We are renting a car and driving from Dublin through Glendalough and spending the night in Cashel. The following day, my wife wants to visit the Crystal Visitor center in Waterford. Is the Crystal factory worth the stop? I don't want to be in a hurry, but she is very interested in it. Ideas or thoughts? We then plan to drive to Cobh for a short stop (lunch), buzz the Blarney Castle Gardens (not the stone!), and get to Kinsale for supper and a pub crawl and Ghost Walk. I'm thinking about 30 minutes of time in the Blarney Gardens....as there is so much more to see. Ala RS Guidebook, thre is an entrance fee but is it for the castle or the entire grounds and castle. As I said, we are only stopping because we heard the gardens are beautiful Sounds ambitious. Is my timing about right?
Thanks in advance for your wisdom!
Posted by
98 posts
We were in Ireland last spring and were really impressed by the Waterford Crystal factory tour. We were staying near Waterford for two nights. We also spent 2 nights in Blarney and spent several hours in the gardens and castle. You do have to pay to enter the garden grounds and it would be hard to explore the area in 30 minutes. We also saw the Rock of Cashel which was amazing. I think you may have to cut something out, so think about what you most want to do and see! So many wonderful sights!
Posted by
Bend, OR
1254 posts
If you are going further and up to Dingle, I would recommend the Dingle Crystal factory tour instead. It’s a small family owned business, the owner was trained at Waterford and is a master craftsman. They cut all the crystal by hand and do demonstrations. I have Waterford Crystal from forty years ago when it was still produced in Ireland, my Dingle Crystal goblets, we purchased a couple of years ago are the same quality and a bit heavier.