roemin around

It rained over night and was a generally wet day. Left friendly Sextons site and t ravelled to  Bantry Bay via the Wild Atlantic route in far south West of Ireland. Stopped for provisions at Dunnes and diesel (145euro btw) in Clonakilty and diverted down a few interesting looking side roads. Kilcoe  Castle was a weird rebuilt ruin finished bright orange mortar. Lunch on river estuary by disused viaduct at start of Mizen peninsula, coffee break at Glengariff where we stopping the night. Just us and a young French family with a tent from previous site. Scenery is getting more  spectacular now.

We left Blarney and took the West Cork coast drive to Kinsale, an attractive fishing village and gourmet food destination. We had a very nice fishy lunch in the recommended Fishy Fishy restaurant. Rosemary had her favourite (posh) fish and chips. I had grilled salmon with tempora vegetables and we shared a bowl of chowder. Took a few photos of the harbour in the sunshine and drove down the Old Head of Kinsale where the Lusitania was sunk by the Germans in 1915. Drove on along the picturesque coast road for a while and stopped for the night near Conalkilty. Just a sandwich for supper ;-)

Not a cloud in the sky when we awoke. It did not last but at least it stayed dry for a visit to Blarney Castle and then to Cork city. We did not go in the castle as it was full of Americans from a cruise ship queuing to kiss the famous stone (not that they need it). The grounds were nice, the poison garden is a bit different as it is full of poisonous plants. We took the 30 min bus journey to Cork from Blarney village and then shopped in the historic English Market - nice tuna steaks for dinner. Cork's mostly pedestrianised centre is quite pleasant to wander around and the catholic cathedral impressive.

There was only us and very attentive owners on the small site in Fermoy. It's very quiet and we took the M8 toll to Cobh, in a green and yellow (with gorse) scenic drive.  Parked on the Titanic/cruise terminal  quay to take a stroll and find a pub for Sunday lunch. Drove on thru Cork to stay near Blarney castle for a night or two to revisit Cork by bus. Pleasantly sunny and warm day but some thunder later.

Stayed on small site just outside Kilkenny for two nights. Walked to castle via canal path (4m round trip) and to old town on Friday. Coffee and bit of shopping. Sat out in the sun on site till evening. Giant prawns and rice from Aldi for supper.

Rain swept in overnight and continued all the way to Fermoy where we are now overnighting on a site near River Blackwater. Used the M9 motorway, hardly any traffic.  Rosemary got all excited when we spotted an M&S enroute - had coffee and muffins. It's still pxssing down here but hopefully will be better tomorrow when we move to Cork or Killarney.

Set off for tour of a few sites on nice sunny day. 1. Saving Private Ryan beach, film setting, near Wexford  2. Enniscorthy the site of republican uprisings and massacres and an interesting castle tour. 3 The Dunbrody Experience, a guided tour of a replica wooden sailing ship that took emigrants to USA during the famine years. Also near Kennedy's ancestors home - so lots of American tourists. Staying in Kilkenny for a couple of nights now.