Blarney Castle and Stone – situated
in the town of Blarney, just northeast of Cork City is Blarney
Castle. Tradition dictates that those in search of the gift of
the gab had to kiss a certain stone, situated high in the battlements
of Blarney Castle and known throughout the world as the "Blarney
Stone". Built in 1446, Blarney Castle successfully resisted
a number of sieges throughout the 16th and 17th century until
finally captured in 1690 by the army of King William III.
Charles Fort – indicating the
past military significance of Kinsale, Charles Fort, located just
outside the town, was built in the early 1680’s and is a
classic example of a star-shaped fort. Besieged by the Duke of
Marlborough in 1690, it was eventually destroyed in 1922 during
the Irish Civil War.
Clock Gate – straddling the
main thoroughfare of Youghal Town and built in 1777 as a replacement
for the mediaeval Iron Gate that separated the upper and lower
towns, the Clock Gate served as a town jail until 1887. Incapable
of holding large numbers of prisoners from the revolution, for
a time, a policy was instituted of hanging rebels from the windows
as an example to the rest of the population.
Clonakilty – situated in an
area of immense beauty, southwest of Cork City, this was the birthplace
of Irish patron Michael Collins and is home to the West Cork Regional
Museum, which graphically illustrates the role that Collins played
in the Irish War of Independence.
Cobh Heritage Centre – the
heritage town of Cobh, known as Queenstown until 1922, was Ireland’s
main point of departure for the New World during the 19th century,
with over two million people setting sail for America from Cobh
between 1845 and 1860. The Heritage Centre reconstructs the scenes
from this era with a touching collection of letters, photographs
and other memorabilia. The town was also the last port of call
for the ill-fated ship, Titanic, in 1913.
Cork City – built on the banks
of the River Lee, Cork is Ireland’s third largest city behind
Dublin and Belfast and originally developed around a 7th century
monastic settlement. Known as the "Rebel County", Cork
has shown fierce resistance to British rule over the years. There
are many fine examples of architecture through the city, while
as a shopping haven the city is hard to beat.
Desmond Castle – situated
in the town of Kinsale, Desmond Castle was built as a custom house
in 1500, was occupied by the Spanish in 1601 and became known
as the French Prison, after a fire in which 54 prisoners (mainly
French sailors) died in 1747. Used to hold American prisoners
during War of Independence, it has since been converted into an
International Wine Museum.
Fota Arboretum and Gardens – lying about ten miles east of
Cork City, the Fota Arboretum and Gardens boast a renowned collection
of rare trees, shrubs and sub tropical plants from China, South
America, the Himalayas and the Far East.
Fota Wildlife Park
Fota Island Wildlife Park – located
ten miles east of Cork City, this 16-acre wildlife park, owned
by the Royal Zoological Society of Ireland, has more than seventy
species of wildlife in open surroundings, with monkeys swinging
from tree to tree on lake islands and kangaroos leaping around
extensive grasslands.
Garinish Island – this miniature
island paradise was designed in the 1920’s by a celebrated
garden architect who integrated a whole range of new exotic species
such as bamboo, magnolias and rare conifers into the Italian gardens.
In 1953, the magnificent ensemble was bequeathed to the Irish
people.
Glengarriff – this small village
is one of the most scenic locations in Ireland. Palm trees and
subtropical flowers confirm the mildness of the climate, while
nearby Glengarriff Forest Park is a haven for oak, beech and birch
trees and wildlife such as foxes, stoats, deer, squirrels and
badgers.
Gougane Barra – set amid magnificent
mountain scenery close to Glengarriff, this little village is
a truly magical place where brooding cliffs rise high above the
lakes dark waters. It is believed that St. Finbarr, the patron
saint of Cork, once had his hermitage here.
James Fort – another example
of Kinsale’s past military importance, James Fort was constructed
in 1607 and is an excellent example of 17th century military architecture.
Standing opposite Charles Fort at the entrance of the harbour,
it was captured by the Williamite forces in 1690.
Kinsale Harbour
Kinsale Town – can trace its
origins back to 1177 but claims its prominence in Irish history
for the battle between the Irish – Spanish alliance and the
English armies. Following this defeat, old Irish society effectively
came to an end as the country became increasingly Anglican. Kinsale
offers many attractions including Desmond Castle and St. Melrose’s
Church. The town also boasts an international reputation as a
centre for gastronomic excellence.
Myrtle Grove – located in Youghal
in southeastern Cork, Myrtle Grove was the mansion home of Sir
Walter Raleigh who is said to have introduced tobacco and the
potato to Ireland during the 16th century. Myrtle Grove is an
excellent example of a country mansion with fine landscaped gardens.
St. Colman’s Cathedral –
dominating the town of Cobh, this impressive cathedral was only
completed in 1915, having taken 47 years to build. It boasts a
300-foot spire and a carillon of forty-nine bells, the largest
of its kind in Ireland. The interior is highly decorated with
carved panels of Bath stone as well as some spectacular stained-glass
windows.
The Gearagh (Wooded River Valley)
– situated outside the town of Macroom, this is one of the
area’s principal attractions. A wildlife reserve containing
the only post-glacial alluvial oak forest remains in Europe, it
features a series of submerged islands and an abundance of wildlife.
