The Glen, and its view
St. Finian’s Bay, known locally as The Glen (An Gleann), is an exposed crescent on the Atlantic coast of County Kerry, midway round the Skellig Ring between Portmagee and Ballinskelligs. It runs from Puffin Island in the north to Ducalla Head in the south, with the Skellig Rocks and Lemon Rock sitting out in the bay. The reason to come is the view: few places put the Skelligs so squarely in front of you, and the drive in over the Coonanaspig Pass is half the pleasure.
One thing to be clear about first. This is the smallest beach on the ring with the strongest rip tides, and it is unpatrolled. It is a beach to look at, walk and photograph, not one for a casual swim.
Surfing and diving, for those who know what they’re doing
The bay catches consistent Atlantic swell and throws up fast, hollow waves that draw experienced surfers. The same swell and the strong rips make it a poor choice for beginners or bathers; check the tide and forecast before you go anywhere near the water.
The pier is a well-used launch point for divers heading out to explore the waters around the Skellig Rocks. This is remote shore diving with currents outside the bay and occasional fishing traffic, so a surface marker buoy is standard practice here.
The chocolate factory
A short walk from the beach is Skelligs Chocolate, Ireland’s only open-plan chocolate factory, where you can watch the chocolate being made, taste your way through the counter, and book a chocolate-making course. The Driftwood surf café sits at the bay itself if you want food closer to the sand. Between them, they make the bay an easy stop even on a day the sea is too rough for anything else.
History in the landscape
The Glen has been lived in for a long time, and the fields around the bay hold traces of it. The Coom Wedge Tomb and the Tobairín holy well are the nearby highlights for anyone who likes their scenery with a bit of prehistory attached. The bay takes its name, by tradition, from an early saint associated with the Skellig monastic world, though the details are hazy and better treated as folklore than fact.
Practical information
St. Finian’s Bay is freely accessible year-round with no charge. There is parking for about a dozen cars, with a fresh-water tap on hand. The bay is part of the Wild Atlantic Way and the Skellig Ring scenic drive; note that the Skellig Ring is not part of the official Ring of Kerry route, which is exactly why it stays quieter.
Check tide times before you go: low water exposes wide rock pools, while high tide leaves little beach at all. And keep out of the surf zone unless you genuinely know this coast.