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).

THE ROYAL GUNPOWDER MILLS WALK Combine history, exercise and…read morefresh air as you walk on the banks of the Lee in Ballincollig's Royal Gunpowder Mills. History is a little less accessible these days because the information centre for the Mills closed a few years back. That section is now all closed off but you can glimpse part of it behind the wire and the greenery. Turn west here and you have quite a long walk to the Inniscarra Bridge. In truth, the single walk isn't that long but don't forget you must also get back to your car. And of course you may start at either end, in the east (by the old Gunpowder Mills tourist centre) or at the west (by the bridge). Allow at least an hour to do the round trip. Turn in by Aldi's on the main road and then veer right down to the Powdermills. Walk through the gate facing you at the end and you are on your way. If you then take the grass path down to the right, you'll be by the river. The path here is studded with tree roots while the main path west is much easier to walk on. No matter which way you go, and there are a few loops and detours, you'll pass more of the ruined buildings of the old Powdermills complex and you'll soon get the impression that it was busy here in the 19th century. The mills once employed over 500 people. It wasn't that busy at all this morning as I passed along the river, walked over one or two of the canals (dug for the mills). Didn't go the whole way this time but did a few weeks back. The western end is more by the river and then too you have the football pitches on your left as you head for the Inniscarra Bridge. All in all an interesting walk and you can get more info from one of the info boards on the walk.

This is the most relaxing, informative and fun way to view Cobh's historic sites and beautiful sea…read morevistas is aboard the Cobh Road Train. The train will gently go up and down the hilly Victorian streetscape where you will be able to take panoramic views. The driver/guide is very knowledgeable, funny and friendly. He will tell you all of Cobh's fascinating history plus some amusing facts. From the top of the hill you will take in spectacular views which provides an opportunity to view the last mooring of the Titanic. The panorama of the inner and outer harbour and the historic Haulbowline Island is breathtaking! You will also have a stop at the famous and historic St Colmans Cathedral which is worth a look in. The journey takes approximately 45 minutes and some 8 trips per day are provided. The train departs from the centre of town, from where the last passengers embarked the Titanic. The train is ideal for young and old alike.

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.

FOTA HOUSE Here are the two main reasons for a visit to Fota…read moreHouse: 1: The house is now home to one of the finest collections of Irish art in the country. 2: The glorious Neo-Classical architecture and innovative designs. The 19th Fota House has had its share of ups and downs in recent decades but now the curve seems to be on the up. At the end of 2207, Irish Heritage Trust took over care of the house and there have improvements ever since. The house re-opened to the public in April 2009 after a major restoration project undertaken by the Trust during the winter of 2008/9. The Trust is proud that this architectural masterpiece and treasure house of art can now be enjoyed and celebrated by everyone. Thanks to the generosity of the McCarthy family, AIB and the Irish Government, Fota House is now home to one of the finest collections of Irish art in the country. Particular highlights of the collection are masterpieces of the Eighteenth-Century Irish landscape school. For more details of the architecture of the house and the art collection, visit the website http://www.fotahouse.com/ Click here to see a map of the house and its many rooms. http://www.fotahouse.com/attachments/uploaded/Map%20ground%20floor.jpg The admission charge is just six euro and it is well worth it. House Opening Hours: Daily (7 days) from April - end October 10 am - 5 pm (Last Admissions 4 pm) Fota Island, Carrigtwohill, Cork Tel: 021 481 5543 http://www.fotahouse.com/

SHANDON CHURCH St Anne's Church, high on a northside hill,…read moreis one of the most familiar landmarks in Cork City, visited by many tourists but generally ignored as a visit by the locals. I walked up there recently and enjoyed my stroll. The historic church has eight bells 8 which weigh 6 tons and first rang out over the city in 1752. The patients in the nearby (now closed) North Infirmary would often have been disturbed from their slumber by the bells' vibrations (lessened in modern times by improvements in placement). But it is the clocks on the sides of the church tower that have most engaged Corkonians over the years who jokingly called them the Four Liars as it was reckoned that the four clocks never agreed on the time! Not that I've heard that joke recently! The "Goldie Fish" mounted high on the church has entered the local literature and indeed Shandon comes up regularly in the songs and poems of the city. Fr Prout's nostalgic lines below are probably the most famous "With deep affection and recollection, I oft times think of those Shandon Bells" Nowadays, after your visit to the church, where you can get to ring the bells and enjoy the view over the city, you may take a rest on the seats in the adjoining St Anne's Park before walking back down to the city centre.

Playing "Fernando" and "Here comes the sun" while pulling on some heavy ropes is a very fun…read moreactivity. Living right under the bell tower for one year and half and having to endure the other false notes is a completely other story. The entrance is expensive and the climbing quite dangerous. The view is cool.

If you're planning a tour of Ireland without John Fitzgerald (Wild Way Tours) as your guide, you'll…read morebe missing an awful lot. We'd planned a full itinerary, landing in Dublin, meeting up with John, heading for Galway, onto the Cliffs of Moher, and on and on. And we did all that, but what set John's guiding apart was his probing for what interests we had, and that opened our trip to history, fairytales, botany, the Great Blasket Island off the Dingle Peninsula that produced more authors than imaginable with a population that never exceed 272. There was little John could not expand on or point out as we travelled: the exact spot where Tom Barry led the infant West Cork Brigade in the Kilmichael Ambush against the British, the Black and Tans and the Auxiliary. All this came alive for us. We didn't just pass through Kerry counting pubs and shops. At John s urging, we spent several hours at the Kerry Country Museum, a jewel that makes Irish history and its personalities come alive. All of this, every mile, surrounded by rugged coasts and fifty shades of green. John made this trip memorable, enlightening, and great fun. His sense of humor is as deep as his knowledge of the country; he's relaxed, funny, and a great travel mate. If you can book with John, look no further. Taistil spraoi!

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.

I booked the Blarney & Cobh half-day tour more than a month in advance, only to have it canceled…read moreshortly before my trip due to an "unforeseen issue." While I understand that unexpected situations can happen, what I cannot understand is the complete lack of transparency and poor customer service. I asked multiple times why the tour was canceled because the booking was made through Microsoft for a company event, and I needed to provide an explanation. Instead of answering a simple question, I was repeatedly told that "all information was provided in the first email"--even though the email never explained the reason for the cancellation. A company that cancels confirmed bookings at the last minute should at least be willing to provide a basic explanation. Instead, I received dismissive responses and no accountability. The cancellation itself was disappointing, but the way it was handled was far worse. If this is how Paddywagon Tours treats customers when something goes wrong, I cannot recommend booking with them. There are plenty of tour operators in Ireland that value communication and customer service more than this one.