Duration: approx. 4 hours

Your visit to the Old Jameson/Old Midleton Distillery begins with an audio visual presentation on the history and making of Irish whiskey followed by a guided tour of the distillery itself which will show you the various historical buildings that comprise the Heritage Centre. Many of the artefacts of Old Midleton remain, along with wonderful displays, photographs and superbly restored machinery and dramatic recreations. During your visit at the Old Midleton Distillery you will have time to browse in the gift shop and, if so inclined, purchase a bottle of Irish whiskey to take home. Before returning to the ship you will have some little free time to explore Cork. Your tour concludes with your return to port and your ship.

On leaving Cork, you will first travel through the River Lee Tunnel on your way to Kinsale in the south of County Cork. Kinsale is a place where the quality of the environment itself is a very strong attraction, winning the European prize for Tourism and then Environment. This pretty little town nestles snugly between the hills and the valley and is believed to have been founded by the Anglo-Normans in around A.D. 1177. It was a magnificent naval base in the 17^th and 18^th centuries. You will have time to explore Kinsale on foot, browse in the shops and soak up the local atmosphere. The tour then continues on to Charles Fort, a classic example of a star-shaped keep that was constructed in the early 1680s in honour of King Charles II. After visiting the fort, you will return to the port.

The road to Lismore twists and turns across County Cork, passing through rural areas, villages and small towns where time seems to have stood still. The route will also take you through the Blackwater Valley, one of the prettiest parts of Ireland with bucolic scenes of neat patchwork fields and hedgerows. The massive square towers and battlements of Lismore Castle and the cathedral steeple that rise above the surrounding woodland announce the approach of the market town of Lismore. The castle that stands today was rebuilt in the 19^thcentury by the 6^th Duke of Devonshire and is still occupied by his descendants today. You will have an opportunity to visit the castle’s extensive and historical gardens, which are set within the 17^th-century outer defensive walls and afford spectacular views of the castle itself. The gardens are believed to be the oldest in Ireland and retain much of their original Jacobean form. After the visit you will return to the port.