Catch a Glimpse of Ireland's Sea Giants: Embark on a Whale Watching Adventure with 'Pints and Stories' Inaugural Issue
From historical massacres to hidden towers, sea giants and how to get the most out of your Irish holiday.
Hi there,
It's great to have you with us for this first edition of “Pints and Stories” travel tips.
The travel section of this blog/newsletter service is new. Here, you'll get powerful travel tips that save you money and time with research.
This is what you can expect today:
From Kerry to Clare in 20 minutes — a unique adventure in the Shannon Estuary
See plenty of Ireland — completely relaxed and without stress
Extravagant towers in the middle of the forest
A gruesome massacre from the year 1798
Where Ireland's giants can be seen
Serenity to go — Irish proverbs for more mindfulness
Digital update — these articles went viral this week
Travel tip of the week
Getting straight from County Kerry to Clare is difficult.
A good stretch of water prevents the transition from county to county. Ireland's mightiest river, the Shannon, flows into the sea at Limerick. Over the years, it has eroded an arm of the sea deep into the land.
So, if you want to get from Kerry to Clare, you must take the detour through Limerick. This is not ideal. So, what is the solution?
The ferry from Tarbert to Killimer.
Source: JoachimKohlerBremen, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
The ferry takes you and your vehicle quickly and safely to the other shore. The picturesque crossing takes around 20 minutes. The ferry runs several times daily and costs 25 Bucks for a car. You can book your ticket online and receive a 10% discount.
If the weather is nice, you can take a picture of the Shannon Estuary's surroundings on the upper deck. The small store offers refreshments, and of course, there are also toilets.
All in all, a little extra adventure will save you a good 90 minutes of driving.
How can you see as much of Ireland as possible without feeling rushed?
First-timers to Ireland, in particular, take on too much. If you want to see the whole of this small island in five days, you will do one thing above all. Spend a lot of time in the car.
The result: you can take a quick photo and stop at the most important sights.
Here are some tips on how you can see a relatively large amount of Ireland in a short time:
First, a general planning tip: book a vacation around the holidays. This way, you can easily extend your vacation and maximize your free time. You'll also save vacation days for your next trip to Ireland. The same applies to weekends.
A long weekend is ideal for a short trip to Dublin. For example, you could explore Dublin over three or four days and skip the capital for your big Ireland road trip.
Consider traveling in the low season. Not only will you save a lot of money, but you'll cleverly avoid the crowds. It's much more fun to explore Ireland in quieter times. Without feeling rushed by the crowds, you can see more. Disadvantage: In the low season, many sights and accommodations may be closed. The best time to travel is after Easter until the end of June and September until mid-October. Then, the curbs are raised, getting wet, windy, and dark.
Plan your itinerary efficiently. Create an extremely detailed travel plan. Meticulously. Pack in as many sights as possible, do without a road map, and trust that you can speed through everywhere at 100 km/h. Don't. You'll throw this plan in the bin after the first day at the latest. Relax, brother (or sister). Everything moves a little slower on the island.
My motto is to plan up to two sights in one day — things you want to see. Better, plan only one top attraction. Enjoy this. The rest will take care of itself.
Plan a little, enjoy a lot, and just let what comes to you.
Sight of the week - Ballysaggartmore Towers
These two extravagant entrance towers in the green idyll of Lismore are genuine architectural curiosities that will make your heart beat faster.
These magnificent gems were built around 1834 by Arthur Keily-Ussher, a wealthy landowner with a penchant for grand visions and a fair amount of detachment from reality.
Photo-raven, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Good Arthur wanted to show off his wealth, so he built these two gate castles as a prelude to a mega seat of power with a massive castle. Unfortunately, it is said that he ran out of gold during the construction of the overly ostentatious entrances. In any case, there is no trace of the magnificent building itself.
Today, the two towers stand in the middle of the forest like two quirky grannies, waving cheerfully at every visitor. An easy walking trail and picnic areas invite you to admire their whimsical splendor up close. You might also want to murmur a little prayer of sighs for the bankrupt builder — the man had good taste but maybe a screw loose.
The Gibbet Rath Massacre
In May 1798, the United Irishmen led a rebellion against British rule in Ireland. In County Kildare, many rebels surrendered on May 28th after General Dundas promised an amnesty. Three days later, another large group gathered at Gibbet Rath in the Curragh to surrender.
But instead of General Dundas, the ruthless English general Sir James Duff arrived with his army. Although the 1,000 to 2,000 rebels knelt and laid down their arms on Duff's orders, he ordered his troops to open fire. Over 350 Irish freedom fighters were murdered in this horrific massacre.
Duff denied any intention and claimed that a rebel had fired. However, eyewitnesses reported that murder was the “favorite pastime” of the English militia.
The Gibbet Rath Massacre went down in history as one of the worst massacres during the Irish Rebellion of 1798.
Where to go whale watching
There are many places in Ireland where you can see different types of whales.
In fact, Ireland is one of the best whale-watching destinations in Europe. Depending on the time of year, you can see minke whales, fin whales, humpback whales, and porpoises, to name a few.
Long-finned pilot whales and orcas are less common. Since 1991, Irish territorial waters have been designated as a Whale and Dolphin Sanctuary.
Here is a small table showing when which whales are in Irish waters:
March to May - Risso's dolphins
March to November - Minke Whales
April to July - Basking sharks
July to August - Atlantic sunfish
August to December - Common Dolphins
September to December - Fin Whales
November to January - Humpback Whales
So. Where to go whale watching.
The more adventurous take part in whale watching by boat. West Cork is well known for this. Specifically, Dursey Island, Sheep's Head, Mizen Head, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore Beacon, Toe Head, Galley Head, Seven Heads and Old Head of Kinsale.
The most popular operators are
Cork Whale Watch at Reen Pier near Union Hall with Colin Barnes.
West Cork Whale Watch with Nic Slocum from Baltimore Pier
Atlantic Whale Watch Tours from Courtmacsherry
The tour lasts about four hours, giving you plenty of time to see one or two marine mammals. Sunset tours are a memorable experience in the summer.
Of course, you can also watch whales in other parts of Ireland.
Donegal offers whale-watching opportunities with sightings of minke whales, dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, porpoises, and basking sharks. The Inishowen Boating Experience departs from Bunagee Pier in Culdaff. Boat trips are offered to explore the waters.
Loop Head is the best place to see bottlenose dolphins and offers excellent dolphin-watching opportunities. DolphinWatch in Carrigaholt, Clare, offers guided tours to see these playful creatures in their natural habitat.
Dingle Dolphin Boat Tours - offers competitively priced dolphin and whale watching tours along the Wild Atlantic Way, allowing visitors to get up close and personal with marine life such as dolphins and whales.
Blasket Islands Eco Marine Tours is based in West Kerry and offers morning cruises around the Blasket Islands and Dingle Bay.
Whale watching is available in Northern Ireland, particularly along the Causeway Coast. Companies such as Abhainn Cruises and Causeway Boats offer dolphin and whale-watching tours in Northern Ireland, allowing visitors to see these magnificent sea creatures in their natural habitat.
If you don't want to go on a boat and would rather watch the whales from the shore, this is also possible, ideally with binoculars. An ideal headland has good weather conditions, light winds, and calm seas.
Galley Head in West Cork, Ram Head in Waterford, and Loop Head in County Clare are cited as great places for land-based whale watching in Ireland.
These locations offer the opportunity to see whales, dolphins, and porpoises from the shore, especially at certain times of the year when certain species, such as fin whales or bottlenose dolphins, are particularly active in the area.
Lady Catherine to set sail from West Cork
As mentioned, a famous whale-watching tour departs from Courtmacsherry in West Cork. Now, with a brand-new boat! Meet the Lady Catherine.
On March 23rd, Atlantic Whale & Wildlife Tours unveiled the boat. Up to 41 people can go whale-watching off the coast of West Cork on the Lady Catherine.
One of the speakers, local politician Christopher O'Sullivan, has worked as a guide for years and not only explained why West Cork is so brilliant for whale watching.
He also had a story about an encounter with a leatherback turtle.
But hear for yourself:
Book-Tip: Proverbs in Irish
Step into the world of wisdom and wit with 'Proverbs in Irish'! Delve into the heart of Irish culture as you explore a treasure trove of age-old adages and timeless truths. From humorous quips to profound insights, each proverb offers a glimpse into the rich tapestry of Ireland's past.
Whether you're seeking nostalgia or a dose of folk wisdom, this book promises to captivate and enlighten you. With a collection spanning Irish folklore, literature, and beyond, prepare to be inspired by the wisdom of generations past. Discover the essence of Ireland through its proverbs and embark on a journey through time and tradition.
News from the Irish Digital World
Impressions from the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Clonakilty, West Cork
The smallest house in County Cork on the market for a measly €170,000
THIS is what you get when you order two pints in Temple Bar in Dublin ;-)
St. Canice's Cathedral and Round Tower in Kilkenny
5 family-friendly walks in Northern Ireland - including "Silent Valley
That's it for the first issue of Travel Planning Tips for Ireland. What do you think of this new format? Do you have any questions, requests, or suggestions for improvement? Please let me know in the comments below.
See you next week!
Regards, Reto