Interview with Tim Collins

On all of our tours, it's our goal to connect our travelers with our friends in Europe. In Ireland, our tour members consider their morning touring the Dingle Peninsula with Tim Collins — Dingle's retired police chief — as a trip highlight. And, when it's over, they count Tim as a friend. An expert on the mysteries of ancient Ireland as well as the charms of today's Irish culture, Tim's an enthralling teacher. Tim has a true insider's-perspective to his idyllic corner of Ireland.

How did you meet Rick Steves?

I met him six years ago, I reckon. When I met him, I knew him no better than the man on the moon. But he told me he was in the tourist business and that he was writing books about Ireland. In fact, when my wife first met him, she noticed his guidebook in his hand and she said, "You must be an American, because you have a Rick Steves book." He said to her, "I am Rick Steves." That knocked her spots off. Indeed, around here Rick Steves is known as the fifth evangelist.

What's the craziest thing you ever witnessed being police chief for Dingle?

Crime was practically nonexistent. We only had three fatal traffic accidents in the 25 years I was police chief. And we have some very winding, narrow roads! Of course there would be the odd fender bender now and then, but because we have no firearms, there are no murders.

What makes Dingle special?

I have been here for forty years, and I truly feel that Dingle is an open-air museum. There's quite a bit of history, archaeology, rugged beauty, beautiful clouds, and nice light. It's pristine: farming and fishing...not at all industrialized.

How many people live in the town of Dingle during the off-season?

1,400. And during the summer months you'd want to double that. 10,000 people live on the Dingle peninsula.

How did the film Ryan's Daughter (that was filmed in Dingle) change the town of Dingle?

It gave us a new lease on life. When I came here in 1962, it was a drab town. There was no industry, and when the movie starring Robert Mitchum hit the screens in 1970, it was a great kick-start for Dingle. Before Ryan's Daughter there was only one hotel in Dingle. And about 15 years ago the film Far and Away (starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman) was also filmed in Dingle, and that helped the tourism industry too. But now that people know about the region, we need to question the development so we don't kill the goose that laid the golden egg.

Tim Collins uncovering ancient Ireland's past.

Since the war in Iraq, have there been more or less tourists in Dingle? Do you think tourists think Ireland is safer than the rest of Europe?

Perhaps, because there have certainly been more American tourists than ever before. In fact, since last March 95% of our tourists have been Americans. I think Americans like Ireland because it's English speaking, and it's the nearest island to the east. There's also a great link to immigration — there are 45 million Irish in the United States. And, I suppose, people think it's safe here. We do.

Your tour company is called Sciuird Archaeology Tours. What does "Sciuird" mean?

It's an old Gaelic term for an excursion.

How did you get interested in archaeology?

Two of my sons became archaeologists — so I guess it's in the genes.

Do you speak Irish Gaelic fluently?

I learned Gaelic at school. Most people in this region have some knowledge, but mainly the older people know it. In Ireland we have our own television and radio programs in Gaelic. The language comes from the Celts, and it's an Indigenous language. The English language was superimposed on us because we were colonized by the British. But the Western part of Ireland resisted and so you can still hear people speaking Gaelic here today. Something interesting to note is that there seems to be an upsurge in people learning it since we became part of the European Union. It seems to be a product of wanting to retain some of our heritage as we become part of the rest of Europe. It is a difficult language. It is not similar to any other language, really. It has 18 letters in its alphabet as opposed to 26 in the Roman alphabet.

Has your knowledge of Irish history allowed you to know a lot about genealogy?

I have an interest in that type of thing. The name Collins is from Cork. Joyce is from Galway. The names Byrne and Malone are from Dublin. Pat O'Connor (Rick's co-author for his guidebook to Ireland) descends from the High King of Ireland, Rory O'Connor. So — Pat's from royal blood.

You were born in Cork but now live in the region of Kerry. I hear there's quite a rivalry between the two regions...How do you handle that?

The rivalry takes the form of Gaelic football, which is a religion really, when Cork meets Kerry. And I have to say that Kerry is the dominant team. But I always shout for cork when the punch comes. You have allegiance to your place of birth.

For more information about Ireland, and a chance to explore Dingle with Tim, check out our 15-day Best of Ireland tour or Rick's Ireland guidebook.

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