Take a moment
out and savour
the sights and
sounds of
South-West
Ireland.
Attendees are
encouraged to
take the time to
explore the
great places to
stay, warm,
friendly people,
a fascinating
culture and
history,
breathtaking
landscapes, and
a vast range of
activities and
attractions.
These are some
of the many
reasons to spend
a bit of time in
the South west
of Ireland.
EVENT GUIDE
Whazon Cork
Cork Gig Guide
LOCAL SIGHTS
Barryscourt
Castle
Cork Butter
Museum
Beamish Brewery
Tours
ACTIVITIES
West Cork Surf
school
Whale watching
Golf
Walking holiday
MUSIC EVENTS
& FESTIVALS
Electric Picnic
Stradbally Hall
Estate
29th-31st August
2008
Up to 30,000
revelers head to
Stradbally's
Hall Estate for
a weekend of
camping and
music. Admission
includes camping
and access to
the great music
for the weekend.
Featured this
year are The
Roots, Franz
Ferdinand, Henry
Rollins and
Sinead O'Connor.
Cois Farraige
Kilkee, Co.Clare
5th-7th
September 2008
A three-day Surf
& Music Festival
which will be
held on the
beach in Kilkee,
Co Clare, Cois
Farraige (it
means 'beside
the sea') will
feature live
music from Irish
and overseas.
Dunmore East
International
Bluegrass
Festival
Dunmore East,
Waterford
21st-24th August
2008
Ireland's
biggest free
Bluegrass
Festival takes
place throughout
the village of
Dunmore East
with groups from
the US and the
UK as well as
plenty of Irish
performers.
Fleadh Ceoil na
hEireann
Tullamore, Co.
Offaly
17th-24th August
2008
The 56th Fleadh
Cheoil na
hEireann
promises to be
the largest
showcase of
musicians and
performers to
take place ever
and includes
showcase
concerts,
céilithe,
parades,
pageants, with
over 10,000
performers
expected to take
part in the
'Feast of Irish
Music'.
Rose of Tralee
Tralee, Co.
Kerry
22nd-26th August
2008
The Rose of
Tralee
International
Festival is one
of Ireland’s
biggest
carnivals, with
a week of
entertainment
that includes a
Rose Ball,
Fashion Show,
Rose parades,
fireworks,
street carnival
and live TV
broadcast of the
Rose Selection.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
CORK CITY
TOUR
Get on & off as
often as you
wish -Operates
daily
Cork City may be second to Dublin in size, but its unique blend
of contemporary
style and old
world charm has
no peer. It is a
cosmopolitan yet
friendly place
where the locals
are famous for
enjoying life to
the fullest.
Steeped in
history, Cork
City is fast
gaining a
reputation as
one of Europe’s
hippest cities.
Like Venice, the
city is built
upon water, and
the city centre
is built on an
island in the
River Lee, just
upstream from
Cork Harbour.
The two channels
of the River
Lee, which
embrace the city
centre, are
spanned by many
bridges, and
this gives the
city a
distinctive
continental air.
Exploring Cork
is an enjoyable,
multi-day
pursuit. Ring
the Shandon
Bells in the 300
year-old tower
of St. Anne’s
Cathedral, and
marvel at the
French Gothic
spires of St.
Finbarr’s
Cathedral. You
will discover
unique shopping
and dining
options,
including the
English Market
with its stalls
selling foods
from all over
the world; Coal
Quay crammed
with fascinating
shops,
restaurants and
cafes; and
numerous
pedestrian
walkways and
wide sidewalks
flanked by smart
boutiques and
major department
stores. At every
corner you’ll
come across
another
panoramic view,
another
interesting
architectural
feature and some
of the best
galleries,
theatres and
museums in
Ireland. Whether
strolling down
historical
streets,
shopping,
exploring the
surrounding
countryside, or
simply basking
in the City’s
hospitality,
Cork City is an
experience
always to be
remembered and
cherished.
Tour highlights
include: Cork
City Goal, City
Library, St.
Finbarr’s
Cathedral,
Crawford
Municipal Art
Gallery, Triskel
Art Centre,
English Market,
Fitzgerald Park,
Cork Opera
House, Custom
House, The
Courthouse and
the City Hall.
Location /Pick
up Times:
Runs daily from
the City Library
(on the Grand
Parade) from
9.30 hr.
The Tour
operates every
30 minutes.
The last tour
commences at
17.00 hrs.
Tour Fares:
Adults: €13.00
per person.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
SCENIC
COUNTRYSIDE AND
BLARNEY TOUR
Monday, August
25th
– 14.30hr –
17.30hr
This tour will
bring you into
the beautiful
scenic
countryside of
the Lee Valley,
where you will
experience some
of the
easy/relaxed
pace of life of
Cork and see the
River Lee’s
lakes and
reservoirs. You
will then travel
onto the village
of Blarney and
Blarney Castle.
People the world
over have
stopped off at
this
internationally
known tourist
centre to kiss
the Blarney
Stone, which
traditionally
imparts the
‘gift of
eloquence’ The
famous Stone is
located just
below the
battlement in
Blarney Castle,
built in 1446.
In order to kiss
the Stone, it is
necessary to
hang ones head
downwards over
the battlements
having climbed
110 steep steps
by the original
spiral staircase
to the summit of
the castle. To
visit Blarney
Castle is to
step back in
time, and feel
the enchantment
of a long and
heroic past.
Here is one of
the great
historical sites
of Ireland,
renowned
throughout the
world. The view
from the
entrance gate
sets the scene
immediately,
with fine vistas
of parkland
crowned by
Blarney castle
rising up in its
entire ancient
splendour,
framed by clumps
of trees. You
can also enjoy
some free time
for some
shopping locally
at the famous
Blarney Woollen
Mills.
NOTE
STEEP STEPS
ASCENDING AND
DESCENDING THE
BLARNEY STONE.
Location / Pick
up Times:
Tour departs
from UCC- guests
should come to
the Registration
Desk at 14.00hr
Tour Fares:
Adults: €30.00
per person to
include coach,
guide and
entrance to
Blarney Castle
Tour Fares:
Adults: €13.00
per person.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
FULL DAY
KILLARNEY
Tuesday, August
26th
– 9.30hr –
17.00hr
The Tour begins
with a visit to
the picturesque
and famous town
of Kenmare, a
gold medallist
in Ireland's
Tidy Towns
competition, also
one of the
natural unspoilt
environments of
the world. You
will have time
to walk around
the town, have a
cup of coffee or
tea.
Continue for a
mini tour of the
Ring of Kerry,
which takes you
through
spectacular
coastal and
mountainous
scenery along
the base of the
highest mountain
range in
Ireland, the
MacGillycuddy
Reeks. County
Kerry in
Ireland's
Southwest is a
place untouched
by time. Hazy
mountain
panoramas
shimmering in
the pearly ocean
light, rattling
streams of
sparkling clear
water tumbling
down wooded
slopes. You can
spend the day
just watching
and wondering at
the splendour of
the views. The
journey takes
you through
villages and
towns depicting
typical rural
life in Ireland.
It is really
hard to explain
the true beauty
of Kerry, except
to say that it
should not be
missed. As you
descend into
Killarney, you
have a lovely
view of the
Three Lakes of
Killarney from
'Ladies View'
passing
Killarney's
National Park.
Stop for lunch
(main course,
tea/coffee) in
Killarney town
before
continuing onto
Muckross House
Estate.
Here you may
visit this
special museum
house (entry fee
applies) or
enjoy the
beautiful
gardens and
treks in the
national park.
You will then
enjoy a visit to
the town of
Killarney,
probably
Ireland's
premier tourist
location, where
you can enjoy
the sights and
sounds of this
engaging and
refreshing town,
after which you
will then return
to Cork City.
Location /Pick
up Times:
Tour departs
from UCC- guests
should come to
the Registration
Desk at 08.30hr
Tour Fares:
Adult €50.00
Euro per person
to include
coach, guide and
lunch.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
EAST CORK AND
COBH
Wednesday,
August 27th
– 09.00hr –
13.00hr.
Today is a half
day to enjoy the
other side of
Cork Harbor, to
the old town of
Cobh
(pronounced
COVE). The
American War of
Independence put
Cobh on the
map. Napoleon
kept it there
and in the reign
of Queen
Victoria the
town grew and
prospered. It
was as
Queenstown
that the
port rose to
prominence as a
vital link in
trans-Atlantic
liner traffic in
the late
nineteenth and
twentieth
centuries. Its
name was changed
again in 1920
and as Cobh it
continues to
serve as an
important port
of call for the
majestic liners
traveling the
north Atlantic
route. Emigrants
departed from
Cobh's quays on
board vessels of
the great
shipping lines,
such as Cunard
and White Star.
The "Titanic"
sailed from Cobh,
never to touch
land again. The
Heritage Centre
will tell these
stories in a way
that is fitting
and sympathetic
of the endeavor
and trauma of
the people who
were involved.
You will also
have the
opportunity en
route back to
the city to stop
to visit Fota
House &
Gardens.
This fine
Regency-style
building in a
pleasant
landscape
setting on Fota
Island, is
complemented by
the
internationally
renowned gardens
and arboretum.
The House is a
celebration of
fine
craftsmanship
and has a
particularly
well appointed
kitchen. It
reflects well
the life-style
of the
nineteenth and
early twentieth
centuries. Today
it welcomes
visitors to see
the House itself
and to enjoy the
fare provided in
the tea-room.
Return
to Cork City.
Location /Pick
up Times:
Tour departs
from UCC- guests
should come to
the registration
desk for 08.30hr
Tour Fares:
Adult €32.00 per
person to
include coach
and guide plus
entrances to
Cobh Heritage
centre and Fota
house & Gardens.
For Bookings
Contact:
Cronins Coaches,
Shannon
Buildings,
Mallow Road,
Cork.
Tel: +353 (0)21
4391996
Fax: +353 (0)21
4391993
Email: cork@special-ireland.com
Disclaimer:
The services
supplied in the
social programme
are available at
the time of
writing. However
in the event
that any tour
becomes
unavailable or
minimum numbers
are not met,
Cronin Coaches
reserve the
right to alter
or cancel the
event.
