After 7 days at sea, we arrive in Cobh, near Cork, Ireland. The temperature had certainly dropped since we left New York, but we knew we weren’t here for the weather! The town was very pretty, as we arrived into the bay, with the houses painted all different colours.
Layered up in all the long sleeved clothes we possessed, we headed off to collect the rental car and go exploring. Cobh is actually the seaport for Cork and it was also where the Titanic and Lusitania left from, before their disaster. Also over 3 million people have emigrated from here, mostly to the USA over a period from 1850-1970.
Layered up in all the long sleeved clothes we possessed, we headed off to collect the rental car and go exploring. Cobh is actually the seaport for Cork and it was also where the Titanic and Lusitania left from, before their disaster. Also over 3 million people have emigrated from here, mostly to the USA over a period from 1850-1970.
We drove over to Kinsale, on the coast, 25 miles away, through beautiful countryside, also including a 5 minute ferry ride with the car (saving us about an hour of driving). Kinsale is the sister city of Newport Rhode Island and also the sailing capital of Ireland.
First stop was the White House pub. Friends had told us that they have a very good 9/11 memorial, which was nice to see in a foreign country.
The main purpose for going to the White House and Kinsale, was to get directions from the Owner Michael Frawley (and ex mayor of the town) to visit the “Garden of Remembrance” about 3 miles out of Kinsale.
The main purpose for going to the White House and Kinsale, was to get directions from the Owner Michael Frawley (and ex mayor of the town) to visit the “Garden of Remembrance” about 3 miles out of Kinsale.
The Garden of Remembrance is a memorial for the 343 firefighters that died in 9/11. Nurse Kate Murphy, who worked in NYC for many years and retired in Kinsale, planted 343 trees, one for each of the fire fighters that died, with their name and fire company. Unfortunately she just passed away last March at the young age of 62. What a beautiful memorial Nurse Kate provided, for the firefighters and families. Words cannot express the feelings Jimmy had. We spent about 2 hours there and Jimmy went around cleaning up some of the name plaques. Plus the sun was shining and they said we had one of the nicest days that they had had in a month in Ireland! It was quite a beautiful experience.
After stopping there, Jimmy had a pint (or 2) of Irish beer (bigger than a USA pint!!) in a typical Irish pub with Michael, the owner of the White House (not 1600 Penn. Ave) On the way there we were trying to recall the owner’s name and Charlotte chirped up “I know, Its O’Bama!” (note the Irish adaptation!)
Jimmy was very happy that the boat did stop only 25 miles from the Garden of Remembrance.
Then it was time to get back to Cobh, return the car, a quick look around town and back on the boat by 5.30pm.
