Sybil Point is a prominent headland on the western Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry. The Placenames Database of Ireland records the place as Ceann Sibéal, with Sybil Head as its current English form; Sybil Point also appears in established English-language usage.
Ceann Sibéal and the Dingle Peninsula
The headland belongs to the dramatic Atlantic landscape west of Ballyferriter. Its Irish name, coastal setting and association with the Feiritéar family connect it closely with the history and cultural identity of Corca Dhuibhne.
Piaras Feiritéar: poet, soldier and folk hero
Piaras Feiritéar, also known as Pierce Ferriter, was a seventeenth-century Irish-language poet and member of the local landed Feiritéar family. Biographical sources describe him as a royalist soldier and folk hero who took part in the conflicts of the 1640s. He was captured and executed in Killarney in 1653.
Stories about his escapes, the defence of his lands and a woman named Sybil form part of the area’s folklore. These accounts are valuable elements of local tradition, but they should not be presented as firmly documented historical events.
Exploring Ireland’s Atlantic coast
Travellers interested in Ireland’s headlands and coastal landscapes can also explore our Ireland Coastal Discovery Tour. Sybil Point is not presented here as a guaranteed inclusion in that itinerary.
Authoritative sources: Placenames Database of Ireland: Ceann Sibéal; Ainm.ie biography of Piaras Feiritéar.
