Glengarriff, Garnish Island, Cobh and KillarneyCastle

Garish Island Staircase

    Today was the last full day of the tour. Early start again as we travelled 40 miles to Glengarriff for a short boat ride to Garish Island. The seals with the pups provided some

excitement on the 15 minute ride. The island has been planted with gardens with plants from various parts of the world. When we landed it reminded me of an old T.V. Series. It was created about 70 years ago and was bequeathed to the Irish people in 1953. We walked the grounds for about an hour, then back to town for the last of our Pub lunches. 

   Back on the bus and the 2 hour ride to Cork and on to the port of Cobn. This harbour is the second largest in the world after Sydney Australia and was the place

Pub Lunch Again!

of embarkation for many of the Irish that were “deported” by the landlords during the potato famine in the 19^th century. Prisoners were also sent to Australia from here. 2 million adults and children emigrated from Ireland. 2.5 million left from Cobh. We went to the old train station which has been converted into a museum about the migration. 2 famous ships were highlighted. The first was the Titanic. Cobh was the last port of call with 123 passengers boarding here. 7 got off

Train Station Museum

including the photographer than took most of the pictures that you see today. The second ship associated with the port is the Lusitania which was torpedoed just off the coast in 1915.

Irish Immigration Memorial Cobh

      We arrived at the hotel in Cork around 4:30. There was enough time to go to Blarney Castle. It was not apart of the tour but we decided to visit when we had a change rather than take a tour from the ship. It was probably a wise decision because by late afternoon all the tours have gone 

Blarney Castle

and very few people were at the Castle. We did not have to wait or hurry along at all. We both kissed the Blarney Stone which is one of those things you 'must do' if you are in Ireland. The 6 of us had a good time and were back at the hotel in time for the dinner at 7. That ended another long day!