A salt water lake, Lough Hyne (or Ine) contains rare sea life and is Ireland’s only Marine Wildlife Reserve. The nearby woods are popular amongst walkers for the spectacular view from the top of Knockomagh Hill. Lough Hyne was probably a freshwater lake until about four millennia ago, when rising sea levels flooded it with saline ocean water. The lake […]
Fota’s arboretum and gardens located next to Fota Wildlife Park are what they are today thanks to the Smith-Barry family who recognised the significance of Fota’s sheltered location and warm soil – “Fota” is derived from the Irish “Fód te” meaning warm soil – perfect for the growing and cultivation of rare trees and exotic plants. While Fota House was […]
Ireland has long been famous for both its story tellers and being an an ancient land, there are many great stories to be told. The medieval town of Kinsale with its stories of battles, pirates, lost love and sunken ships is our first ghost tour town. Brian O’Neill offers an exciting crazy Ghost Tour of fun and excitement for all during the […]
North of Cashel and at a slight detour is the beautifully restored Holy Cross Abbey which has been located here since the 13th century. The turbulent history of Ireland through the ages is reflected in the history of The Abbey. “That the Cross of Christ may not be emptied of its power” is the inscription on the renovated altar at […]
One of the gems of the Mizen Peninsula is Three Castle Head where there are Three Castles which are actually three Tower Houses with curtain walling. Built in the 15th Century on the site of a Bronze Age Promontory Fort, the Castles stand sentinel beside a cliff top lake. Access is restricted at the moment because of the unstable state […]
Please Note: Barryscourt Castle is closed for maintenance and engineering work 2015/2016. Barryscourt castle is the 16th century seat of the Barry family. The present castle, with its largely intact bawn wall and corner towers, is a fine example of an Irish tower house in which many defensive features such as a murder hole, crenulations, and stumble steps can be […]
Visit and Fall in Love Come and visit the Donkey Sanctuary in Liscarroll outside Mallow and fall in love with the beautiful donkeys that live there! You are invited to explore our walkways and picturesque surroundings while meeting donkeys and mules that were rescued and are now enjoying sanctuary. There is no admission fee and free parking but you […]
Trabolgan Holiday Village offers a huge choice of fun in-door & out-door activities for all the family. Situated on a picturesque 140-acre estate in beautiful East Cork, Trabolgan Holiday Village is well known for its magical surroundings and excellent facilities. Trabolgan has 172 Self Catering houses and Apartments and a Touring Caravan Park with 35 sites. Both most of all […]
Killarney National Park is a unique and special place. Situated in south-west Ireland, close to the most westerly point in Europe, the National Park covers over 25,000 acres (10,000 hectares) of mountain, moorland, woodland, waterways, parks and gardens. The mountainous old red sandstone uplands support large areas of blanket bog, and the remoteness and relative inaccessibility of some of these […]
Leahy’s Open Farm caters for the perfect family day out regardless of the weather. Facilities include indoor and outdoor play areas, a quad and barrel train, real JCB mini diggers, crazy golf, a large climbing frame, adventure trail and a big ‘drop’ slide. Children will have fun running through the large maze, pedalling indoor and outdoor go-karts and interacting with a […]
Lismore is one of the most historic towns in Ireland. The name Lismore comes from two words – Lis meaning Fort and Mor meaning big. It’s meaning is derived from the round hill or great Irish fort to the east of the town. Built on the banks of the Blackwater, the town has been a hub of Irish life since […]
One of our favourite Sunday afternoon activities is a long walk along Redbarn Strand (near Youghal in East Cork), followed by lunch or dinner in one of the towns seafood restaurants. Redbarn is a breath-taking wide open strand with miles of blue flag beach. At any time of the year, to walk along its length is a wonderful thing to do, […]
Welcome to Super Nova, Cork’s premier family entertainment centre. Located in Ballincollig, just 10 minutes drive from Cork City Centre, Super Nova offers a wealth and fun for children of all ages with indoor and outdoor options so you are never dependent on the weather. So whether you are celebrating a birthday or just trying to keep the children entertained […]
Cork Sea Safari, Cork City. Cork Harbour is one of the finest natural harbours in the world (In fact it is said to be the second largest natural harbour in the world after Sydney Harbour!). Islands and tranquil river estuaries, prisons, forts, pretty towns & scenic coves, beaches and bays as well as incredible marine and bird life makes Cork […]
‘Coosheen’, situated on the estuary of Cork harbour, houses a unique collection of plants which provide interest and colour from spring to late autumn. Of this remarkable plant collection, snowdrops, hellebores, dactylorhizas, agapanthus, and glorious late-season grasses, hedychiums and salvias are a speciality. Hester’s insatiable appetite for collecting plants makes this a must-see garden for the plant enthusiast. A series […]
Rock Close has the enchantment of a fairy glade and in prehistoric times may well have been a place of Druidic worship. Here you can find an ancient sacrificial altar, a Druid’s Circle, a hermit’s cave, a witch’s kitchen, and wishing steps. Rare varieties of trees abound in this magical place and you feel you can float across the rustic […]
The Heritage Centre is located in the award winning, beautifully restored Old Gasworks Building, in Skibbereen, one of West Cork’s most picturesque towns. The centre offers insights in to some fascinating aspects of our history and local geography. The Great Famine Commemoration Exhibition This commemorates the tragic period in the 1840s that is known in Irish History as the Great […]
About a mile south of Cahir town, on the bank of the River Suir, is a charming house known as The Swiss Cottage. This is a superb example of an early 19th century “cottage orne” or fantasy house popular with the gentry in the nineteenth century, where they could play at being peasants and entertain their guests. Built around 1810, the […]
Erected in the early 19th century, The Bealick Mill located just a short distance from Macroom on the River Larney in County Cork has recently been restored from dereliction and is now a fully functional mill, heritage centre and tourism attraction. The site of Bealick Mill is hugely important in the annals of Irish history. For the mill derives its […]
Nature, art, modern luxury and elegance come together in this beautiful 200-acre estate with its Georgian and Victorian country manor houses and its own lake near Skibbereen in West Cork. The magnificent gardens and woodlands at Liss Ard add to the uniqueness of the estate. Throughout, there are specially designed pathways and walkways that accentuate the guest’s appreciation of Irish […]
Welcome to Discovering Cork and thanks for considering Cork for your next short break or holiday. Whatever your reason for visiting we know you will not be disappointed and with Discovering Cork looking after everything, you can concentrate on enjoying your time here.
Discovering Cork is the Number 1 site for planning and booking holidays in Cork City & County. However, we can also assist with advice, planning and booking your holiday in many other parts of the country with a particularly strong focus on the entire South West.
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