Cork, Cobh and Kinsale

Posted by hunterkaren14 on 06/28/24 09:42 AM

Hello, our family of 5 (3 teenagers) has 1.5 days in Passage west and we’re trying to narrow down options of things to do and sites to see to maximize our short time here. For those who have been, would love to hear your favorites. We’re doing the Titanic exhibit upon arrival and will go to visit Coleman’s Cathedral and visit the deck of cards today. For tomorrow in the Cork/Kinsale part of the trip, here are some suggestions we’ve received.

English Market
Blarney Castle, stone and woolen mills
Spike island
Historical walking tour in Kinsale
Dinner in Kinsale

Please weigh in and help me narrow down for our itinerary tomorrow….thank you!

Posted by isn31c

Lake District, England

06/28/24 11:09 AM

7545 posts

Do you have a car or are you on public transit? -that might help people's thoughts.

From your previous Irish thread it seems you may be using bus/train?

By Coleman's Cathedral presumably that is St Colman's Cathedral in Cobh (well worth it). With a car I might have suggested the Lusitania graves and memorial at Cobh Old Cemetery as well, but not worth the traipse on foot IMO.

We are all different as I have not personally been to the Titanic Museum in Cobh (feeling I can 'do' the Titanic elsewhere). Where I have been to, museum wise, in Cobh is the Heritage Centre - at the railway station. Although it too tells the stories of the Titanic and the Lusitania, it's main focus is on the history of the town (including the islands like Spike Island) but especially the story of Irish Emigration- Cork having been one of the major emigration ports. I think it tells that story very well- but then you might have been to the Emigration Museum in Dublin.

What I did in Cobh, Titanic Wise, was to visit the Titanic Memorial Gardens in the fort at the very far end of the main street- the other end from the railway station. A moment or two of reflection on the tragedy.
The fort was one of the companions to that on Spike Island.

Posted by TexasTravelMom

TX, USA

06/28/24 01:25 PM

4680 posts

I missed where you are staying and that might make a difference. In Kinsale, you could take the walking tour and visit Charles Fort, plus dinner. That would be most of a day.

If you are in Cork, it’s not hard to get the bus to Blarney Castle if you decide on that. Just know that the tour busses often arrive 10:30ish and the line for the Blarney Stone gets long. I was there last week and the difference in waiting time went from none at 9:30 to over and hour at 10:30.

Unless you are already in
Cork, I don’t think I would use your day for English Market but you could definitely use part of it before or after other things.

Posted by jphbucks

SoCal

06/28/24 04:13 PM

1026 posts

I personally enjoyed Cobh much more than Cork, admittedly because of the gorgeous scenery. Gorgeous scenery is also the primary attraction in Kinsale. If there are specific attractions that appeal to you in Cork, go for it! Otherwise, from my perspective, there's not much to recommend Cork, and staying out of the city would perhaps allow you time to visit the Old Head of Kinsale, which is spectacularly beautiful.

Just one perspective, obviously.