February 25 – Sunday - Scone for breakfast, cleaned up a bit, load of laundry in, went down to the I-café while Lisa picked up a couple groceries. I made a little guacamole for lunch and then we went to the Acton’s Hotel to listen to the Cork City Jazz Band in the Waterfront Bar at 1:00. Today is their first Sunday back after a couple months off. Nice six piece group, they had a singer with them today, did some great jazz standards along with a few slower pieces. Bill and Sue Thomson showed up a little after 2 and joined us, along with Victoria Murphy and her partner Alan. Found out Victoria is originally from England, she came here in the late 60’s, and Alan definitely looked the part of a Englishman, suit with ascot and very upright posture. With the Thomson’s being from New Zealand we have a well traveled table. Victoria invites us all to their place “Wednesday next” for supper, means a week from Wednesday actually.
Music is over about 3 so we head home, jump in the car and take a drive out to Old Head. Got some really nice pictures (http://picasaweb.google.com/dutch05/OldHeadOfKinsale), but….wow…..is it windy! The entry to the golf course is gated, but we are able to walk around outside it and see the cliffs. Not as tall as the Cliffs of Mohr but still very impressive. On the way out we stop at the Speckled Door for a pint, nice pub, very good pint of Murphy’s and cheaper than anyplace else we have been, only 3.40 euro. In leaving we continue on along the coast for a bit, found a little bay that was at low tide so we got out for a few more pictures and as it was nearing 6 we went back home to fix supper. Thought we would just say in tonight, watch a bit of tele and go to bed early.
February 26 – Monday - Had a bowl of cereal for breakfast and the sun is shining so we got on the road headed northwest to Macroom. Wandered up R605 to Inishannon then west to Bandon and followed R586 through Enniskean to Dunmanway. Stopped here for a quick look around and had a coffee at a cute little coffee shop called Mirabelles, great coffee and pastries.
North on up R587 (at least I think that’s the road we’re on) toward Macroom where we found the “Site of the Ambush” on the way. This is a monument to the West Cork Flying Column, a IRA group that ambushed a group of Auxiliaries or “Black and Tans” on November 28, 1920. Three of the 36 IRA and 16 of the 18 Aux killed. This helped hasten peace negotiations which led to an ultimate truce. http://picasaweb.google.com/dutch05/SiteOfAmbush
Arriving in Macroom http://picasaweb.google.com/dutch05/TripToMacroom we found the Macroom Castle which is basically one wall and corner of the old castle, the area contains a sports center, picnic area, golf course and walking trail which we walked down to the golf course. Neat trail that follows the river, used quite a bit it seems, and ends up at the golf course. The crocus and snap dragons are starting to bloom. The golf course is open but holes 1-4 are too wet to play and the lounge isn’t serving food yet so we head back. Get a few pictures of the back side of the castle wall, wander across the stone bridge, and back into town for lunch. Stop at the Lee Valley Hotel (Penn’s Bar and Bistro) and have a couple ciabattas at the carvery, can’t eat it all so we save some for tonight. Continue on around town, found the Family Spirit Macroom which commemorated the visit of Ireland’s President Mary Robinson in 1996. There is also a monument dedicated to the men of the 7th and 8th Battalions of the IRA, along with a plaque with the names of the United Irishmen captured by Crown Forces from 1798 – 1803. Decide we need to stop into a cute pub called the Gearagh, all stone and wood, it’s three levels high, but very small and cozy with lots of big slabs of wood for tables, supports, etc.
Leaving Macroom I drive south back to Bandon, we stop at the O’Hara’s pub to take a couple pictures for the Chief, and when I leave to head home I somehow take a wrong turn, going through Newcestown (not on any map I found) and see a sign for Enniskean again which we know is the wrong way, finally see a sign for Clonakilty so take that road until we hit town. Relieved to get to Clonakilty we stop at the An Sugan for a pint and Lisa gets the “Queen of Pudding”. Wonderful bread pudding with some type of sweet glazing, a meringue topping and whipped cream on the side. Even I liked it.
The drive back to Kinsale from there was thankfully uneventful, a little rainy and foggy. Reaching home we had a bite to eat, finishing the leftover sandwiches we had brought back from Macroom, went to Oscar Madison’s to use my free Guinness vouchers, then back home to relax a bit. Dad called and left a message so I called him back. They seem to be doing well in California, but we get cut off in mid-sentence when my minutes run out. The phone charges here are ridiculous.
