Kinsale:Overated tourist trap?
 

I am considering on exploring the west cork area in mid september.Has anyone been to Cobh,Youghal or the small towns on the coast.Would you recommend making a reservation before I go or will I be able to find a B&B when I get there.?Thank you for your help.

hi jeremy: <BR>i visted cobh(cove) last may and kinsale. i found cobh interesting because of the immigration history. i don't think i would spend more than fours hours there. kinsale is it overrated? possible,it's leaning that way. it has a kind of neat medieval flavor to it. good food. i'd stay a day and one night. what i would do next i go to ireland i would find a very small town to homebase and day trip from there. i would stay a min. of 2-4 days. a place i would like to spend more time at is the aran islands. i think i'll spend four days next time, just for the relaxation. and to experince a good storm. i hope this helps if i can answer any questions please feel free to email. <BR>doug

Jeremy, My info is dated, we were last in Ireland in September of 1990. We certainly didn't find Kinsale to be a tourist trap, in fact it was recommended by many of the Irish we met (we were in Ireland for my daughter's wedding to an Irish lad). We had no problem finding B&B's wherever we went, and we were on bikes so we couldn't afford to be casual about finding lodging. We never had a problem, even on the Aran Island of Inishmore. <BR>

We visited Kinsale last year and stayed in a B&B best part of our Ireland vist. You do need reservations this time of year. <BR>Would visit Kinsale again in a minute! <BR> <BR>Everyone kept telling us to visit Cobh we went back this year and visited and were greatly disappointed. I would not make a special visit to Cobh, if it's on your way stop, but not a destination point. Have a great trip!

Dear Jeremy: My sister and I spent a night in Kinsale two years ago and found it all right--not great, but all right. From there we drove on to Ken- mare which we found to be a real jewel. Delightful people, a comfortable B&B with a knowledgeable land- lady, a NUMBER of very fine restaurants, and lots of interesting environs to drive to (the Killarney National Park was nearby, as was Windy Gap (great shopping), Killarney itself, and the Dingle Peninsula. Given a chance to visit again I think we would head right to Kenmare and use it as our base. Good trip! Joan

<BR>Went to Kinsale with my daughter and husband 5 years ago. We all loved the entertainment in the pubs - mostly locals get up and perform, even the bar maids. The food was the best we've had in Ireland.

We were there in Oct.'97. It is a bit touristy, but liked it very much. Good B&B is Crossways. Has an excellent location and very nice.(Tel.021-772460). Have a drink at the Dock & sit outside near the water in the pm. Can also walk on the beach near there. Check out Kinsale crystal, a small store in town where you can see them working. Hope you have as good a time as we did.