Blogs from Cobh, County Cork, Ireland, Europe - page 2

Saturday 18th June (Happy 74th birthday Paul MacCartney) Cobh classic car rally saw 25 or so classic cars (and my van) lined outside the Commodore hotel on the esplanade. There were MGs, Beetles, Rover, Wolseley, Alvi, all with men peeping under bonnets. I chatted with a couple in their Austin 7; they were English but had retired to Tipperary. They had four vintage cars and a big motorhome that towed the trailer, and went to many vintage rallies round the country. I met a woman who had blagged a lift in one of the cars. She was American, and had left the States 18 years ago and was traveling the world couchsurfing, spending three months in each country. At 11.30 we set off in convoy; a steward at the front in a modern car with a ... read more

We arrived in Cobh, Ireland this morning. They pronounce it Cove. We decided not to take a cruise tour because they did not seem interesting. I booked a tour with eCoach.ie - Blarney, Kinsale Tour a few months ago online. The bus was waiting for us when we got off the ship. We visited Blarney Castle, the bus lets you out and they tell you to return in two hours. We enjoyed this a lot, we do not like following a tour guide and it gave us the chance to go where we wanted. The Blarney Stone is in the castle and if you kiss the stone you will receive the gift of gab, well I passed on that, I talk enough without any additional gifts of gab. The castle has large grounds with different gardens ... read more

Thursday 2nd August - continued Back on board we had afternoon tea and then time for Barry to have a little snooze whilst Nicky sorted out the laundry for tomorrow (hang the expense). Dinner this evening was semi formal - suit and tie but as usual we had an excellent dinner. After dinner we decided not to go to the theatre as it was going to be quite a lot of jazz which neither of us particularly like so we went back to our room and watched a really awful black and white film Harvey. And so to bed as we made our way down to Liverpool overnight. Friday 3rd August We were already tied up at the cruise terminal when we got up in time to enjoy our tea and coffee before getting dressed ready ... read more

Sunday June 3 – Sunday June 3 Cork and Cobh -Drinking my tea and thinking things over. Today I am planning on walking down the street a bit to the train station and taking the train to the seaside town of Cobh. It has quit raining for now and I think I see a little sunshine trying to peer through the clouds. I took the train to Cobh for about 7 Euros return and walked all over the town, I had plopped down in the middle of a bagpipe and marching competition so I watched the bagpipe competition, ate at Supermac’s, and toured the Titanic Museum, and rode the train back to Cork. It was a very good day and I enjoyed it very much. The marchers all wore different and intricate as well as spotlessly ... read more

A pint of Guinness at Kelly’s Bar in the Irish town of Cobh – life doesn’t get much better than this! Docking at Cobh at 4pm today felt like we’d somehow been catapulted to celebrity status, which is in stark contrast to yesterday when little more than a handful of people, including media crews, farewelled the Titanic Memorial Cruise from Southampton. An estimated 30,000 people and a brass band had waited more than six hours at the shipping terminal and terraced streets behind to greet us. The disappointment of having the first of our shore tours – Blarney Castle & Cork City – cancelled due to late arrivals at Southampton and strong head-winds enroute to Ireland was soon forgotten as we disembarked and met the people of Cobh. What an amazing turn-out! The Titanic disaster’s 100th ... read more