Free admittance with a free guided tour through the castle - and in my opinion although smaller,…read moreBarryscourt is way better than Blarney. Our tour guide was excellent and very informative. The castle has been (and continues to be) restored so you get to see each floor as it might have been not just stone rooms without floors like at Blarney. There's a lovely small garden and an orchard within the walls. Close to Fota House and Gardens this is an excellent stop while you're in the area and you can make a full day out of it by also visiting Fota. Fota Gardens and Arboretum are also free.

BARRYSCOURT CASTLE Paid my first visit in decades to…read moreBarryscourt Castle, an impressive relic of the 16th century court of the Barry family. Impressive enough as a stark ruin in the 80s but now it's much improved and well worth a visit, particularly since there is no charge at all, and that includes the guided tour of the interior. Time was short yesterday so we contented ourselves with a walk around the outside of the castle itself, through the herb garden and a large orchard. There are records of an orchard there since the 13th century and this one, with dozens of apple varieties, is laid out according to the 16th century manner. There are smaller plantings of pears and quinces. There is an information office with very helpful and friendly staff, toilets and a cafe and it is just off the main national road (N25). It is a very pleasant visit indeed and I'll be back for a longer stay, perhaps during Heritage Week which takes place in venues across the country from August 21st. Most events are free to enter, some have reduced charges. This is one of many available. See the Heritage Ireland site http://www.heritageireland.com or pick up the comprehensive National Heritage Week brochure at your local library. http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/South-West/BarryscourtCastle/ Tel: +353 21 488 3864

I think the most interesting thing about Ireland are the ancient relics that are still standing:…read moreeither alone off the beaten path, or alongside more contemporary structures. The Grange Stone Circle in Lough Gur, located in a field off of R512, is the former, and it is definitely worth visiting if you are near Limerick. It is the largest ancient stone circle in Ireland and dates to the late Neolithic/Bronze Age. It had a ritualistic purpose and the center aligns to the sun during the summer solstice. To consider that some of the stones were brought from 3 miles away is just astounding, as is the understanding that this site dates to 2,200 BCE. To think of the ancient peoples that walked here so long ago is certainly astounding! The stone circle is definitely an impressive site to behold! More information can be found here: http://loughgur.com/destination/the-stone-circle/

Bigger around than Stonehenge The diameter of the upright…read morestones is 45 meters (148 feet) The diameter of the capped stones at Stonehenge is 33 meters (108 feet)

Simply amazing! Love that you get to walk through the fort underground and love the views. The tea…read morehouse is overlooking the water. The volunteers are a wealth of information.

Highly, highly recommend adding this to your Cork bucket list! The reading tour is 10 euros; I…read morebelieve the audio tour was 15 euros. We got to tour the prison grounds and learn about life in the prison, all while doing the reading tour. It was very eye opening, but very informative as well.

I know it's unfair to compare this to other jail tours in Ireland but it's really hard not to. The…read morearchitecture was gorgeous but the history was all quite surface level. I do appreciate them trying something different in tackling the stories of the jail and its prisoners.

THE ELYSIAN You can't miss the Elysian when you are in Cork:…read moreit is the tallest building, with a 17 storey high tower as its focal point. Designed by Wilson Architecture, the Elysian won the Irish Residential Property of the Year Award. Lush planting, water cascades and sculpture are the highlights of the internal gardens designed and built by the same team that built the multiple Gold Award winning Irish garden in the World Expo 90 in Japan. While the building contains hundreds of apartments, there is also some commercial activity here, mainly at the lower levels; included are a medical company and the El Vino's Restaurant. The tower is open to the public only occasionally, the most recent coming during the August Heritage Day.

There are actually 2 castle's, an old and a new (or newer, its still very old obviously). The herd…read moreof white deer are worth the walk alone, they're beautiful. Don't expect throngs of tourists being herded on and off coaches here, it's not on the tourist trail at all. That's part of its appeal though I think. Recently purchased by Cork County Council that could all change relatively soon. Recommend you see it while you can still have the place all to yourself.

MILLENNIUM GARDENS…read more To commemorate the millennium, the Port of Cork constructed a garden and a short walk at its lands along the river in Tivoli. The walk is quite short with fine river views; it may be extended by walking up the Lower Glanmire Road as far as the new Railway Bridge from where there are fine views of the city. There are two entrances to the facility. Coming from the west, walk through the gate just before the "skew" bridge. Otherwise, use the Silversprings fly-over to access the eastern gate. There is limited car parking there. It is a pleasant spot. Aside, from the river views, you have a variety of shrubs, trees and flowers (hydrangeas and fuchsia are prominent now in late August) and some sculpture. There is no shortage of seats, so you may bring your book or newspaper and give yourself a short break in the fresh air. Enjoyed the stroll today. It is a handy park for residents of the nearby houses and apartments and even guests of Silversprings Hotel and guest houses in the area could well enjoy a walk here.

PROMENADE COBH The promenade in Cobh is where many locals…read moreand quite a few visitors come to take it easy and to do a bit of people watching. Seats for the older folks and a play area for the young ones. Great views out over the harbour, regularly visited by huge cruise ships, and back into the town itself where St Coleman's Cathedral dominates. Water flows in fountains and there are sculptures, some amusing, some serious. What more would you want? Maybe some music. Well, there is the bandstand and, regularly, at weekends, the band plays. Oh to be in Cobh when the sun shines.

Blarney Castle is a must-see. It's a privately owned property. The gardens are spectacular. They're…read morethe greenest gardens I've ever seen. Each section in the garden has a theme. It's fun. The castle is surrounded by the gardens and a stream that flows around it. It's beautiful. Once inside, the stairs are a bit intimidating on your way to the top. The stone is an additional level higher than when you first arrive up. There's someone at the site to help with your Blarney stone kiss. Just don't look down! After you've kissed the Blarney, be sure to make your way to the coffee and gift shop. Grab an Irish or Bailey's coffee and soak it all in. Congratulations on your adventure.

And to think I almost decided against going here! It was easy to get to by bus and we went first…read morething in the morning which meant we beat the crowds, which I'm sure made it much more enjoyable. I am so grateful for all the signs saying how tricky the trip up to the Blarney Stone is because I made the choice not to go. My husband went by himself and said I'd never have managed. The gardens were spectacular. We easily spent a couple hours in there. It was like a fairytale. Super good use of half a day.