Last Updated on 18 October 2023 by Vanessa
Next to the entrance of the Sweet Pea gift shop in Dingle, Ireland, you’ll find a mural of a chunky black-and-white cat. Chances are the model for that painting will be sitting right next to it.
Meet Dingle’s darling: Angel from the Sweet Pea gift shop
The cat’s name is Angel, and her mural has become one of the most “instagrammable” spots of the otherwise already picturesque little port town.
From scrawny kitten to spoiled shop cat
“Angel came to my shop when she was still tiny, about ten weeks old,” says shop owner Helen O’Grady. “There were four or five kittens, but Angel was the only one who came in and sat just inside the door of my shop. The kittens were all taken to the vet and re-homed but Angel stayed.”
How Angel got her name
Dingle is much loved for its rugged scenery and colorful houses, and many tourists noticed her sitting in front of the shop. They used to say to her, ‘Oh, what a little angel.’ That’s how she got her name.
The mural that turned her into an Instagram celebrity
Helen has had a mural painted of Angel under the sunny window where she often sits, waiting to be petted. “She sat patiently for it too,” Helen explains.
Do not feed the cat
Did you notice how much fatter Angel is compared to her mural?
That’s not a mistake. The customers of the Sweet Pea shop love to give her treats, so now there’s a sign on the window that says not to feed the cat.
Dingle’s true angel
“Angel never bothered anyone or broke anything in six years, even though the Sweet Pea shop is full of pottery and glass,” Helen says.
“One day, a Jack Russell chased her upstairs to the gallery and back down again. Since then, she wont let a dog near the door. In fact, now the local dogs cross the street.”
Sweet Pea’s Angel merch
Angel is well loved in Dingle, and the children know her name and come looking for her during their holidays.
She has become such a well-known presence in town that the Sweet Pea shop even started selling Angel the cat mugs (you can also find them in Sweet Pea’s online store if you’re interested).
Practical information
Address
The Sweet Pea gift shop is located on Green Street in Dingle, Kerry, Ireland.
Opening hours
The shop is open every day from 11:00 am to 05:00 pm (Sunday only between noon and 04:00 pm).
Too late?
Don’t worry. You can probably still spot Angel as she will most probably be sitting behind the window, just above her mural.
How to get to Dingle?
Dingle does not have major cities in its immediate vicinity, but there are some notable nearby towns and cities that you can use as reference points for travel. The primary method of getting to Dingle by public transport is via bus, as there is no train station in Dingle. Here’s how to get to Dingle by public transport:
From Dublin:
- You can take a train or bus from Dublin to Tralee, which is a larger town in County Kerry.
- You can then catch a train from Dublin Heuston Station to Tralee. Irish Rail operates this service.
- Alternatively, you can take a bus from Busáras in Dublin (the central bus station) to Tralee. Bus Éireann operates this route.
- From Tralee, you can then take a bus to Dingle. Bus Éireann provides this service, and there are regular bus routes connecting Tralee and Dingle.
- The bus journey from Tralee to Dingle typically takes around 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on traffic and specific stops along the route. The journey offers breathtaking scenic views of the Dingle Peninsula, and it’s a beautiful part of the Wild Atlantic Way, making the travel time quite enjoyable.
From Cork:
- If you’re traveling from Cork, you can take a train or bus to Tralee, and then follow the same steps mentioned above to get to Dingle.
From Limerick:
- If you’re coming from Limerick, you can take a bus to Tralee, and then switch to a Dingle-bound bus.
Local Dingle Bus Services:
- Once you arrive in Dingle, the town itself is quite walkable. You can explore the local area on foot. Additionally, there are local bus services that can take you to nearby attractions on the Dingle Peninsula.
- Bus stops in the vicinity of the Sweet Pea gift shop include Dingle Bus Station, Main Street, and St. Mary’s Church.
Photos one and two by Sally O’Reilly. All the other photos by Sweet Pea.
