Blarney Castle and Cobh October 13th

Today we followed our plan of revisting Blarney Castle and Cobh. We were here in 2002 and kissed the Blarney Stone so there was no need to do that again. We're still full of blarney from the last time we were here. Blarney Castle compound has changed quite a bit since then. Now the path is paved instead of all gravel. There are gardens and walking trails and rock displays that were inaccessible then as well as more areas of the Castle itself.

My memory of Cobh was also much different. Sixteen years has brought more stores, restaurants and people to this little seaside town on Fota Island.

Our drive to Blarney took us through Cork City. A most uncomfortable ride. So we decided to find a better route to Cobh and back to our B&B. The ride to Cobh was a little longer than we expected on very secondary and narrow roads, but we were able to take a 5 minute ride on a car ferry from Cobh across the Cork Harbor back to  Monkstown and on Ringaski at the end of the  day which saved us about 40 minute drive back through Cork. Hurrah!

Once again we visited the Heritage site here in Cobh to see what our ancestors endured on their journey to America. Sturdy stock these Irish.

Cobh was the last port of call for both the Lusatania and the Titanic and their full stories can be seen here in the exhibits and museums. It was was also the place where many "American Wakes" were held for the many Irish emigrants who sailed to America and never returned to their Homeland. My paternal grandparents being two of them with their two children at the time made that voyage in 1898.

It rained all day today but as we were reminded by one of our hosts, "There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing."
And we had the right clothing.