COBH, IRELAND

Today we will board our private motor coach for a tour through Cork’s charming countryside and visit the unique sailing town of Kinsale.

Departing from Cobh we will travel via the Lee tunnel and Five Mile Bridge to Charles Fort, where a photo stop of Kinsale Harbour will be made. Charles Fort was constructed in the late 17th century and is a classic example of a star-shaped fort with five bastions. It reflects the turbulence of Ireland’s past, and was declared a national monument in 1973.

Leaving the Fort, we shall drive to the nearby village of Kinsale. It is a town where the quality of the environment itself is a very strong attraction, winning the European prize for Tourism and the Environment, Entente Floreale, National Tidy Town and gourmet capital awards. Kinsale is a pretty town, which lies snugly between hills and valley and is sheltered by the rounded contours of a beautiful harbour. It is believed to have been founded by the Anglo-Normans in around 1177. It was a magnificent naval base in the 17th and 18th centuries, and seemed to have enjoyed a degree of prosperity uncommon in Ireland. For centuries it had close European connections, and in 1966 it became the first town to be awarded the Flag of Council of Europe. During our visit we can see magnificent Georgian homes and the Dutch influence on architecture. We can enjoy some free time in Kinsale to browse and shop, or enjoy refreshments in one of the many nearby cafes.

We shall depart Kinsale and drive via Dunderrow to Innishannon, where a photo stop will be made overlooking the Bandon River. We then re-join our coach for our return drive to Cobh via the South Link and Lee Tunnel.

Travelling time will be approximately three hours in total (including photo stops) and an hour of free time in Kinsale. The amount of walking is at passengers’ own discretion. Refreshments are not included in the price of this tour. The order of the itinerary may change.

DESCRIPTION CORRECT FOR 2009 CRUISES