Read, Write, Ramble

A more laid back approach to today enabled us all to have a bit of a sleep-in, enjoy a leisurely breakfast and then assess our options.  We were booked in for a midday walking tour of Cork to solidify our knowledge of this city we have used as our base over the past month, and see if there was anything new to be learned, but on the way, we thought we should pop into the Old Cork Waterworks Experience, which is only 5 minutes down the road from our apartment and something we walk/drive past every time we go out.  It was a very well executed exhibition, full of information on the history of the development of Cork and its water infrastructure.  Following a coffee in the Waterworks Cafe, we journeyed on to the bus stop and then met our walking tour at the Tourist Information Office.  My biggest take away from the tour was that there is apparently only one Art Deco style building in all of Cork, and that’s the old Savoy Theatre. I’m sure I learnt other things as well, bu...

 A day tour seemed like a good solution to fit in some more Cork scenery in our last few days here. We selected one that covered Bantry and Clonakilty, both places that had been recommended to us, but it would have had to be one or the other if we were relying on public transport.   The trusty Brian collected us at 8am and dropped us at the designated meeting point in St Patrick’s Quay. We were very early, as is our habit, but the Cronin’s tour bus arrived at 8:45 and the 13 passengers quickly boarded. It was looking like a pleasant day weather-wise.  Our first stop was the tranquil Gougane Barra, site of an Oratory and  Church originally established by St Finnbar.  The beautiful spot, ringed by the Shehy Mountains, is also the source of the River Lee which runs into the sea at Cork City. It was easy to see why the saint chose this peaceful place to establish a place of worship and monastery.  Situated on the Wild Atlantic Way, we had a brief time to explor...

 The days are running out and there seem to be too many trips that are just too far away to fit into the time we have left.  Today we decided to go to Kinsale, a comfortable 35 minute commuter coach ride from the City Hall stop in Cork.  Unsure what we would find to do there, but acting on advice from others, we stepped off the bus at 10:15 and went straight to the tourist information (via the small Farmer’s Market in the town car park). Here we were presented with a number of things which would easily fill in the time in this pretty coastal town.  We began with a 75 minute guided walking tour with the most knowledgeable and engaging guide I believe we have had anywhere during the course of our Irish travels. We learnt a great deal about the events of the past that shaped Kinsale, and present day life there.  Following the tour, we walked (again on the advice of the tourist information consultant), to the dock where the harbour cruise boat was disgorging its pas...