As you travel to the South-West of Ireland, you will encounter many a historical village and some of the rolling hills and countryside that Ireland is so famous for. As we cannot stop every-where, we can only but give you a glimpse into the historical past of the places you will pass and visit. Herewith some topics of interest as well as a bit of an introduction to the towns we will be visiting.
The Curragh
The curragh consists of approximately 5000 acres of softly rolling grasslands. The plain was laid down over years ago when the last Ice Age finally loosened it's grip on the land of Ireland, melting glaciers flushed sand and gravel out over the Curragh creating an out washed plain. Major horse racing events are staged in the Curragh and many of the roads in the surrounding area are lined with horse studs. When driving through the Curragh, travellers are often greeted with the sight of sleek, lean thorough breeds being put through their paces. The Curragh is an ideal place for leisurely walks and picnics.
The Galtee Mountains
The Galtee Mountains are Ireland's highest inland mountain range, taking the form of a high ridge which rises up almost sheer from the surrounding plain. The highest peak in Galtymore which rises to 917m.The area has a tradition of dairy farming, and the name "Galtee" is now synonymous with one of Ireland's largest food companies which began in the area. We will be passing Mitchelstown, which is nestled on the Cork side of the mountains, while Tipperary town is on the northern side. They are the main market towns and centres of commerce for the region.
The towns you will be visiting all have an interesting story behind them, and for that we have more details in our History section.
Here we would like to tell you of the various sites you can visit in your free time, and what they offer the visitor today.
Blarney Castle:
One thing to tick off your list when visiting Blarney castle is obviously the Blarney stone.
This is however not the only reason you should visit this site. See below for other attractions on this historical site:
- Rock Close
Surrounding the castle are extensive gardens. There are paths touring the grounds with signs pointing out the various attractions such as several natural rock formations which have been given fanciful names, such as Druid's Circle, Witch's Cave and the Wishing Steps. - Blarney House
Also open to the public, is a Scottish baronial-style mansion that was built on the grounds in 1874.It can also be viewed from the battlements from Blarney Castle- another one for the photo album!
- Woodland Walks
There are also numerous woodland walks on the grounds of the Blarney Castle estate, through which winds the River Martin. In the arboretum you will find colourful displays of copper beech, ornamental pear, southern beech, and evergreen oaks. Adjacent to the arboretum, one finds the Belgian Beds planted with hybrid azaleas, and a western red cedar tree from British Columbia. - The Blarney stone
Kiss it, and you will never be short on words, or so the story goes! Many a theory has been put forward as to why this "stone of eloquence" has such an allure that politicians , actors and celebs travel far to get a piece of its magical properties.
Whatever you do- do not miss this opportunity to do what so many others have done - kiss the stone... or come to think of it, maybe you shouldn't - yuk!
Some say it was Jacob's Pillow, brought to Ireland by the prophet Jeremiah. Here it became the Lia Fail or 'Fatal Stone', used as an oracular throne of Irish kings - a kind of Harry Potter-like 'sorting hat' for kings. It was also said to be the deathbed pillow of St Columba on the island of Iona. Historic legend says it was then removed to mainland Scotland, where it served as the prophetic power of royal succession, the Stone of Destiny - which sort of fits in with some of the historical contents of the site- see the Battle of Bannockburn in our "History" section.
The Rock of Cashel:
The Rock of Cashel is mostly a historical site, where visitors enter complex through the Hall of the Vicars Choral, built in the 15th century. The vicars choral were laymen (sometimes minor canons) appointed to assist in chanting the cathedral services. The Hall was restored in connection with the European Architectural Heritage Year (1975) and contains a small museum of artefacts excavated on the Rock of Cashel.
- Round Tower
The earliest and probably the most lofty of the Cashel edifices is the round tower next to the cathedral's north transept.. Rising 28 m (90 feet) high and dating from shortly after 1100, it is a well-preserved example with six floors. Only the roof has been rebuilt in the 19th century. - Cormac's Chapel
The Chapel of King Cormac or Cormac's Chapel is the most important building, historically and architecturally speaking, at Cashel. It is a very sophisticated structure, unlike most Irish Romanesque churches which are very simple in plan with limited decoration. It has two square towers flanking the east end of the nave, which may suggest Germanic influences or may be an adaptation of the Irish round tower.
The exterior of Cormac's Chapel is beautifully decorated with typical Romanesque details such as repeating blind arches and carved corbels, while the chapel's interior contains the oldest and most important Romanesque wall paintings in Ireland. The oldest, dating from about 1134, consist mainly of masonry patterns and can be made out in places on the lower walls. The remaining paintings date from c.1160-70 and are visible on the upper walls and vault. These depict narrative scenes such as the Nativity, and their sophistication suggests the artists were from England or Normandy. - The Cathedral
The cathedral is a roofless building of cruciform plan with a central tower.
The short nave was reduced a bit more in the 15th century, when a five-story castle (tower-house) was added to the west end as a residence for the archbishop. The castle was accessed on the second floor from the passage in the nave walls. The most attractive elements are the transepts (c.1270), with triple lancet windows.
It is also interesting to see how it is possible to discern the dates of the decorative elements based on the material used throughout the structure: the original 13th-century work is in sandstone, while later work is in limestone.
The grounds around the buildings are home to an extensive graveyard, which includes a number of beautiful high crosses. The entire plateau atop the rock is walled. Visible from the west side of the Rock are the desolate ruins of Hore Abbey, a Cistercian foundation of 1272.
Cork City
The so-called city of the Rebels, the true Capital of Ireland, has many an attraction to offer. Albeit a stroll down busy St Patrick street, a picnic on the banks on the river Lee, or maybe just a visit to the Butter Museum, you are assured to be surprised to find something different around every corner.
Heritage buffs can choose from visiting Saint Finbar's Gothic Cathedral or Saint Anne's, with its "Bells of Shannon". Or see the difference in time as reflected on the "four faced liar" as each clock sets its own pace on the Shandon steeple. We aware though, if the golden angel on St Finbar's blows its horn, as it would be sign of the apocalypse starting!
Food is to be had in abundance, just visit the English Market, which today should really be called the International Victorian market, with food from all over the world still being served in a setting of old Victorian charm.
Arts lover are spoiled for choice: with the 'Crawford Municipal Gallery' displaying works by Yeats and Keating (including a sculpture Gallery), Fota House with its paintings and arboratorium, and the Lewis Gluckman Gallery at UCC to choose from.
Cork, once home to Henry Ford's tractor factory, the Beamish brewery, and Murphy's Ale is steeped in history, with one of the Murphy daughters even having being the mistress of the French Louis XV!
If Archaeology is your thing, why not visit the Cork Public Museum, situated in a Georgian house telling the story of the area from the Stone Age time to history as recent as Roy Keane's football career!
If you just want to do a good all-in-one walk, why not cross the Millennium Bridge, browse past the Antique shops in the Huguenot area, or try to catch a glimpse of the road bowling still being played in the outer north-and southside areas of Cork.
You're sure to find 2 hours far too short to explore the amazing city, but do not fear- we come here, every day of the year!