The South West

Monastic & Heritage Sites, Gardens, Parks, Castles, Fortresses and other places of interest.

 

Ardfert Cathedral

Location

Ardfert, Co Kerry

History

A monastery was founded here by St. Brendan “The Navigator” in the 6th century. There are three medieval churches, an ogham stone and a number of early Christian and medieval grave slabs on the site today. The earliest building is the cathedral which dates from the 12th – 17th centuries. It has a fine Romanesque west doorway, a magnificent 13th century east window and a spectacular row of nine lancets in the south wall.

Two effigies of ecclesiastical figures of late 13th – early 14th century are mounted on either side of the east window. The battlements were added in the 15th century. The pre-12th century block of masonry is clearly visible in the north wall. One of the two smaller churches is a fine example of late Romanesque and the other is a plain 15th century structure with an interesting carving of a wyvern on one of the windows. Access for people with disabilities to exhibition area and viewing point.

Opening Times

Early May – Late September Daily 09:30-18:30
Last admission 45 minutes before closing.

Visit Length
1hr

Barryscourt Castle

Location
Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork

History
Barryscourt Castle was the seat of the Barry family from the 12th to the 17th centuries. The present castle is a fine example of a 15th century tower house with 16th century additions and alterations. The bawn wall with three corner towers is largely intact. The ground floor of the keep houses an exhibition on the history of the Barrys and Barryscourt Castle

Managed in conjunction with Barryscourt Trust.

Details

Opening Times
June – September Daily 10:00-18:00
October – May Daily (except Thursday) 11:00-17:00
Last admission 45 minutes before closing

Visit Length
1hr

Blarney Castle

Location
Blarney, Co Cork (5 miles/8km from Cork City)

History
One of Ireland ‘s quintessential attractions, a visit to Blarney Castle and kissing the Blarney Stone is high on most people’s list of things to do in Ireland.
For many years people have descended on the picturesque, 15th Century Blarney Castle with the purpose of kissing the Blarney Stone to be bestowed with the “gift of the gab”, the talent for eloquence that the Irish famously possess. The Blarney Stone is situated at the very top turret of the castle and to kiss it you have to lie on your back and reach under the battlements to kiss the stone as the wind whistles around your ears, and someone takes a firm hold of your legs! But it’s all perfectly safe and you’ll go any with something new to talk about, with a touch of Blarney.
Though kissing the stone is a relatively new ritual and one that has proved hugely marketable, the association with smooth talking and Blarney goes back many centuries. When Queen Elizabeth I of England sought to impose her rule on Ireland’s Gaelic Chiefs, The Lord of Blarney, Cormac MacCarthy, proving most elusive, would reply to her demands with flamboyant flattery rather than submission. The Queen was to reply, “this is all Blarney, he never means what he says and never does what he promises.” And so the word Blarney came into the English language, eloquent words that flatter or deceive.

The history of the castle goes much further, it was built around 1446 for the MacCarthy Chieftains of Munster, though its believed a settlement was established here as early as the 10th Century. The MacCarthys held sway over Blarney and Munster throughout the many tumultuous centuries of Anglo-Irish conflict until the defeat of the old Irish nobles at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, after which the Lord of Blarney was exiled.

Blarney Castle presents a fairytale picture, its tall towers are set within wonderful gardens containing such romantically named landmarks as, the Druids Altar, the Witches Kitchen and the Wishing Stairs. All of which add to the whole magic of Blarney Castle.

Details
Visit Length
2hr

Opening times
Monday to Saturday
May & September:       9:00am to 6.30pm
June, July, Aug:            9:00am to 7:00pm
October to April:           9:00am to earliest of sundown or 6pm

Sunday
May to September:      9:30 am to 5.30pm
October to April:           9:30am to earliest of sundown or 6pm

Derrynane House

Location

Caherdaniel, Co Kerry

History

The ancestral home of Daniel O’Connell, Derrynane House is a public museum commemorating one of Ireland’s leading historical figures and arguably the greatest ever Irishman, known by the nation as the Great Liberator.
Barrister, early civil rights activist, politician and statesmen, Daniel O’Connell was a huge figure amid the upheavals of the early 19th Century in Ireland. O’Connell was born in a humble cottage to a Catholic family in nearby Caherciveen but came to live at Derrynane House with his uncle from an early age. His uncle “Hunting Cap” O’Connell had grown rich through smuggling with France and Spain and when he died childless in 1825 the Derrynane estate was left to Daniel O’Connell whose descendants went on to live at Derrynane until 1958.

Daniel O’Connell first came to prominence as a Barrister having trained at Lincoln’s Inn in London and later transferring to Dublin’s King’s Inn. O’Connell defended the rights of Catholics being tried for their beliefs and in 1823 founded the Catholic Association. This mass movement strived for equal rights and religious tolerance for Catholics, staging peaceful protests and mass meetings known as “Monster Rallies”, across the country. In 1828 O’Connell was elected a Member of Parliament for County Clare , but under laws banning Catholics, didn’t take his seat. His re-election the following year forced the British Parliament to overturn its anti-catholic legislation in what is known as the Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829. This famous victory earned O’Connell his “The Great Liberator” moniker and his place in Irish history .
Derrynane House was opened as a museum in 1967, the house is furnished with family portraits, writings and a great many items relating to Daniel O’Connell, from the duelling pistols used when he killed rival John D’Esterre in 1815 and the black glove he wore in remembrance ever since, to the fabulous gold chariot he rode through Dublin amidst jubilant crowds on his release from prison. A video presentation outlines the life and times of the great man.

Opening Times
November – March Sat and Sun 13:00-17:00
April and October Tues – Sun 13:00-17:00
May – September Mon – Sat 09:00-18:00
May – September Sun 11:00-19:00
Last admission 45 minutes before closing.

Visit Length
1hr

Desmond Castle

Location
Cork Street Kinsale, Co Cork

History
Built as a custom house by the Earl of Desmond c. AD 1500, Desmond Castle has a colourful history, ranging from Spanish occupation in 1601 to use as a prison for captured American sailors during the American War of Independence. It is known locally as “The French Prison” after a tragic fire in which 54 prisoners, mainly French seamen, died in 1747. The Castle was also used as a borough jail from 1791 to the onset of the Great Famine when it was used as an auxiliary workhouse tending to the starving populace. The International Museum of Wine opened in Desmond Castle in 1997. It features an exhibition, which documents the intriguing story of Ireland’s wine links with Europe and the wider world from the early modern period to the present day. Access to site is by stone stairway.
Limited access for visitors with disabilities by prior arrangement.

Details

Opening Times

Mid April – Mid June Tue – Sun 10:00-18:00
Mid June – Early October Daily 10:00-18:00
Last admission 45 mins. before closing. Groups must be pre-booked.

Visit Length
1hr

Doneraile Park

Location
Doneraile, Co Cork

History
The Park comprises approximately 166 hectares and is an outstanding example of an 18th century landscaped park in the ‘Capability Brown’ style. Mature groves of deciduous trees, several restored water features and a number of deer herds can be viewed along the many pathways within the Park. The pathways are generally accessible for people with special needs. Doneraile Court, the former residence of the St. Leger family, is situated within the Park. It will be opened to the public in the future, following completion of necessary restoration and safety works.

Opening Times
Mid April – October Sat 10:00-20:30
November – Mid April Mon – Fri 08:00-16:30
Mid April – October Sun and Bank Holidays 11:00-19:00
Mid April – October Mon – Fri 08:00-20:30
November – Mid April Sat, Sun and Bank Holidays 10:00-16:30

Visit Length
1hr 30mins

Fota Arboretum Gardens

Location

Fota Island Carrigtwohill, Co Cork

History
One of Ireland’s finest examples of Regency architecture, Fota House commands graceful gardens and a world-renowned arboretum on Fota Island just 12km from Cork City . Fota Island covers an area of some 316 hectares and is joined to the mainland of Cork and also Great Island by a series of causeways. The land was owned by the De Barri family since the late 12th Century, but Fota House wasn’t developed until the 1820s when John Smith Barry commissioned renowned architects Richard and William Vitruvius Morrison to build the house and develop the estate. His son James Hugh Smith Barry later began the layout of the arboretum and gardens in the 1840s. In 1975 the entire property was sold and is today divided between, Fota Island Golf Course, the excellent Fota Wildlife Park as well as Fota House & Gardens .

Fota House is one of the best examples of neoclassical architecture in Ireland. Self guided tours take you through grandiose rooms including the Dining Room and Hall boasting fabulous Ionic scagliola columns and fine plaster work and Library and Drawing Room with fabulous period furnishings and an antique pianoforte. But for many the highlight of the tour is the Kitchens with their many curious items outlining life here in Edwardian times.
The Gardens boast some very unusual and exotic plants and flora introduced from Asia, Australia and the Americas in the 19th Century. Such far away specimens benefit from the soil quality of Fota Island, indeed Fota originates from the Irish word Fod te meaning “warm soil”. Fota Arboretum is of international importance and together with the Walled Garden and Orangerie present fabulous colours and wonderful natural beauty throughout the year.

Opening Times
April – End October Sun 11:00-18:00 November – March Mon – Sat 10:00-17:00 November – March Sun 11:00-17:00 April – End October Mon – Sat 10:00-18:00 For pedestrians: Open all year round.

Visit Length
1hr 30mins

Garnish Island Glengarriff

Location
Glengarriff , Co Cork

History
Located in the sheltered harbour of Glengarriff in Bantry Bay, Ilnacullin is a small island of 15 hectares (37 acres) known to horticulturists and lovers of trees and shrubs all around the world as an island garden of rare beauty. The gardens of Ilnacullin owe their existence to the creative partnership, some eighty years ago, of Annan Bryce, then owner of the island and Harold Peto, architect and garden designer. Access to the Island is by small ferry boats and licensed 60 seater water buses. Please note that the boat operators impose a separate charge in respect of the boat journey to and from the island. Limited access for visitors with disabilities

Opening Times
April Mon – Sat 10:00-18:30
July and August Sun 11:00-18:30
April Sun 13:00-18:30 May, June and September Sun 11:00-18:30
May, June and September Mon – Sat 10:00-18:30
March and October Mon – Sat 10:00-16:30
March and October Sun 13:00-17:00
July and August Mon – Sat 09:30-18:30
Last landing 1 hour before closing.

Visit Length
1hr 30mins

The Blasket Centre

Location
Dun Chaoin Tra Li, Co Kerry

History
The Blasket Centre in Dun Chaoin, on the tip of the Dingle Peninsula, celebrates the story of the Blasket Islanders, the unique literary achievements of the island writers and their native language, culture and tradition. Sadly the Great Blasket was abandoned in 1953 as a result of the decline of its once vibrant population. Beidh ce’ad mile failte romhat in Ionad an Bhlascaoid. Centre is fully accessible for visitors with disabilities.

Opening Times
July and August Daily 10:00-19:00 Easter – June Daily 10:00-18:00 September and October Daily 10:00-18:00 Open for bookings during the winter

Visit Length
1hr 30min

Killarney National Park

Location
Killarney, Co. Kerry

History
Killarney National Park was Ireland’s first (and is now Ireland’s largest) national park. It came into being in 1932 when Senator Arthur Vincent and his parents-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. William Bowers Bourn, presented the nation with The Muckross Estate, in memory of Senator Vincent’s late wife, Maud

The park itself covers over 25,000 acres (10,000 hectares) of mountain, garden, park, woodland, waterway and moorland. It has an unusual and varied ecology as a result of its geology and the climatic influence of the Gulf Stream. The red, mountainous sandstone uplands support large areas of blanket bog. The remoteness and relative inaccessibility of some of these areas helps the continued survival of Ireland’s only remaining wild herd of native Red Deer. As well as this, on some of the lower mountain slopes, the largest remaining area of Oakwoods (which once covered most of the country) can be seen. The lowland limestone areas also boast some rare habitats like the large stand of Yew woodland at Reenadinna on the Muckross Peninsula. It is one of the only three pure Yew woodlands in Europe. There are also other woodlands in the area, which provide refuge for many different kinds of wildlife. As well as the mammal and fish life, the area also has a wealth of birds, including migrant Greenland Whitefronted Geese which spend their winters in the bogs of the area.

The well preserved remains of Inisfallen Abbey, a monastic settlement which was founded in the 7th century and remained inhabited until well into the 14th century, can be seen on an island in Lough Leanne. Muckross Abbey, built in 1448, the central feature of which is a huge Yew tree, said to be as old as the abbey itself. In the past some exotic species have been introduced into the park and had a huge influence on the ecosystems of the area. The most notable of these would be the Common Rhododendron which is now visible in many parts of the park and the Sika Deer which overgraze the woodland floor. More recently, the American mink was introduced and is now firmly established alongside the native Otter. Up to the latter half of the last century, the wolf and Golden Eagle were also common in the park. These are now extinct.
In the early years, the park received very little financial assistance from the State and so was operated as a working farm, which was open to the public. Since the early seventies the park has been expanded substantially with land from the Kenmare estate including the three Lakes , Knockreer House and many mountainous areas.

Opening Times
Mid March -June Daily 09:00-18:00 September and October Daily 09:00-18:00 July and August Daily 09:00-19:00 Open for bookings during the winter.

Visit Length
4hrs

Lough Hyne

Location
Between Skibbereen and Baltimore, County Cork
Signposted to the left approx 2miles south of Skibbereen

History
Ireland’s first Marine Nature Reserve and unique sea-water lake, Lough Hyne is one of the most beautiful spots in West Cork and offers diving and water sports opportunities.
Nestling within a fold of hills 5km away from the market town of Skibbereen, Lough Hyne is a place of peaceful serenity, steeped in local folklore and home to a unique ecosystem.
Just 1km long and 3/4km wide, this marine lake is connected to the Atlantic Ocean via Barloge Creek, by a narrow tidal channel, known as the Rapids. Tidal flows from the Atlantic fill Lough Hyne twice a day, running over the Rapids at up to 16km per hour, and create in the lake a unique habitat of warm oxygenated seawater, which sustains a huge variety of marine plants and animals including 72 species of fish.
Lough Hyne is one of the most important marine habitats in Europe and was made Ireland’s first Marine Nature Conservation Reserve.

Above the narrow rapids is a promontory on which stands the ruins of an 8th Century church to St Brigid which was in regular use in the Penal times when Catholics, barred from practicing their religion would hold mass in such hidden away secret places. Beside the church is an early inscribed cross and St Brigid’s Well, where it is said the knees of the saint have made impressions in the rocks. In the centre of the lake is Castle Island on which stand the ancient ruins of Cloghan Castle, once a stronghold of the O’Driscolls. According to local folklore here lived King Labhra Loinseach, who had asses ears, a tall tale that any Irish child will tell you!
A climb up Mount Knockoumah rewards with stunning views down into Lough Hyne and out to the Atlantic Ocean. The Lough Hyne Visitor Centre is situated at the Skibbereen Heritage Centre, in the town close by.

Recommended Visit Length
2hrs

Mizen Head

Location
County Cork
History
A sparsely populated peninsula of outstanding rugged beauty, Mizen is Ireland’s most southerly point and at its lonely ocean swept head stands the Mizen Head Signal Station and Visitor Centre

Beyond the town of Ballydehob, the Mizen Peninsula stretches its long finger southward through Schull, an attractive little fishing village, popular with sail boats in the summer, and on through the tiny village of Goleen. The road goes past the causeway linked island of Crookhaven a place where you can simply stop the world and get off and around Barley Cove Beach, a long stretch of sheltered sandy bay and the best beach in West Cork. From here the road winds along before stopping at the very edge of Europe, where the Atlantic Ocean crashes onto the dramatic rocks at Mizen Head. The landscape along the way is one of wild desolate beauty and isolated nooks and crannies of craggy rocks, breathtaking sea cliffs and hideaway coves.
At the head are the Visitor Centre and Signal Station, which stands on a dramatic promontory battered by the ocean and linked to the mainland by a solid arched bridge. An award winning maritime heritage museum the Visitor Centre includes displays on sea faring and mankind’s relationship with the sea, on sea navigation and sea life. A walk down the 99 steps and across the bridge to the Signal Station brings you to the old Keeper’s House, here you can see how the keepers at the station lived and worked from 1909 when it was built up until 1993 when the signal station was automated.
The real magic of Mizen Head is the breathtaking scenery of the landscape itself and of course the knowledge that you are at the very southern tip of Ireland, with the vast swell of the Atlantic sprawled out before you.

Muckross Friary

Location

Killarney National Park, Co. Kerry
History
This Franciscan Friary was founded in the 15th century and is in a remarkable state of preservation. The tower was added after the church was built and is the only Franciscan tower in Ireland which is as wide as the church. The cloister and its associated buildings are complete and an old yew tree stands in the centre. The monks were finally driven out by the Cromwellians in 1652. See also Muckross House and Gardens , Muckross Traditional Farms , Killarney National Park, and Ross Castle .

Opening Times
Mid June – Early September Daily 10:00-17:00 Last admission 45 minutes before closing

Visit Length
1hr 30mins

Muckross House

Location
Killarney, Co. Kerry
History
The Muckross Estate forms the core of the fabulous Killarney National Park and at the heart of this is Muckross House, a fabulous Victorian country mansion set amid the wonderful scenery of Killarney’s lakes. Muckross House was built between 1839 and 1843 for Henry Arthur Herbert and designed by the eminent architect of the day William Burns in the Neo-Tudor style with characteristic stepped gables and chimney pots. Tours of the house take you though the Entrance Hall decked out with various hunting trophies, the grand Dining Room with fabulous antique furnishings and silverware, richly decorated Drawing Room, fascinating Kitchen restored to its Victorian glory, Bedrooms laid out for a visit from Queen Victoria of Britain and in the basement is a museum to local life

The Gardens benefit richly from the mild climate of the area and shelter of the grounds with a fine collection of rhododendrons and azaleas, an outstanding rock garden, arboretum and beautiful tree fringed lawns. Also within the Muckross Estate are the Traditional Farms , reconstructions of Kerry farms from the 1930s exhibiting traditional farming practices and crafts.

For over 200 years, seven generations of the Herbert Family were to live at Muckross amassing a fortune from copper mining and becoming established among the upper echelons of Irish society. In 1861 Muckross House played host to the British Monarch Queen Victoria, an event of great pride for the Herberts. However in later years their financial situation was to deteriorate and in 1898 the estate was forfeited. Muckross estate was briefly owned by Lord Ardilaun, a member of the Guinness family before it was purchased by a wealthy Californian businessman William Bowers Bourn for GBP 60,000 as a wedding gift for his daughter Maud. It is her husband Arthur Rose Vincent who is largely credited with the lavish developments of Muckross House and the landscaping of the gardens. In 1932, Vincent bequeathed Muckross to the State, saying “Muckross Estate would make a public park such as any country might be proud of.”

Opening Times
Mid March – June Daily 09:00-18:00
September and October Daily 09:00-18:00
July and August Daily 09:00-19:00
November – Mid March Daily 09:00-17:30
Open for bookings during the winter.

Visit Length
1hr 30mins

Muckross Traditional Farms

Location
Muckross Estate, Killarney National Park, Co. Kerry

History
“Muckross Traditional Farms” preserves in real life the farming traditions of rural Ireland in the past. Three separate working farms, with a range of farm animals including traditional Kerry cows and farm machinery will help you relive the past. Muckross Traditional Farms takes you back to a time before the advent of electricity when all work was carried out using traditional methods. Meet and chat with the farmers and their wives as they go about their daily work in the houses, on the land, and with the animals. A complimentary vintage coach operates around the Traditional Farms for the benefit of elderly and physically challenged visitors. Managed in conjunction with the Trustees of Muckross House .

See also Muckross House and Gardens, Killarney National Park, Muckross Friary and Ross Castle

Opening Times
June – September Daily 10:00-19:00 May Daily 13:00-18:00 Mid March – April Sat, Sun and Bank Holidays 13:00-18:00 October Sat, Sun and Bank Holidays 13:00-18:00 Open for bookings during the winter.

Visit Length
1hr 30min

Old Midleton Distillery

Location
Midleton, Co. Cork

History
Home to the world-renowned brands of Irish Whiskey; Jameson, Paddy and Powers, the Old Midleton Distillery presents historic Whiskey Tours, through production of Irish Whiskey.
The distillery in the quaint town of Midleton, about 20km from Cork City , was founded by the Murphy Brothers in the early 19th Century. The Old Midleton Distillery was in production for 150 years before a new adjacent distillery complex was built in 1975. This new complex produces some 24 million bottles of Jameson, Powers and Paddy Irish whiskies each year, while the Old Distillery, restored to its former glory, guides thousands of visitors around the workings of Irish Whiskey making.
The tour starts with an informative audio-visual presentation before visitors are accompanied by an excellent tour guide through the production of Irish Whiskey and the old workings of the distillery. These old workings include the World’s largest Pot Still, a 150 year old Water wheel and original Malting Houses, Corn Stores and Still Houses in a truly atmospheric tour. Naturally the tour ends at the Jameson Bar, where visitors can sample some of the “Uisce Beatha”, the Irish word for whiskey, meaning water of life. The Old Midleton Distillery also has a restaurant and gift shop stocking some 25 brands of Irish Whiskey.
There are close associations between the whiskies of Ireland and Scotland however there are also some subtle but important differences. Scotch Whisky is mostly single malt, which means each whisky is distilled from one single source, whereas Irish Whiskey are mostly blends, meaning a variety of malts have been blended to produce smoother more rounded flavoured whiskies. The other difference of course is in the spelling, Irish Whiskey, Scotch Whisky.

Details
Visit Length
2hrs

Ross Castle

Location
Killarney, Co. Kerry

History
This Castle may be considered a typical example of the stronghold of an Irish Chieftain during the Middle Ages. The date of its foundation is uncertain but it was probably built in the late 15th century by one of the O’Donoghue Ross chieftains. It is surrounded by a fortified bawn, its curtain walls defended by circular flanking towers, two of which remain.
Much of the bawn was removed by the time the Barrack building was added on the south side of the castle sometime in the middle of the 18th century. The castle contains 16th and 17th century furniture. Access for people with disabilities to the ground floor only by prior arrangement.
Please note that this site is a very busy site and visitors may experience a delay during the summer months.
See also Muckross House and Gardens , Muckross Traditional Farms , Killarney National Park and Muckross Friary
Details
Opening Times
April Daily 10:00-17:00
June, July and August Daily 09:00-18:30
September Daily 10:00-18:00
May Daily 10:00-18:00
October Tues – Sun 10:00-17:00
Last admission 45 minutes before closing.

Visit Length
1hr

Skellig Islands

Location
County Kerry
History
Situated almost 8 miles off the West Kerry coast, is one of the most mysterious attractions in the Kerry area, the Skellig Islands. From a distance they look like floating pyramids of sandstone. Up close they look rugged and uninviting. After a cold and often rough boat trip, there are almost seven hundred steep steps to greet you on your arrival. The tiring climb up the steps is not for the faint hearted.
The earliest reference in history to the Skellig Islands dates back to 1400BC. During the time of the Penal Laws, Skellig Michael and Little Skellig became a haven for many Catholics whose beliefs and rights were being suppressed. The largest of the Skelligs is Skellig Michael (Sceilg Mhichil) and was home to one of the earliest monastic settlements in Ireland. These monks of St. Fionan’s monastery led simple lives and lived in stone, beehive shaped huts. They would descend the 670 steps early every morning and fish for the morning’s breakfast. They would spend most of the day praying in the church, tending to their gardens and studying. These huts, which were round on the outside and rectangular on the inside, were carefully built so that no drop of rain ever entered between the stones. The monks left the island in the thirteenth century and it became a place of pilgrimage. There is a fantastic wealth of birdlife on and around the Skelligs, especially puffins in late spring and gannets on the Small Skellig.
Opening Times: Boats to the Skelligs are available from April to late September (weather permitting).

Opening Times
No opening times

Visit Length
3hrs

Skibbereen Heritage Centre

Location
Skibbereen, Co. Cork

History
A multimedia interpretive centre, the Skibbereen Heritage Centre houses the Great Famine Commemoration Exhibition outlining one of the most tragic periods of Irish History in a part of Ireland that was one of the worst effected.
The Great Famine of the 1840s was one of the worst human disasters of the 19th Century. As the potato crops of Ireland were blighted in 1841 and more severely in 1848, a nation whose people were already on the brink of poverty, were now on the brink of disaster. In 1841 the population of Ireland was 8.5 million, by 1850 over a million had died of hunger and more emigrated to escape, even today the population of Ireland is under 5 million. In the parish of Skibbereen the Great Hunger claimed the lives of 1 in 3 people with around 10,000 poor souls buried in a mass grave at nearby Abbeystrewery. Skibbereen became synonymous with the suffering of the Potato Famine and a focal point for journalists and politicians of the day campaigning for relief for the poor.
Today the Heritage Centre recounts the events of the Great Famine through audio-visual dramatisations using primary sources of the day and includes an introduction from actor Jeremy Irons. The centre also organises historical walks of Skibbereen and is home to the Lough Hyne Visitor Centre with informative exhibitions on Ireland’s first Marine Nature reserve and uniquely beautiful salt-water lake, which is located nearby.

Opening Times
Opening times unavailable

Visit Length
1hr

The Dingle Peninsula

Location
County Kerry

History
The most westerly peninsula in Europe and one of Ireland’s most atmospheric places, the Dingle Peninsula boasts beautiful scenery, rugged charm and a true sense of timelessness.
The Dingle Peninsula holds a special place in the Irish consciousness, a place reminiscent of a past age, steeped in the lore of the land with many old and ancient sites. Stretching some 48km westward from Tralee, Dingle Peninsula has a wealth of emotive scenery from sweeping mountains to curving sandy bays, lonely stones to deserted islands.
The town of Dingle is the main town located on the southern side of the peninsula. An attractive port nestled in a natural bay; Dingle is a good base for exploring the peninsula, a characterful town that thrives as much on fishing as it does tourism. Dingle Bay famously has a resident dolphin named Fungie, who since his first appearance in 1984 has had a whole tourist industry created around him, with boat trips and merchandise.
On the road east of Dingle is the long sandy stretch at Inch where the archetypal Irish movies, Ryan’s Daughter and the Playboy of the Western World were filmed. This 6km long beach has more recently become popular with surfers.
At the most westerly point around Slea Head is a Gaeltacht area where the Irish language is still widely spoken. Along with the language, the old customs and lore are alive and well in villages such as Ventry, Ballyferriter and Dunquin. Here are also the famous Blasket Islands, deserted in the 1950s but produced some of the most prominent writers in the Irish language. Boat trips can be arranged through the Blasket Islands Visitor and Interpretation Centre in Dunquin. In this part of Dingle there are a great many antiquities from the Fahan beehive huts to the Gallarus Oratory one of the best preserved early Christian Churches in Ireland dating back some 1200 years.
In the north of Dingle is Ireland’s second biggest mountain Mount Brandon a climb of 3116m with stunning views back across the peninsula. In the shadows of the mountain is Brandon Creek where it is believed St Brendan the Navigator set sail and discovered North America in the 6th Century. On the other side of Brandon is the Connor Pass at 456m the highest road in Ireland with spectacular views of Dingle town and Mount Brandon.
There is plenty to do in Dingle Peninsula, from a range of equestrian activities, all kinds of angling, golfing at Ballyferriter, hill walking or just soaking up that Dingle atmosphere.

Opening Times
No opening times

Visit Length
As long as you like!

The Queenstown Story

Location
Cobh, Co Cork

History
Once described as the saddest place in Ireland, the Port of Cobh was the embarkation point for the millions that left the country throughout the 19th Century. Today the compelling Queenstown Story exhibition in the town, tells their sad tale.

If your ancestors were Irish, the chances are that they left Ireland from the port of Cobh , or Queenstown as it was called before it reverted back to its original Irish name. Cobh was Ireland’s most important port of emigration and from 1815 to 1970 over 3 million people boarded here, heading for new lives in North America
The story of mass emigration from Ireland is told in The Queenstown Story, a gripping exhibition housed in the old Victorian Railway Station, through which huge numbers of emigrants would have passed. Attracting some 100,000 visitors each year, the Queenstown Story examines the devastating effect of the Great Famine on the country, during which some 1.5 million Irish people died and a further 1.5 million fled the country between 1845 and 1851. The exhibition outlines the often dangerous 12-week sea voyage to the States and takes you through the conditions of the boats often referred to as Coffin Ships due to the appalling conditions on board, hazards at sea and high fatality rate. Learn about an ‘Irish Wake’ an emotive exhibition on the final farewell for emigrating sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, many of whom would never return to their homeland.
Outside the Heritage Centre overlooking the harbour is the statue of Annie Moore and her two Brothers. Annie was the first emigrant to be processed in Ellis Island in the U.S. when it opened in 1892. A similar statue of Annie Moore stands across the Atlantic at Ellis Island, standing as a symbol of the historic links between Ireland and the U.S.
The tragic voyages of the Titanic and the Lusitania, both with strong associations with the port are also remembered in the Queenstown Story.

Opening Times
No opening times available

Visit Length
1hr 30min
 

The Ring of Beara

Location
The Beara Peninsula, Counties Cork & Kerry
History
Half in Kerry and half in Cork, the Ring of Beara – the Beara Peninsula is Ireland in a nutshell, with a landscape that is beautiful, magical and full of rugged charm.
The most westerly of Cork’s peninsulas, and arguably its most spectacular, the Beara Peninsula is shared by county Kerry and presents exhilarating hill walking along the 196km Beara Way and a drive circuit of breathtaking scenery in the Ring of Beara. A route much less travelled than the Ring of Kerry, Beara’s secret is one that is still quite well kept.
The Ring of Beara links the towns of Glengarriff in Cork with Kenmare in Kerry, in a round about fashion. Glengarriff is an attractive little village deep within Bantry Bay. Boat trips run from Glengarriff to Garnish Island famed for their wonderful Italianate garden. Between Glengarriff and Castletownbere the road is flanked by exposed banks of jagged rock with the rugged peaks of Sugarloaf Mountain and Hungry Hill in the Caha Mountains. At the hamlet of Adrigole is the turn off for the Healy Pass, a serpentine road that cuts through the mountains to the village of Lauragh with views of spectacular glaciated valleys. The road cuts through Castletownbere, a characterful town with an authentic work-a-day feel and definitely worth a stop. Boat trips run from here to Bere Island and megalithic stone circles, such as the Derreenataggart Stone Circle, punctuate the area. From Castletownbere take the road down to Dursey Island, a place of desolate beauty that is worth visiting. There is nothing on the island other than sheep, but you won’t get the opportunity to travel to an island via a tiny cable car swinging 30m above the waves, that many times in your life! From this Dursey detour, you pick up the road to Allihies a quaint former copper mining town, reminiscent of St Austell in Cornwall. The road then twists and turns through the iridescent fuchsia clad hills to the brightly coloured cluster of buildings of Eyeries a village renowned for its tweeness. The road winds further up through the mountains and the hamlets of Ardgroom and Lauragh before coming out to Kenmare. The complete loop will take you back to Glengarriff via the Caha Pass, a precarious winding road literally through the mountains, tunnelled in the 19th Century.
The Ring of Beara would take a day’s driving though you may wish to stay longer to explore its beauty on foot. Kenmare is a good base, as there aren’t many options for accommodation out on the peninsula itself.

Opening Times
No opening times

Visit Length
3hrs

The Ring of Kerry

Location
The Iveragh Peninsula, County Kerry
History
One the most famous and popular road circuits for tourists in the South West of Ireland, the Ring of Kerry, traverses the coastline of the Iveragh Peninsula, with a great many tourist sites along the way.
Dramatic panoramas, majestic mountain shapes, ancient sites and twee towns are found along the winding route of the N70 through the southern tip of Kerry, known as the Ring of Kerry. The 179km route is much travelled especially by coach tours, but that doesn’t take away from the scenic beauty of the peninsula.
Running anti-clockwise, as the coach tours do, the route starts with the characterful market town of Killorglin on the sloping banks by the River Laune with the mountainous MacGillycuddy’s Reeks in the near distance, Killorglin comes to life for the famed Puck Fair festival in August. The road skirts the gentle scenery of Caragh Lake, a haven for fishermen, before coming to the small tourist town of Glenbeigh. The road then passes into Cahersiveen, overlooking Valencia Island and the birthplace of one of Ireland’s most eminent figures Daniel O’Connell. From here the road passes through the resort town of Waterville, and the world famous Waterville Links Golf Course, before coming to the picture postcard scene overlooking the coast of Derrynane, ancestral home of Daniel O’Connell and well worth a stop. The road then passes by the Staigue Fort at Castlecove, an early stone fort dating from the 3rd or 4th Century. The road then passes to the colourful little town of Sneem set beside a fast flowing river and then on to Parknasilla, a place of charming scenery and genial climate where subtropical plants and vegetation flourishes. The Ring then takes you on to the noble Heritage Town of Kenmare.
You could cover the Ring of Kerry in a day, but you would need two or even three days if you wanted to take in some of the more rural and less travelled areas such as Valencia Island and the Gael Tacht area around Portmagee and Ballinskelligs or the mountainous interior of the peninsula, that is known as Ireland’s Highlands. The roads here, particularly the Bealach Oisin Pass and Ballaghbeama Pass of the interior are fabulous coach free routes ideal for quiet drives or cycling tours.
The towns of Killarney and Kenmare make excellent bases for touring the area and Waterville is ideal for those wanting to see the dramatically rugged Skellig Rocks or play a few rounds of Golf.