Kinsale, Blarney and Cobh!

Today I went on a bus tour of Kinsale, Cobh, and Blarney.  It was quite the experience!  Our trip left Cork at about 10:30 and our first stop was in the little town of Kinsale.  Kinsale is on a peninsula of Ireland and is therefore somewhat like a little fishing town.  We were only in the town long enough to get a glimpse of the harbor and the forts guarding the bay.

The view from the top of a hill in Kinsale looking out from town into the ocean

Fort on one side of the entrance into the bay--an identical one sat across the way and they would lay chains out between them just under the water at night so any ships that tried to sneak into the harbor would have their hulls ripped through by the chain!

Sailboats at the pier in the town of Kinsale

Quote of Thomas Osborne Davies-- A large figure in the "Young Ireland" movement


Our next stop was in the town of Cobh--pronounced Cove-- which is another village on the ocean.  The Irish Navy's main base is located on an island just a short trip from the town.  In earlier times the port was the only main port in Ireland and is actually the last stop that the Titanic made before voyaging across the sea.  In town the Titanic boarding station is still there for viewing--you can see where the first class passengers would have received their boarding passes and crossed onto the ship.  The city also had a very neat Heritage Center which held the records of all the Irish people who emigrated from the country during hard times.  The center was very much like Ellis Island with records of all the families and when they departed the country.  There was also a magnificent cathedral called St. Colman's Cathedral which overlooks the town.  This was a very neat town!

This was the first class boarding entrance for the Titanic which led into a main hall with people to carry baggage and deliver drinks.

This is the third class boarding entrance which lead directly into the bottom of the ship so that the people never even go to see the luxuries of the upper decks.

View of the town from the pier with the HUGE cathedral in the back behind the main storefronts

Main entrance into St. Colmans--the cathedral was so big I couldn't fit the entrance and large clock tower into one frame

Clock tower of the Cathedral from the otherside

 More views of the cathedral from around the corner

View from the front of Cathedral looking out over the bay

Our last stop on the bus tour was the Blarney castle.  I was excited about this but didn't realize how HUGE the estate was.  It was amazing that the whole main castle, and additional watch castle towers, river, lake, and acres of field belonged to one family.  The castle was huge and every level we got to as we walked up I couldn't believe there was more to come.  Finally after reaching the top--ninety feet in the air I realized that the view from out over the top walls of the castle was probably one of the most intense things I have ever seen.  We were so high up!  Then I had to of course kiss the Blarney stone.  Being hoisted down backwards of a wall only held up by two bars and older man is quite an experience especially for someone as scared of heights as me.  But I did it and am now blessed with the gift of the gab- or more eloquent speech--we'll see

The view of Blarney castle as you approach

View from the top

More from the top

And again--really looking over so much of Ireland

A nice lady offered to take a picture of me--but missed the sign

Down to kiss the stone!

Backside of the Castle

Guard's watchtower

Overall it was an exciting trip and it was so nice to get out into the countryside and do some touristy things after being in the city.  I start my Early Start class tomorrow we'll see where I go from there.  I hope to do lots more exciting things before the Irish students arrive in September!