Page 183 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Ireland

C ORK AND KERR Y  181

Environs h River Blackwater
Some beautiful countryside Road Map B5. Co Cork. £ to Mallow.
surrounds the city of Cork, @ to Fermoy, Mallow or Kanturk.
especially along the lush valley
of the River Lee (see p175). The second-longest river in
The landscape of East Cork is Ireland after the Shannon (see
much gentler than the wild, p189), the Blackwater rises in
rocky coastline of West Cork high bogland in County Kerry.
and County Kerry, and the land It then flows eastwards through
is much more fertile. Many County Cork until it reaches
local attractions make good day Cappoquin, County Waterford,
trips and there are also plenty where it changes course south
of opportunities for outdoor through wooded sandstone
activities such as walking, gorges to the sea at Youghal
riding and fishing. (see p183). Much of the valley
is wooded, a reminder that the
+ Blackrock Castle entire area was forested until
Observatory the 17th century. The river
Blackrock. Tel 021 435 7917. passes some magnificent
Open 10am–5pm daily. Closed 1 Jan country houses and pastoral
& 24–26 Dec. & 8 7 0 = The 15th-century tower house of views. However, the region is
∑ bco.ie Barryscourt Castle best known for its fishing – the
On the banks of the River Lee, Blackwater’s tributaries are filled
1.5 km (1 mile) downstream alterations. It is roughly with fine brown trout.
from the city centre, stands rectangular with a four-storey The best way to see the
Blackrock Castle. Built in 1582 tower house occupying the valley is to take the scenic
by Lord Mountjoy as a harbour southwest corner. What makes Blackwater Valley Drive from
fortification, the castle was Barryscourt stand out from most Youghal to Mallow. The route
destroyed by fire in 1827 and other tower-house complexes passes through Fermoy, a town
rebuilt in 1829. Welcoming is the 50-m- (164-ft-) long hall, founded by Scottish merchant
schools and groups, it houses which occupies the western John Anderson in 1789. Angling
an exhibition on the cosmos. section of the castle. Both the is the town’s main appeal,
Further south at Carrigtwohill, Great Hall and the Main Hall are especially for roach, rudd, perch
near Fota Wildlife Park (see open to the public and the keep and pike. Further west is Mallow,
pp182–3), is Barryscourt Castle. houses an exhibition on the arts a prosperous town noted for
in Ireland from 1100 to 1600. its fishing, golf and horse racing,
The orchard has also been and a good base for tours of
restored to an original 16th- the area. Detours along the
century design and has a herb tributaries include Kanturk,
garden by the castle walls. a pleasant market town with a
castle, on the River Allow.
+ Desmond Castle
Kinsale. Tel 021 477 4855. Open Easter–
mid-Sep: 10am–6pm daily (last adm:
5pm). & 8 ∑ heritageireland.ie
Situated some 16 km (10 miles)
south of Cork City, Desmond
Castle was built by Maurice
Bacach Fitzgerald, the ninth Earl
Blackrock Castle standing on the banks of of Desmond, in around 1500.
the River Lee A good example of an urban
tower house, the castle consists
P Barryscourt Castle of a keep with storehouses to
Carrigtwohill, Co Cork. Tel 021 488 the rear. It has spent time as
2218. Open Jun–Sep: 10am–6pm an ordnance store, workhouse,
daily. 8 obligatory. - customs house and prison.
∑ heritageireland.ie In 1938 it was declared a
This castle was the 16th-century national monument.
seat of the Barry family. The The castle also houses the
building has been restored International Museum of
and has period fittings and Wine, which tells the story of
furniture. It is a fine example wine in Ireland and has wine-
of a 15th-century tower house related artifacts and antique Weirs and bridge at Fermoy on the
with 16th-century additions and wine bottles. River Blackwater

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