DAY TRIP: KINSALE

Kinsale is a port and fishing town in County Cork, just 30 minutes from Cork City. When CJ and I arrived, Kinsale was abuzz with tour buses, charming restaurants with open doors, and people walking around with bags from successful shopping adventures. Here is how I would spend one day in this colorful town!

Start your day with a bit of shopping. Some of my favorite stores are Granny’s Bottom Drawer for super soft scarves and cozy sweaters, Canvasworks for retro travel prints, Cronin’s Commercial Hall for general crafted goods, and Giles Norman Photography. The last stop was where I purchased a photograph of a curious cow that was captured by Norman in County Kerry in 1994!

Once you have worked up an appetite from your shopping excursion, enjoy lunch at The Flying Poet Aviation Café. This spot is a super casual eatery offering delicious toasties with outdoor seating options to enjoy the street views. Inside you are met with a host of aviation memorabilia, as this establishment is run by a retired airline captain.

To wash down your lunch, next enjoy a meadery tour at Kinsale Mead Co, Ireland’s first meadery in 200 years! First, you will learn about the history of mead and how Ireland protected bees in the past. This bee protection story coincides with the story of mead, as mead is essentially honey wine! Then you will have the opportunity to taste some raw honey and go behind the scenes to witness the process of mead making. Finally, you will sample some mead yourself and have the chance to take some home with you!

After your mead tour, start out on the Scilly Walk, a 6km trail that provides lovely harbor views. Your walk will start in town and will lead you to Charles Fort. Charles Fort is a fortification looking out to Kinsale harbor that was first completed in 1682. It offers fantastic seaside visuals, and is a wonderful place to stop and recharge before you retrace your steps along the Scilly Walk back into town.

Grab dinner at Finns’ Farmcut, a steakhouse with the best fillet steak served with tobacco onions (which was to die for). Make a reservation in advance, you won’t be disappointed! End the evening with a pint of Murphy’s at Kitty Ó Sé’s Bar & Restaurant (or any of the other Irish pubs in Kinsale!)

RING OF KERRY MUST SEES

DAY TRIP: COBH