Day 2 - Cork – Cobh
This morning, visit the famous Blarney Castle, where people the world over have stopped at this internationally known tourist centre to kiss the Blarney Stone, which traditionally imparts the ‘gift of eloquence’ on all who kiss it. The famous Stone is located just below the battlement in Blarney Castle, built in 1446. In order to kiss the Stone, it is necessary to hang ones head downwards over the battlements having climbed 110 steep steps by the original spiral staircase to the summit of the castle.
To visit Blarney Castle is to step back in time, and feel the enchantment of a long and heroic past. Here is one of the great historical sites of Ireland, renowned throughout the world. The view from the entrance gate sets the scene immediately, with fine vistas of parkland crowned by Blarney castle rising up in its entire ancient splendour, framed by clumps of trees.
Today the golfers of the group will play golf at Fota Golf Club. Arguably one of the finest golf course challenges - Fota Island, just 14km east of Cork City, is a Par 72 Parklands course.
“ Purists will delight at the old fashioned features...you’ll stand in wide eyed admiration” Golf Monthly
Golf World judged Fota to be “pick of the lot”, among the newer golf developments. In only its second summer of operation, Fota hosted both the Irish Amateur Open and the Irish Club Professional Championship. The Irish Amateur returned in 1996 and it has hosted the 2001 and 2202 Murphy’s Irish Open.
This superb parkland course was designed by Christy O’ Connor Junior and Peter Mc Evoy and is situated in the 316 hectare estate of Fota Island. In the traditional design of the course the run up shot is given the true regard. Almost every green invites more than one approach.
Golf Digest ‘Fota Island is the very place... It makes you think...It tests all your skills. It’s really good golf. Golf Delights ‘Fota other times and other values, in particular shot values.
The non golfers will take a trip to the cathedral town of Cobh (pronounced ‘Cove”), with its imposing Cathedral. The town is steeped in the history of ships and shipping and the saga of emigration, a story captured and explored in the Cobh heritage centre – The Queenstown Story.
The American War of Independence put Cobh on the map. Napoleon kept it there and in the reign of Queen Victoria the town grew and prospered. It was as Queenstown that the port rose to prominence as a vital link in trans-Atlantic liner traffic in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Its name was changed again in 1920 and as Cobh it continues to serve as an important port of call for the majestic liners traveling the north Atlantic route. Emigrants departed from Cobh's quays on board vessels of the great shipping lines, such as Cunard and White Star.
The "Titanic" sailed from Cobh, never to touch land again. The Heritage Centre will tell these stories in a way that is fitting and sympathetic of the endeavor and trauma of the people who were involved.
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