Visitors Guide to the Best of the South of Ireland

Almost all organised tours of Ireland include Killarney, the Ring of Kerry and Dingle in their itinerary, and rightly so as it is very well worth visiting. However although Kerry is very well equipped to cater for the hundreds of thousands of tourists who flock there, its popularity does mean it can be very crowded at times.

Lakes of Killarney: mozzercorkThe more southerly Baera Peninsula is far less crowded and to my mind an even more dramatic and scenic drive than the better known ones. Inaccessible to tour coaches, its narrow roads are uncrowded even at the height of the season. It also makes a perfect 'long way round' for those travelling on from Kerry to Cork.

West Cork, with its rugged coastline and beautiful countryside is a deservedly popular holiday location for the 'beautiful people' not just of Ireland but of Europe too. Villages like Baltimore, Goleen, Barley Cove, Crookhaven and Ballydehob are not just charming seaside places but packed with interesting craft and art shops.

West Cork is another area which tour coaches avoid, so you won't be stuck behind a line of them here.

The East Cork region has a more subtle beauty and historic sites abound - there is a lot to see there. Cobh, Youghal and Kinsale are all pretty towns with lots of restaurants, pubs and a good choice of accommodation and make good stop over towns. This area is very popular with sailors, there are several yacht clubs and marinas especially in the eastern part.

The often overlooked inland areas of North and East Cork include some of the richest and most fertile farmland in the country, the many castles and great houses in the area are testimony to its historic importance as a food producing region. This heritage continues and the area is home to some of the best small independent food producers in the country.

You will eat well around these parts!

Recommended Things to See & Do

Barryscourt Castle
Barryscourt is a typical 15th century tower house, a small 'domestic' scale castle which was for centuries home to the Norman De Barry family. There is evidence that this site has been occupied for as long as 1000 years,...

Claybird
Claybird is located on a private estate overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and surrounded by beautiful scenery. They can cater for everyone from complete beginners, to clay pigeon enthusiasts and those...

Charles Fort
Built in 1680 during the reign of King Charles II, this fort remained a British army base until Irish Independence in 1921. A huge fort, with walls up to 6m thick and five defensive bastions around its perimeter, it was built...

Desmond Castle
A typical urban tower house, Desmond Castle has had a varied, if not always illustrious, history since it was built around 1500 by Maurice Fitzgerald, the 8th Earl of Desmond. Originally built as a custom house, collecting taxes...

Ballymaloe
One for the cooks as well as the gardeners, this garden provides much of the fresh produce served daily in the famed Ballymaloe House Restaurant. This is not just one garden, but a series of very different ones, each with...

Fota Arboretum
A must for tree lovers, this garden situated on Fota Island on the coast close to Cork city, is home to one of the most important collections of trees and shrubs in the British Isles. Many would not grow elsewhere in Ireland,...

Garnish Island
A remarkable place on a 37 acre island reachable only by boat from the nearby village of Glengarrif. The gardens were created in the 1920's and are the joint work of Anna Bryce, then owner of the island and Harold Peto,...

Lakemount Gardens
A domestic garden, though on a large scale, close to Cork city and mainly the creation of Brian Cross, who has hit on the magical formula which provides something of interest all year round and has a knack for colour which is...

Ballybunion Golf Club
One of the best known links courses in the world, this is a must for many golfers visiting Ireland. The new Cashen Course is very good, but the Old Course is the real McCoy, a tough challenging classic links course. Not for...

Bantry Bay Golf Club
Stunningly located on a cliff-top overlooking Bantry Bay, this course will test not just your golf but your fitness! The walk is bracing and the course is known for its many tricky blind shots. The original nine holes were designed by...

Dingle Golf Club
Also known as Ceann Sibéal, this course is often unjustly overlooked in favour of better known courses in the area. It's a shame because this is a terrific course, preserving and incorporating the natural...

Fota Island Golf Club
A very well maintained parkland course in a lovely setting providing a good standard of golf - the Irish Open was held here in 2000 and 2001.   Designed by a killer team comprising Peter McEvoy, Christy...

Ring of Kerry Golf Club
Less well known than other Kerry courses, this is an exceptionally well kept course in majestic surroundings. Designed by Eddie Hackett, who is better known for his links courses but proves his versatility here, the course...

Water Rock Golf Course
Not a club but a pay-as-you-go course, though with excellent facilities and a very well kept and interesting course. The course was designed by Patrick Merrigan who is also responsible for the courses at the Slieve Russell and...

Waterville Golf Course
Golf has been played here since 1889 and the links course still offers a real challenge to golfers of all levels today. A stunning location and a course with plentiful sand dunes, native grass roughs, firm fairways and challanging...

Dingle Horseriding
With everything from easy one hour treks for beginners to five day challanging trail rides on superb horses, there is no reason for anyone to miss out on the wonderful experience of riding on the Dingle peninsula. Trail rides...

Fota Wildlife Park
Fota is unique among Irish zoos in the way the animals are managed. The animals chosen for the park are ones who can withstand the vagaries of Irish weather, and are kept in semi-natural surroundings, as close as possible to...

Events Guide for the South

The Shindig Festival 2009
Type: Festival | Date: Jan 23rd - 25th
The 'Shindig' is a fun and action packed weekend long festival which takes place in Tralee in Co Kerry, in 2009 centered around the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on the outskirts...

West Cork Motor Rally 2009
Type: Sport | Date: March 2009
Image by mozzercorkThe sleepy roads of West Cork will come alive to the roar of engines as the 31th annual West Cork Motor Rally gets into gear (ouch!) on St Patrick's Weekend...

The Kerry Pageant Festival 2009
Type: Festival | Date: March 15th - 17th
Image by JaqianFor three days Tralee will be the centre of activitiy in Co Kerry with a the Kerry Pageant Festival bringing entertainment to the streets and hostelries of the...

Féile Átha dá Chab
Type: Arts Festival | Date: April 2009
Held annually in the beautiful West Cork town of Ballydehob, this traditional festival encompasses music, song, dance and storytelling and is a particularly friendly and sociable...

Easter Arts & Bumble Bee Festival
Type: Festival | Date: April 2009
No details are yet available about this fesitval for 2009, but the theme of the  in 2008 festival was 'Stars' and there was a wide ranging celebration of all things...

Listowel Writer's Week
Type: Literary Events | Date: May 2009
Listowel is Ireland's longest established literary event, this is its 38th year and its popularity continues to be a testiment to the excellence of the programme of events...

Rally of the Lakes
Type: Sport | Date: May 2009
The Rally of the Lakes which takes place annually in Killarney on the first weekend of May is one of Ireland's largest rallying events and always attracts a large and prestigious...

Cork International Choral Festival 2009
Type: Music: Classical | Date: May 2009
Since its inception in 1954 the Cork Choral Festival has grown to become one of the most important events in the amateur International Choral calendar with choirs travelling from...

Cork Midsummer Festival
Type: Festival | Date: June 15th - July 5th
Encompassing theatre, dance, music of many varieties, visual arts and even circus, this is truly a festival with something for everyone. The 2008 Cork Midsummer Festival gets...

Sneem Family Fun Festival
Type: Festival | Date: 23rd - 27th July
It's honestly hard to know where to begin with this one, so much is going on in the Kerry village of Sneem over the weekend, certainly there is something here for every...

Art in Schull 2007
Type: Visual Arts | Date: July 10th - 13th
West Cork has long been something of a mecca for artists and craftpeople and this week long event gives visitors an opportunity to see the work of many of them in the lovely town...

Kinsale Arts Week
Type: Arts Festival | Date: 12th - 20th July
 The programme at Kinsale features local, national and international work including visual art, theatre, music, literature, film, dance, architecture, and family entertainment....

St. Barranane's Festival of Music
Type: Music: Classical | Date: 24th July - 21st Aug
A mix of mostly classical but some traditional music performed in a series of concerts in the unique surroundings of this lovely church dating from 1826. Located in Castletownshend...

West Cork Literary Festival
Type: Literary Events | Date: July 2008
 2008 is the 10th anniversary of this festival and the occasion will be marked with a series of new events and the addition of an extra day.  Events get underway with...

West Cork Chamber Music Festival
Type: Music: Classical | Date: June 28th - July 6th
The programme ranges from popular classics to little known pieces performed by an international list of musicians. Concerts are mostly held in Bantry House, with a massive programme...

Puck Fair
Type: Festival | Date: 10th - 12th August
Each August during one of Europes oldest fairs, Puck Fair in Kilorglin Co Kerry, a wild mountain goat is crowned King and elevated to a high perch where he overlooks three days...

Ahakista Regatta
Type: Sport | Date: 1st - 4th August
A very friendly local regatta in this lovely West Cork village, this is one of those friendly small scale events that it is a pleasure to drop in on when you are on vacation....

Calves Week 2008
Type: Sport | Date: August 1st- 10th
Named as a tongue in cheek reference to the famous yachting event Cowes Week, this is a not to be missed event for lovers of sailing and enjoyable even for those with only a passing...

Dan Paddy Andy Festival
Type: Festival | Date: August 2008
Lyreacrompane (say: Lye-rah-crum-pawn) is a beautiful area located between Listowel and Kenmare in Co Kerry, in the foothills of the Stack Mountains. It isn't a...

Clonakilty International Guitar Festival
Type: Music: Other | Date: Sept 18th - 21st
The organisers of this festival set themselves a brief of bringing to Clonakilty some of the greatest guitarists in Ireland and, indeed, the world. It's a tall order, but...

Dingle Film Festival
Type: Film | Date: 11th - 14th Sept
Dingle is a marvellous place to visit at any time, but for movie buffs the best time to go is in September. The Film Festival combines screenings and related events with hotly...

Cape Clear International Story Telling Festival
Type: Festival | Date: 5th - 7th Sept
The art of storytelling is celebrated during this festival on beautiful Cape Clear Island off the coast of Co Cork with formal and informal storytelling sessions, workshops, musical...

Patrick O'Keeffe Traditional Music Festival
Type: Music: Traditional | Date: Oct 24th-27th
Taking place since 1993 this weekend of tradtional music, poetry, singing and set dancing is held in Castleisland in Co Kerry, in honour of local man Patrick O'Keefe, a celebrated...

Kinsale Jazz Festival
Type: Festival | Date: 24th - 27th Oct
Running as a fringe festival to its larger cousin the Cork Jazz Festival, this lively weekend will see Kinsale buzzing, with numerous live jazz and blues events packing in the...

Kinsale International Gourmet Festival
Type: Festival | Date: 10th - 12th Oct
For lovers of good food there is never a bad time to visit Kinsale, but this October weekend has to be one of the best times to be there. It's a packed programme of foodie...

Listowel Food Fair 2008
Type: Festival | Date: Nov 6th - 9th
Food lovers from around the country converge on Listowel in Novemer for a celebration of local food, held in an area where some of the most excellent and interesting small food...

Youghal Maritime Festival
Type: Sport | Date: June 2008
 This festival is not taking place in 2008. Youghal (pronounced 'Yawl') is a mecca for sailing folk at any time of year, but especially during this ever popular festival....

Getting There & Getting Around

By Road

For detailed road directions from anywhere else in Ireland to the South please use the AA Ireland Route Planner.

By Air & Sea

Kerry Airport has regular flights from Dublin, London, Manchester and Frankfurt. To the north Shannon Airport, has regular flights from Europe and the USA. To the east, Cork International Airport has an increasing number of flights from Europe, especially the UK. 

There are direct ferries from Swansea in Wales and Roscoff in France to Cork City.

By Train & Bus

There are regular Irish Rail trains from Dublin to Cork, Killarney and Tralee which also stop at several of the larger towns. Bus Eireann has local routes within the region and regular scheduled services from all parts of Ireland.

Getting Around

All of the towns are relatively small and easy to tour on foot but realistically for touring the South West, it is best to rent a car and drive.