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visiting heritage sites
Heritage is defined in Answers.com as " Something that is passed down from preceding generations; a tradition". This being the case, a great deal of this site concerns heritage. However, this page will deal with "heritage places", sometimes known by that horrible phrase "interpretation centres", which are not only preserved from the past but attempt to inform us about their history |
Blarney Castle, historically one of the most important defended positions in the region and home of "the Blarney Stone". It also boasts fine gardens. An easy and scenic 30 mile drive. www.blarneycastle.ie/ |
Bantry House and Gardens, overlooking Bantry Bay with a long history of colonialism and witness to a failed invasion. 30 miles. www.bantryhouse.ie/ |
Collins Barracks Museum, Cork City. Long a major garrison of Crown Forces. www.corkcity.ie/heritage/openday/military/collins_barracks.shtml |
Cork City Gaol, another grim reminder of Crown oppression, www.corkcitygaol.com/index.html |
Jameson Whiskey Heritage Centre, Midleton, Don't let this dreadful site put you off, there are visitor details here, http://www.irishdistillershost.com/idl2/visitus/OMDindex.html However, this is a really good whiskey site: www.thewhiskyguide.com/index.html |
Fota Wildlife Park, really a zoo without too many bars, animals live in a naturalistic environment. www.fotawildlife.ie/index.htm |
Fota House and Gardens is a fine Regency-style building, on Fota Island, in a pleasant landscape setting. www.fotahouse.com/ |
Charles Fort, Summer Cove, Kinsale. Constructed in the late 17th century on the site of an earlier coastal fortification, Charles Fort is a classic example of a star-shaped fort. 62.73.177.39/en/HistoricSites/South/CharlesFortCork/ |
Skibereen Heritage Centre Great Famine, Archaeology Trail and other local history. www.skibbheritage.com/ |
West Cork Model Railway Village, fascinating for kids and adults alike www.modelvillage.ie/ |
The Queenstown Story, Cobh, Around 2.5million people left this small port for a new world and a new start during the century from 1848. www.cobhheritage.com/ |
Mizen Head Irish Lights Signal Station, at the most South-Westerly point of Ireland with stunning sea views and a strong possibility of seeing dolphins, whales, seals, kittiwakes, gannets and choughs. www.mizenhead.ie/ |
St.Finbarr's Cathedral, Cork City a fascinating Victorian edifice http://cathedral.cork.anglican.org/ |
Church of St. Anne Shandon, Cork City, the home of the world famous Shandon Bells, a church has stood here for around 1400 years, http://www.shandonbells.org/ |
Kilcrea Abbey, nr.Ballincollig. The ruin of a Francican Friary built in the 15th century. http://homepage.eircom.net/~abbey/index.htm |
Desmond Castle, Kinsale. Built as a custom house by the Earl of Desmond c. AD 1500, Desmond Castle has a colourful history, ranging from Spanish occupation in 1601 to use as a prison for captured American sailors during the American War of Independence. http://www.desmondcastle.ie/ |