Travel In Ireland

This information will help you select area of interest for your day trips while you travel in Ireland.

Bantry Bay

Rough surf in Bantry Bay

Bantry Bay is the gatesway to Ireland's mountainous southwest. A busy fishing port and market town, Bantry offers fishing charters historical bike and walking trails and many quaint shop and pubs.

Bantry House is one of the town's main attractions elegant Georgian mansion built around 1750. Originally the seat of the Earl of Bantry, it is still owned and occupied by descendants of the family.

Glengarriff

Glengarriff is the closest village to The Carey Co. properties. An oasis of subtropical colors and lush woodlands, Glengarriff offers many wonderful things

to explore. The Italian Gardens, or Garnish lsland, is one of the major attractions easily reached by boat from Glengarriff. In the early 19th century, it was a defense point against the Napoleonic invasion. A martello tower still stands there. The island was bought in the early 1920s by Scottish M.P. Annan Bryce who turned the island's thirty seven acres into a Garden of Eden. Exotic species were grown and flourished in the warmth of the gulf stream. Barley Lake, a beautiful spring-fed lake located in the top of the Caha Mountains, is a lovely spot to hike and picnic. Glengarriff Forest Park has walks and nature trails where you enter the wood and you'll swear the "little people" are watching you. Glengarriff's nine hole golf course is among the most beautiful golf courses in the world. Maureen O'Hara live next to the golf course and plays regularly. Who knows - maybe you'll run into her.

Stores in Glengarriff City Centre

Places of interest -

Johnny's Barry's
Great Irish stew/soups and bar food available. Great glass of Guuiness, and live music on occasion.
The Blue Leu
Best salmon sandwich in Ireland. Younger crowd with many interesting customers.
Bernard Harrington
If you love to fish, this man knows where to go. Good service, friendly people and live music. You can buy property, a fishing license and a glass of Guiness - all in one place!
The Wooden Shoe
Casual fine dining. This couple serves wonderful meals from a small restaurant in their home. Located just outside of Glengarriff on right.

Kenmare

Drive to Glengarriff, take a sharp left and you'll find yourself in County Kerry. Through tunnels of rock hand carved during the famine period, this road takes you through the Caha Mountain range separating County Cork and County Kerry. Spectacular views of over forty lakes, waterfalls and cliffs await you. This region is where climbers, hill walkers and anglers are in their element. You'll find Kenmare, a quaint little town. Known for its kenmare lace, this colorful market town is located on the banks of the Finnihy River inside the town.

Places of interest -

Killarney National Forest
About 35 minutes from Kenmare is one of the most beautiful drives you'll ever experience in your life. Spring-fed lakes, moss-covered forests, waterfalls and spectacular mountain ranges make this park a must for a day trip. Muckroos House is a favorite stop, so pack a picnic lunch and dine with the "little people."

Castletownbere in Winter.

Castletownbere

The second largest fishing village in Ireland, Castletownbere holds a lively fish auction several evenings a week. The Fisherman's Co-op offers a wonderful array of fresh seafood - take home for your dining pleasure. North of the town you can find a wonderful standing stone circle. There are over three hundred ancient sites scattered throughout the Beara Peninsula. Dunboy Castle is one mile south/southwest. This beautiful ruin is the last castle to resist the English after the Battle of Kinsale in 1601.

Places of interest -

McCarthy's (in Castletownbere)
1/2 grocery store and 1/2 bar, this place is great. One of the many small pubs that have been around for a hundred years.
Nikki's (in Castletownbere)
Great place to stop for a good, hot lunch. Cute and comfy - the soups and soda bread are great!
Hungry Hill
2,551 feet of mountain - this is the highest point in the Caha Mountains, with incredible views and a 770 foot waterfall. It's beautiful, but you'll kiss the ground when you get back down. Not a place for a novice climber, but if you are experiences, iot is definitely worth it.
Mizen Head
This is Ireland's end. Its 700 foot cliffs are a marvelous vantage point overlooking spectacular coastal scenery. Seals bask on rocks and gannets wheel over the sea before diving into the placid waters.

Irish Traffic Jam

Schull

This popular yachting harbor shelters between rolling hills at the bottom of the 1,339 foot Mount Gabriel. Brightly colored terraced houses and wonderful shops make this a fun stop to shop.

Kinsale

An ancient seaside town. Kinsale is full of style and character. A favorite spot for dining, Kinsale has a gourmet food festival in October. This town is definitely a must see. It takes about one and one-half hour to get there.

Places of interest -

Summer Cove
The best preserved stone forts dating to 1677 - 13th century St. Multose Church and 16th century Desmond Castle.

Blarney

Today, the fishing village of Blarney is a major tourist attraction. The Blarney Woolen Mills,built in 1750, has been converted to a retail outlet selling much of the crafts you'll find offered all over Ireland.

Places of interest -

Blarney Castle
This 15th century castle is a mecca for those who risk kissing the Blarney Stone. The stone is set 83 feet high in the battlements of Blarney Castle, built is 1446. To kiss it you have to lie on your back and lean over a sheer drop, so have a pair of strong arms gripping your shins. Sounds like fun? It is!