Took the airport bus from the city out to the airport to pick up our car. A small, basic, manual Chevy Kalos, but it will do. Had to help 2 American girls get theirs out of the car park. Actually, we would have appreciated air-conditioning. Several people have told us that Ireland only has nice weather for one month of the year, and we must be slap bang in the middle of it. It's mid 20s, glorious sunshine, we are in t-shirts, and half the Irish population are looking like lobsters.
Called in at a servo, and had some genuine old-fashioned iced vo-vos for morning tea. Headed south west, then stopped at Kilkenny for lunch. Picnicked on the grass in the grounds of Kilkenny Castle, and it was just gorgeous. Headed south to Waterford, but try as we might we couldn't find the Waterford Crystal Visitor's Centre that Mandy wanted to visit. There wasn't a sign anywhere in the town, and so we eventually gave up and went on to Cobh (pronounced 'cove') just out of Cork to see the Heritage Centre.
Cobh is Cork's deepwater port, and has a number of claims to fame. Firstly, its the main port used by Irish convicts and Irish immigrants leaving for America and the penal colony of Botany Bay. Most Irish Catholic Australians can trace themselves back to a ship from this port. It was also the last port of call for the Titanic on her maiden voyage before she got in the way of the iceberg, and the closest port for the survivors of the Lusitania when she was torpedoed during WWII by a German u-boat.
Arrived in Cork and checked into our hostel in time for tea. Had a halal Indian meal in Ireland, then walked around the city as the sun set, looking at the central district. Seems a lovely, clean, well-kept town.
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