The final leg of our Ireland adventure brought us from our idillic “home” in Killarney National Park to Kinsale, with a stop along the way in Bantry. With one night in Kinsale, then one final night in Kilkenny en route to the airport, we were finally winding down to our last few days, and we definitely made the most of them.
Scot was really excited to explore his roots in the beautiful seaside town of Bantry. We followed the history trail through town, and stopped into the visitor’s center, where he was able to pick up literature that would help him continue digging deeper into his family’s history there after we left.
Our next stop, Kinsale, is known for great shopping, and some of the best seafood in Ireland. We spent a beautiful afternoon there enjoying the ocean views, and of course…a few pints.
Historic Charles Fort stands proudly along the water in Kinsale. Built in 1678, it continued in military use until 1922. With sweeping views (as a fort should have) across the bay, we soaked up some history and fresh air before hitting the road to Kilkenny.
This was actually our second stop in Kilkenny, truth be told. We had come here on a day trip from our mooring in Athy while on our barges a couple of weeks earlier. It was fun to already be a bit familiar with the town, because we only had one night here. Our final night in Ireland!
From Kilkenny, it was on to Dublin for our return flights home. Speaking candidly, there were tears in my eyes as we flew away and watched the emerald green landscape disappear below the clouds. We left Ireland with our hearts full of incredible memories, and plans to return again someday!
See the rest of my highlights from our Ireland adventures:
Part 1 of 6: Dublin
Part 2 of 6: River Barrow by Narrowboat
Part 3 of 6: Cork City, Cobh, and Spike Island
Part 4 of 6: Galway and Cliffs of Moher
Part 5 of 6: Dingle Peninsula, Killarney, and Ring of Kerry
Part 6 of 6: Bantry, Kinsale, and Kilkenny