Day 11 – June 28 – Cobh, The Queenstown Centre (Cork)

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: This morning we begin with free time to explore the fascinating city of Cork. Your Group Leader will be able to offer advice and give directions.

Lunch: Taken out at the Queenstown Centre, Cobh.

Afternoon: Regrouping before lunch at a pre-agreed location, we travel to Cobh by motor coach, where we will be treated to an expert-led walk of this attractive port town, followed by a visit to the Queenstown Story exhibition. Here we retrace the steps of 2.5 million adults and children who emigrated from Ireland on coffin ships, early steamers and finally on the great liners.

Dinner: Dinner will be taken with local host families in the surrounding area.

Evening: Spend some time this evening getting an insight into life in a modern Irish home as you enjoy dinner with your host family.

---

We started our free morning in Cork with a visit to the delightful coffee shop across the street from our hotel. The Bookshelf was once a library and now serves gourmet coffee.

We ate an F. I. B. back at the hotel including some fresh honeycomb.

With a few hours to ourselves we strolled the downtown streets of Cork and visited many shops. I bought a Bb penmywhistle in a great little music shop and had a pint of Beamish stout at the Welcome Inn (full of locals).

Lunch was a treat at Market Lane. I had a delicious Irish red ale called Wisdom Ale from Elbow Lane Brewery (right next door … but alas, it was not yet open).

At 2:00 PM we boarded the bus for Cobh (pronounced Cove) and visited the Heritage Center and had a very engaging tour of the town.

This was the last port of call for the Titanic as it headed out into the Atlantic on its fateful voyage in April 1912. There is much tribute to the ship, the crew, and her passengers.

We became truly immersed in Irish life as we joined Teresa in her home up on the hill. She was born and raised in Cobh and her children and grandchildren live there.

She served us a delicious home-cooked Irish dinner followed by dessert, coffee, and Jameson Irish whiskey. What a magical day!