We lucked out weather wise as it was a beautiful day. There is a lot of driving to the cliffs and…read moresome narrow winding roads. Our driver was friendly and gave us a lot of information about the area and Irish history.

We had a great time with our bus driver DJ doing the Blarney Castle tour! He was funny,…read moreinformative, and gave us great tips for places to see at each stop.

I learned so much about the Jameson brand and the whiskey-making process during the Midleton…read moreDistillery Experience. The hour-and-fifteen-minute guided tour takes you behind the scenes of the 200-year-old facility, with stops at the grain store, mill house, and maturation warehouses. Along the way, you'll see the massive iron water wheel that once powered the mill before steam engines took over, as well as the largest pot still in the world, both impressive highlights. The tour wraps up with a tasting of three whiskeys. Ours included Jameson Original, Redbreast, and Green Spot. It's a great way to experience the range of flavors and styles Jameson has to offer. You also get a drink voucher to use at the on-site bar, which is conveniently attached to the gift shop. I'd recommend this tour not just to Jameson fans and whiskey enthusiasts, but also to history lovers and anyone interested in Irish craftsmanship. It's a well-paced, engaging experience that combines tradition, storytelling, and flavor in a beautifully preserved setting.

We had a great time during the Jameson experience at cork. The tour itself was well executed and…read morevery interesting. They also provided lots of samples which was appreciated. We learned a lot and particularly enjoyed learning about their method and madness line. Our tour guide was great. Do note that you may need to stick around after the tour a bit before driving especially if you didn't have much in your stomach! We would definitely come back sometime.

BLARNEY WALK Most of you will have heard of the Blarney talk…read more(the gift of the gab from kissing the famous stone) but do you know about the Blarney Walk? It goes through the Clogheenmilcon Sanctuary and is one of the most popular in the Cork region which, generally (particularly evenings and weekends) makes it really safe if you are out on your own. Two notes of caution re safety. If you use the car park nearest town, you will have to cross quite a busy road and there is no pedestrian crossing there of any kind. The walk also incorporates most of a 5km Sli Na Slainte (Path of Health) but if you start in the village be very careful walking to the sanctuary as there is no footpath for part of the way! The pleasant walk (you can also jog it) is fairly straightforward, running in a straight line for 2km or so (then you turn back), with the sanctuary on one side and the main road (fenced off, on the other side). You walk along past an unusual elevated sculpture, past a boggy area and small lakes where waterfowl are plentiful: ducks and swans, seagulls galore today. It is a refreshing walk on a tarmac path, popular with all kinds of humans and dogs (who are kept on their leads).

Cork City Tours. Took two different buses today, both had a combination of recorded commentary and…read morelive commentary. Drivers were very nice, and I felt they were very accommodating of foreigners. Also very funny! In addition, a cruise ship was in at Cobh, so the buses were SRO for a couple of hours, but everyone stayed cheerful and positive. Great day, great tour. Five Stars, Cork City Tours!

It was our first full day in Cork, and we had just finished having breakfast, and wanted to get a…read moresense as to what the area had to offer. As we had had general success with city tours in Dublin and Galway we figured why not, there are certainly worse ways to spend a couple of hours. That's probably technically true - we could have spent a couple of hours fighting off pickpockets or being strangled by an elephant. But at least with those activities the level of expectation would have been minimal (and hey, what stories we'd have to share!). We waited with a group of others near the foot of Oliver Plunkett Street on a surprisingly humid early Sunday afternoon (word to the wise - at the time we visited Ireland, the weather was more consistent with our experiences in Florida than our expectations for the British Isles, so one doesn't necessarily require heavy-layered clothing in the summertime). The bus arrived on time, and we were able to secure spots on the roof. In some limited ways the ride was informative - we did learn about tours we could take of nearby places, and we were informed about some freaky churches in the area. The close calls with foliage was also surprisingly entertaining. But unlike other rides, there was no personality from the driver. In fact, there was no interaction from the driver, apart from collecting our tolls, as the commentary was pre-recorded, and boring. So, my recommendation would be to consult one of the tourist shops to inquire about things to do in the area (i.e. Ring Of Kerry, Cobh, The Blarney Stone), and to simply walk around the River Lee island to take the city sights in yourself.

We loved Ireland! We loved our tour except we tried to pack too much into too little time! Some…read moreguidance regarding the time on the bus would have been appreciated especially since I asked about that particularly. Our driver was great and took us through the back roads and the twist and turns with skill and aplomb! The accommodations were excellent. When we had a small problem with one of our travelers, the tour company was extremely helpful and considerate. We did receive an excellent value for the price we paid!

From the owner: My Ireland Tour is a family-run company based in Cork. We have been offering escorted tours of…read moreIreland since 1989. We offer a range of tours including our wonderful Escorted Group Tour Series, Private Customised Tours and many specialist tours including Agricultural Tours, Music Tours and more. Your vacation will be personally managed by one of our team, and you can speak to that same person each and every time you are in touch. Booking with an independent, family-run business of 26 years, you can be assured that your Ireland holiday plans will get the full care and attention they deserve.

Butler's Coach of Cork Ireland. John O'Donovan provided us Irish history, music, sports, and…read moreculture as well as safe driving and beautiful scenery. His narrative as we went through Belfast still affects me. He took us to the very best places and helped us experience the best of Scotland as well. He also made sure our little flock was safe and happy through 12 dayd. From pub suggestions to directions to concert halls, we couldn't ask for more. Ask for Mr. O'Donovan and you'll be pleased with your Ireland and Scotland experience.

From the owner: Coach, Bus and minivan hire. Stephen Butler Coaches is a family run coach company, who specializes…read morein luxury private coach, bus and minivan hire. Stephen established his business in 1979, to date we are celebrating over 40 years in business. We are based in the bustling town of Midleton, Co. Cork, which is also home to Jameson Distillery, Midleton. We operate one of the most luxurious and modern fleets of chauffeur driven vehicles in Cork, Ireland. We strive every day to ensure all of our customer's needs and expectations are exceeded. Contact us today for all your coach, bus and minivan hire requirements.

Dermot Ryan's Kinsale Heritage Walk was wonderful. You walk around the town of Kinsale at a…read moreleisurely pace no one would find difficult to keep up with, stopping to hear the local history and see photos of your surroundings as they were way back when. Lighthearted and funny and loving his home town, Dermot definitely makes the best tour guide you'd every hope to have. I loved this tour - it was absolutely wonderful.

THE SHANDON WALK Took the Shandon Walk today. You can pick…read moreup a map in the Tourist Office; well worth it, even if you are a native. The one hour jaunt takes you through some of the oldest parts of Cork: the narrow lanes of the Huguenot Quarter off Paul Street, old and new buildings all along the way, including a string of churches, more narrow lanes in the Shandon vicinity. Shandon Street itself is an eye-opener. There are food outlets galore, from the traditional chipper to shops selling Hungarian, African, Asian food - truly multi-national. If you overdo it on the eating, there is an undertakers at the bottom! Start in Daunts Square, down Paul Street, into Emmett Place, turn left on the quay and cross the river via the pedestrian bridge, turn right, and then left up towards Shandon; from here, head to the Cathedral and then back down the multi-national Shandon Street, over the North Gate Bridge. The walk actually stops at the Cork Vision Centre. The morning started frosty and foggy but the blue skies were appearing as I started. Just took in the sights today, including information boards along the signposted way. Next time, I'll take it real easy and call in for a snack, a drink, a look or a chat.