County Cork

Cork is the largest of the 32 Irish counties and arguably one of the most diverse.  The Republic's second largest city, Cork, is here as well as many quiet and picturesque villages.  There are sandstone hills in the west and miles of beaches in the east.

According to the Discover Ireland web site Cork is also Ireland's gourmet county, known for its seafood and local produce.

We will bisect the county as we travel from Killarney to Cork and will get a view of both the west and the eastern extremes.

In the morning we'll visit the famous Blarney Castle, where you'll have the opportunity to kiss the Blarney stone, if you so desire.

 

And yes, you do this upside down.  (There are people there to help and hold you.)

We'll have a short stop at the Blarney Woolen Mills, a sort of Irish outlet mall (web site here).

 

 After this stop we'll head into downtown Cork City for lunch.



After lunch we'll head off to the Jameson Old Midleton Distillery for a tour and tasting (web site here).

Blarney Castle videos here:

http://youtu.be/fP5vnNGDqI8

http://youtu.be/vcjMxxUc17c