that Fungie isn’t there any more.
Well I absolutely love this! What a great story.