But, here we go!
Cobh and back to Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland
After waking up late and enjoying Irish Oatmeal with Baileys Irish Cream (oh, my!) for breakfast, we stopped into the Kinsale Museum. Highlights of the museum were the earnest young volunteer who was chock full o' facts and the museum's extensive collection of artifacts from RMS Lusitania. Photographs were not allowed, alas. You'll have to go and visit the Museum yourself! See the giant skull and antler spread of an extinct Giant Deer! Learn facts about the rich maritime history of Kinsale! See artifacts from the Battle of Kinsale (1601)!
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| Breakfast at the Cloisters (photo by Trish) |
After the museum, we hopped into the little car and headed up and around to Cobh (pronounced "cove"). Our first stop in the area was to Midleton, where the ONE and ONLY Jameson whiskey distillary is located. A whiskey distillery tour! A highlight of the whole trip! We enjoyed a guided tour of the old distillery and learned about the magic behind that smooth taste (including triple-distilling, copper-pot distilling, and the delicate balance of malted and un-malted barley).
They still distill Jameson there in Midleton, but in the last few years they built a brand new facility, replacing the one we toured. But every drop of Jameson is distilled right there and nowhere else!
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| A copper distilling pot |
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| They tested proof by lighting gunpowder to it! |
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| Our guide Sinéad discussing the different ages of whiskey |
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| photo by Trish |
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| Photo by Trish |
They promised a glass of Jameson after the tour to all attendees. At the end of the tour the guide asked for volunteers for a special tasting. They asked for 4 women and 4 men. My hand shot up, and Annette's was soon after.
We were poured a taste of Jameson, Jack Daniels, and a Scotch whiskey. Which was best? Can you guess? Jameson, of course! Super smooth and delicious! The best moment was when all the men in the group took their tastes and coughed that "I just had a shot of whiskey" cough, while Annette and I tipped ours back and smacked our whiskey lips.
We still got our glass of Jameson, poured how we liked. Many of the attendees liked it with ginger ale or Coke. Annette liked hers with cranberry juice. But Shoe? Make hers neat, please. YUM!
We got a little tipsy, but that was part of the fun.
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| Photo by Trish |
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| Certified tasters! (Photo by Trish) |
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| "Jameson and cranberry" became the rally cry for the rest of the trip. (Photo by Trish) |
After an Italian lunch, we headed to Cobh proper and toured a couple more museums. Cobh was the launching point for many immigrants to the US, especially during the potato famine. As Trish was interested in finding her roots, it was an important place to visit. Besides immigration information, the musuems housed artifacts from both the Lusitania and the Titanic, both of which stopped in Cobh before sinking.
Below is a statue of Annie Moore and her brothers. According to Wikipedia, "Annie Moore was the first person to be admitted to the United States of America through the new immigration centre at Ellis Island, New York on 1 January 1892." Brave Annie!
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| Public art in Cobh. |
At the end of the day, we enjoyed a wonderful meal at Fishy Fishy Cafe and a pint and trad music at a pub before hitting the hay.
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| Waiting for fish at the Fishy Fishy! |
Enjoy 30 seconds of traditional Irish music (no video, just sound):
Another great day in Ireland! Next up: the Dingle Peninsula!
2 comments:
I love it! I am still wishing I had gone with you!
I love Jameson's, Ireland, and your posts!
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