We spent a day in Killarney to recuperate, have our laundry washed and visit some golf courses and churches we had missed earlier. After as much walking as we had done already, we wandered 11 more miles on our rest day. First we visited the two golf courses west of the city. Michael enjoyed an Irish coffee at the Golf and Fishing Club and then we continued to the more exclusive Mahony's Point Golf Course.
On the way back we spent time at St. Mary's Cathedral. A towering spire marks this Gothic Revival seat of the Catholic Diocese of Kerry in a landscaped park.
But we enjoyed visiting St. Mary's Church of Ireland near the center of Killarney rather more. The stained glass and ornamented pipe organ were highlights.
A short train ride took us to Cork where we spent two days at the Metropole Hotel across the River Lee from the center of the city.
Our hotel room looked out over the river on what had been a rather dreary industrial port, but just a block inland the city became much more inviting with many pedestrianized streets, interesting shops and plenty of places to eat and drink.
The next day, a commuter train brought us to Cobh, the harbor where many of the Irish fleeing the Famine embarked and where the Titanic made its last port of call. The town is on a steep hill above the harbor, so the streets are more vertical than horizontal.
We avoided the many Titanic tourist venues but enjoyed the narrow streets and occasional businesses that took advantage of the steepness by building into the hillside. Returning to Cork, we took a long walk over to UCC, University College, Cork. We both were impressed with what we saw although it was very quiet without classes in session.
The Honan Chapel in the center of campus has beautiful stained glass windows and an unusual mosaic floor.
Our next stop was the Cork Jail, a well‑restored prison with educational panels and recreated prison cells with brief histories of individual prisoners.
Our final night at the Metropole Hotel provided another view of Cork over the River Lee, a more colorful and inviting one than the daytime drabness of brick and dirty water.
Evening view of Cork from the Metropole Hotel
Full photo album for Leaving Killarney for Cork and Cobh
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