Things to do in Kinsale
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Bulman
Always worth the stroll, the pub matches the restaurant in salt-tinged allure.
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Bulman Bar & Toddies
This is seaside eating at its best. Escape from central Kinsale to this gastro pub in an unspoilt harbourside venue, where salty informality is a style in its own right. Seafood excels here, whether swimming in chowder or laid out seductively on a platter. Much of everything is sourced locally; herbs are right from the kitchen garden. The more formal restaurant Toddies (dinner only Wed-Sat) serves an excellent range of beautifully prepared seafood – the lobster risotto (€18.95) is recommended.
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Danabel
Just off Featherbed Lane (we're not making this up), this modern home has comfortable rooms with large private bathrooms and nice hardwood floors; some have views of the harbour. It's a brief walk to the centre.
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Dermot Ryan's Heritage Town Walks
Depart from the tourist office.
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Don & Barry's Historic Stroll
Depart from the tourist office.
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Fishy Fishy Shop & Chippie
The casual retail outlet for the vaunted restaurant, you can pause here on your Kinsale ramble for just a superb coffee but, really, you'll want some of the best fish and chips in town, or one of the other treats. Tables are located both inside and out.
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Jim Edwards
If Fishy Fishy has a serious rival, it's 200m away in this unassuming pub, where the bar food is way above standard and the restaurant exceptional. A very traditional ambience belies the high quality of the menu, which doffs a cap to meat-eaters but specialises mostly in all kinds of locally caught fish.
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Spaniard Bar & Restaurant
The food is good, but the real appeal of this old pub (it feels like it dates back to the Armada) lies in the quiet corners, where you can smell the peat fire and catch fragments of hushed conversations that could be about smuggling but are likely to be about sport.
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St Multose Church
This is one of Ireland's oldest Church of Ireland churches, built around 1190 by the Normans on the site of a 6th-century church. Not much of the interior is original but the exterior is preserved beautifully. The graveyard has some interesting large family tombs, and several victims of the Lusitania sinking are also buried there. Inside, a flat stone carved with a round-handed figure was traditionally rubbed by fishermen's wives to bring their husbands home safe from the sea.
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Wine Museum
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Kinsale Bookshop
Another excellent indie shop; has poetry readings.
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Kinsale Angling Co-op
For deep-sea fishing trips, contact Kinsale Angling Co-Op.
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An Seanachai
This cavernous, barnlike pub has traditional music sessions most nights.
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SuperValu
SuperValu has local produce and little luxuries.
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Quay Food Co
Quay Food Co has local produce and little luxuries.
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Kinsale Fringe Jazz Festival
Chilled-out entertainment over the late-October bank-holiday weekend.
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Roots Records
This useful music shop has absolutely everything from trad to reggae.
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Spinnakers Bar & Restaurant
A bright, jaunty pub on the water, serving local seafood, fish and steak.
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Whale of a Time
Whale of a Time offers weekend coastal cruises from around €20/€15 per adult/child.
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Bacchus
This nightclub has a breezy, youngish crowd at weekends, with live bands on Fridays.
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Farmers Market
There’s a weekly farmers market in front of Jim Edwards’ restaurant.
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Mickio & the Guy
Traditional toys and cool clobber keep kids happy and stylish at this classy emporium.
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Bookstór
An excellent indie bookshop; top-notch recommendations of the best modern Irish fiction.
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Gourmet Festival
Tastings, meals and harbour cruises in early October add to the town's foodie reputation.
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Mylie Murphy's
For those interested in fishing, tackle can be hired at Mylie Murphy’s for €10 per day.
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