Things to do in Western Cork
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Lisnagun
Of the more than 30,000 ring forts scattered across Ireland, Lisnagun is the only one that’s been reconstructed on its original site. Complete with souterrain and central thatched hut, it gives a vivid impression of life in a 10th-century farmstead. To get there, take the turn signposted to Bay View House B&B at the roundabout at the end of Strand Rd. Follow the road uphill to the T-junction, turn right, then continue for about 800m before turning right again (signposted).
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Atlantic Sea Kayaking
You can splash round the coast with Atlantic Sea Kayaking, which offers many tours and classes.
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Ceim Hill Museum
Delightful Theresa O’Mahoney runs the Ceim Hill Museum from her farmhouse off Castletownshend Rd. The small collection of Iron Age bits in the ‘Independence’ room are worth a glance if you’re passing.
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Hayes Bar
The food – and the decor – at this perfect portside pub will put you in the pink. Soups, tapas, sandwiches and more are best enjoyed at the picnic tables outside.
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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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Casey's of Baltimore
At Casey's your food comes with fantastic views, whether you call in for breakfast, sandwiches or a tasty dinner. Seafood includes mussels fresh from the hotel's own shellfish farm in Roaringwater Bay, and the hotel specialty, crab claws in garlic butter.
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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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La Jolie Brise
Part of the Youen Jacob empire that also owns the Waterfront next door, this casual restaurant does excellent food. Enjoy meals (delicious thin-crust pizza and fish and chips) at the plethora of picnic tables on the square in front of the Waterfront guesthouse.
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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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Glandore Inn
A seamen’s haunt, with plenty of picnic tables.
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Baltimore Sailing School
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Baltimore Sea Safari
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Baltimore Yacht Charters
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Farmers Market
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Farmers Market
There’s a farmers market every Saturday on Old Market Sq.
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Gougane Barra
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Wine Museum
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