Blogs from Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland, Europe
October 8th 2011
After a rush to the bus stop at 9am in the morning after sleeping in from watching an amazing band called Cellar Door from the night before at Cyprus Avenue in Cork we were on our way to Kinsale. We had visited the small seaside town only 2 weeks ago but we desperately wanted to visit Charles Fort! After the 50 minute bus trip and a long read of our Music & Film magazines we were finally there. We walked the small brightly coloured streets that were filled of pubs, cafes, small arty shops and the cliche tourist shops for about an hour with a small pit stop to the supermarket for some late breakfast - which was a delicious sausage roll for me and a minced pie for Corey. After enough discussions and disagreements we ... read more
June 5th 2011
We travelled by train to Shrewsbury, on a long day that involved as much waiting as it did travel – waiting for a connection at Brussels, waiting for a connection at London Euston, waiting for a replacement train at Crewe when the rostered guard didn’t show up. Shrewsbury is a nice quiet town, a bit historic and in a nice setting but for us it was good for some down time after all the cities we have been to. It does have some nearby attractions though. We visited Ironbridge, a UNESCO site and regarded as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. Ironbridge has numerous museums celebrating the various industrial activities that took place in the valley – iron-making, pottery, coal mining – as well as the famous (and appropriately-named) Iron Bridge, the first iron bridge in ... read more
October 14th 2010
Wednesday, October 13: It was great to have a down day in Kinsale. We slept in, ate a late breakfast at our B&B and started off for a hike through this seaside village. We walked up to the Carmelite Friary, then down to the Desmond Castle. We were looking forward to the wine museum at the castle but it was closed for the season. A great advantage of traveling this time of year is the lack of tour buses, but the downside is not having access to all the attractions. We checked in at the Tourist Information and learned about the train tour to Charles Fort. Within a few minutes we had boarded this small train and were on our way with a guided tour through the village, out the long quay and to the fort. ... read more
October 13th 2010
Tuesday, October 12: Rise and Shine!! We wanted to get to Kilkenny Castle this morning so we were up early and hiked up the street to be the first two visitors of the day. We did a self-guided tour of this beautiful site with helpful information from the docents. What a lineage-it was a castle, then a manor, and now has been restored lovingly to its 19th Century splendor. It is a work in progress but well worth the time to visit. The rose gardens and fountain, and the view to the river below were beautiful on this clear, bright October morning. We collected our car from the Car Park and stopped back at the inn to pack and check out. We stopped briefly on the way to the Car Park for a scone and cookie, ... read more
January 23rd 2010
(Make sure you scroll all the way down and go to the other page of pics, cause it took me a long time to load them!) Today was SO much fun!! It was seriously the best weather day we have had since I got here. I am so glad I got up at 7:40 am to go!! haha it was the cutest little town ever! we got there about 8:30 and went to a little cafe for some tea. we then went to the visitors center and randomly caught a private tour (since we were there so early in the day) the guy was a great old irish man!! We walked around the town for about an hour and got to see random things around the city that you will see pics of. I'll write a ... read more
August 23rd 2009
Rivermount House is simply stunning. The magnificent residence is perched on the side of the hill overlooking the valley. Not long after signing off yesterday, the weather came in and the view disappeared. It rained all night, not that I really know with the double glazing and quiet rooms. Breakfast was unsurpassed, a cooked breakfast with all the trimmings, with full dinner service and cutlery. After breakfast I packed up and headed outside. Whilst it looked as if it was raining, it was actually just low cloud. The cloud that skips by the top of lofty, but here is drifts along the surface. So it was 17 degrees, dry, with visibility to 100metres. Yey, the Irish are metric, a nice change after the yards and miles back in UK. Drove 5km back into Kinsale and went ... read more
August 22nd 2009
After a fine breakfast at Trinity College, I was allowed to sneak some fruit from the fruit bar (the guy liked me I guess). Checked out and walked to where to hire the car. All hired, a Blue Ford Focus, left Dublin and drove south along the motorway (allowed to do 120km/hr). Turned south at Port Laoirse (which is strange as its not on the coast - go figure) and headed through Kilkenny, Callan and onto Clonmel. Arrived at my destination in Kinsale and the most lovely B&B. It is just amazing. Rivermount House is perched on the hill overlooking the valley and the town of Kinsale. Have been starved of Internet so have sat here and caught up with things over the last hour. Might have a go at a local pub this evening and ... read more
July 16th 2009
Hi Ruthie I was up fairly late due to my illness. I found it hard to sleep anticipating what the day ahead might bring. I never thought this day would come. It's all new and I felt anxious about this new experience. Truthfully, I can't say what my feelings are, except there was a lump in my throat, and a knot in my stomach. I am so sad that I never met my piglet cousins, aunts, uncles and got to see the world. I got pictures recently and they look like they are having so much fun. Adorable little things. I have attached some pictures. Rumour has it all the pigs are herded into the slaughter house here. They are preparing for us. Say goodbye to all those in SHS. Everytime you eat eat a susauge, ... read more
June 28th 2009
Sunday and Monday, June 28-29 - Pirates of Kinsale Next on the Rick Steves itinerary was the town of Kinsale, just below Cork in southern Ireland. One of the reasons I was excited to visit County Cork was because I had another Irish ancestor connection here. After my great grandfather (the one from Sligo) immigrated to the United States, he met and married Elizabeth Collins who was from Cork. So after this trip I could say that I had visited the home towns of both my great grandparents.. Sausalito, Not. Kinsale was a more upscale town than other places we had visited. The Rick Steves book said it was like Sausalito (the little town on the other side of the Golden Gate bridge from San Francisco), but it reminded me more of Bar Harbor, Maine with ... read more
June 12th 2009
Kinsale! I took a 45-minute bus ride from Cork to Kinsale this morning. I knew nothing about the town but I heard it was cool. Pretty hard to convince me! What a great suprise! It was such a cool town. It's a quaint little town of about 4000 people. I found the tourist center and there was a historical walking tour at 11:15, about 1/2 hour away. Perfect! That tour was probably my favorite thing on this trip I have done! The guide had grown up in Kinsale and knew all of its history. Kinsale was a very important port city back in the day. As in 400 years ago. Barry, our guide, told us everything, walked us around, and gave us suggestions for where to eat. After our tour, I just walked around and toured ... read more
