D Irl 13444 Ed; Black Valley, remote cottage at top of valley

The Black Valley or Cummeenduff is a remote valley at the southern end of the MacGillycuddy's Reeks mountain range in Kerry, situated south of the Gap of Dunloe and north of Moll's Gap; it is used as a southerly access into the Gap of Dunloe.

The Black Valley is part of the Kerry Way, a walker’s version of the Ring of Kerry beginning and ending in Killarney, and is also part of a 55–kilometre loop of the Killarney–Gap of Dunloe–Black Valley–Moll's Gap area, popular with cyclists. The Black Valley is also a southerly access route to the Head of the Gap in the Gap of Dunloe, and to Lord Brandon's Cottage. The Black Valley is also noted for being one of the last places in mainland Ireland to be connected to the electricity and telephone networks due to its remoteness, which happened in 1976. (source; Wikipedia)

Black Valley, which is quite an extensive valley, is one of my favourite places in Co. Kerry. Wild nature still dominates the area and there is a great sense of freshness and freedom.This very isolated cottage sits on top of a rugged mountaion pass. One can imagine the hardships the inhabitants had to endure, in order to stay alive a scrape some sort of existence. It is a pity that such a really unique “monument” is being left to deteriorate amd rot away. Bringing it back to life again would be an inspiration for people of our generation, and give them a sense of what “True Grit” really entails.