Toy Soldier Factory, Macroom, Co. Cork, Ireland

Toy Soldier Factory is an hour away from Cork city center. It had been established in Ireland since 1976 and this is Europe's only toy soldier factory. This is a very good find in the West Cork area. It is one of the best ways for families to spend a rainy afternoon away from gadgets. This can be a nice family fun activity where kids and adults get to cast their own metal toys and paint them too. The factory is in an informal setting. The visitor center is also a gift center with a variety of toy soldiers beautifully painted and meticulously arranged. One can walk in and browse the store to one's heart content. They sell chess sets which were adorable but very expensive for me. 

Perfect Toy Chess Set 

The back story from Irish Examiner is that a newlywed couple named Lars and Gunilla Edman traveled thousands of miles from Sweden to a sleepy town in west Cork with their two die making machines and started toy soldier factory in 1976. Casting toy soldiers was a Swedish hobby for young boys aged 7-12 years old. But, today it has visitors, young and old, from all over the world and helps visitors make cherished memories.

Witch Fairy Face-Off

At the start of our visit, the receptionist at the visitor center demonstrated the casting process and kids got to choose their figures to cast from the display board. She was very patient and helped kids through the casting process. It took around 90 seconds for the casting to set. Once the casting is set, she applied primer to the cast and we were ready to paint. I was very happy with the final product and we will be using them during Halloween and Christmas going forward.

The Battle of Waterloo

The second part of our visit was the display of the Battle of Waterloo. A nominal fee of 3€ per adult is paid to visit the display. One of the rooms inside the toy soldier factory has a huge foam table on which the battle of Waterloo is displayed. A 15 min documentary gives an insight into the Battle of Waterloo. On Sunday 18 June 1815, the battle was fought between Anglo- Duch army and Prussian army against French forces. The French army was under the leadership of Napoleon. The defeat of the battle marked the end of Napoleon-era. This battle played an important role in European history and led Europe towards a peaceful path. The documentary was brief yet clear enough to understand the context and importance of this battle in European history.

A 500-Man Battalion Squares Formed By British Army

 

Anglo-Duch & Prussian Army vs French Army 

Cobh - A Beautiful Seaport Town, Co. Cork, Ireland

Cobh (pronounced as Cove), a colorful Irish port town on the south coast of Ireland and is only half an hour away from Cork city center. Briefly from 1849 - 1920, Cobh was called Queenstown to commemorate Queen Victoria's visit to Ireland. After independence from England, its name is changed to Cobh (Cove in Irish). This town played a very important role as an emigration hub in Ireland's history.

Cobh Heritage Center - The Irish Emigration Story: Heritage Center has many emigration stories to tell.  Between 1850 - 1950 over 2.5 million Irish emigrated from Cobh port to Australia, USA, Argentina, Brazil in search of better lives. Under British rule, many convicts were transported as forced labor to the West Indies and many other colonies in sailboats. Cobh Heritage Center depicts the dire conditions under which Irish traveled and hardships endured by them to reach faraway places in search of a better life. The sinking of Titanic and Lusitania was the major wreckage Cobh had seen. Cobh was the Titanic's last port of call where 123 passengers boarded the ship. A section of exhibits is dedicated to Titanic and the passengers that boarded Titanic in Cobh.

"Forgotten Irish" @ The Heritage Center

Servia Model

Annie Moore Monument:

Annie Moore With Her Two Brothers

The Statue of Annie Moore and her two brothers is at the cruise ship dock on the quay. Annie Moore and her two brothers sailed on SSNevada from Cobh to New York on Dec 20th, 1891. They reached New York on Jan 1st, 1892 and Annie Moore was the first immigrant to be processed on the newly opened immigration center in Ellis Island, USA. 

St. Coleman's Cathedral:

Alter - St. Coleman Cathedral, Cobh

St. Coleman's Cathedral stands tall overlooking Cobh's town center. It is hard to miss this beautifully detailed gothic structure. Walking uphill from the town center to the cathedral is a bit challenging. The Gothic exterior and interior architecture of the cathedral are beautiful. Entry is free and there are few free tours of the cathedral as well. Starting in 1868, this cathedral took 47 years to be built. Choirs from around the world perform their Recitals at this cathedral. The cathedral's organ has 2468 pipes is under renovation at present. The light filtered through the beautiful stain glass windows around the cathedral is a feast for the eyes.

Organ @ The St. Coleman's Cathedral

West View/ Stack of Deck:

Stack of Deck

A short walk from St. Coleman's Cathedral in West View, a beautiful row of century-old houses. The houses are stacked upon an impossibly steep hill. Apparently, each house is supported by the lower house and hence the name Stack of Deck.

Stroll Through The Town Center:

Cobh's beautiful town center has a good collection of restaurants, pubs, ice cream shops, and gift stores. Several walking tours start from the city center. However, the best views of Cobh city center are from the sea. Sailing, kayaking, and boat tours are available from the pier. Sonia O' Sullivan's bronze statue and Lusitania memorial are two quick stops on our stroll. During the time of the first world war, Lusitania was transporting passengers between Liverpool and New York. On its voyage back from New York, on May 7th, 1915, the liner was 16km away from Old Head of Kinsale when it was struck by a torpedo from the German U boat. Within 18 min, the ship sank killing 1198 people. Only 761 people were rescued. Cobh (then Queenstown) had to deal with the aftermath of the disaster. 

Colorful Cobh Town Center

John F Kennedy Memorial Park

However, my favorite thing to do is grab an ice cream from Scoops and head over to John F Kennedy memorial park. Relax and watch the boats passing by as kids let loose in the park's play area.

Titanic Memorial Garden:

The Memorial is a short walk away from the town center. A small yet colorful garden with beautiful views of Cobh harbor. It is the best place to enjoy some quiet time in the town. As a last Europian port town, Cobh has witnessed many traumatic shipwrecks in the past. Titanic was one of the shipwrecks with major casualties. 123 people boarded the Titanic in Cobh port on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York. Only 44 survived the Wreckage and reached New York.  This is a perfect place to pay homage to all the lives lost and reflect be thankful for the modern means of transport.  We skipped Titanic Cobh Experience on purpose as we are heading to Belfast and I am excited to visit Titanic Belfast.

Mizen Head and Barleycove Beach, Goleen, Cork Co., Ireland

Welcome to the Wild Atlantic Way where the rugged beauty of Ireland lies. Mizen head is considered the South - Western tip of Ireland and is part of Cork County.  A trip to Cork Co. is never complete without visiting Mizen head. It is best viewed on a clear summer day. It takes around 2hrs to drive from Cork city center to the Mizen head. The drive can be hectic if you are a novice driver in Ireland.

Mizen Head in 15 Seconds - Derrick Path

Plenty of free parking spots are available right in front of the visitor center. The visitor center houses a small cafe and gift shop. Adult entry is around €7.50 and not too bad for such an amazing place. The main walkway is paved and is stroller accessible for the most part. There are several trails branched out from the main walkway leading to multiple vista points. Many of these branching paths have steep climb or stairs. Take time to visit all the vista points. They are well worth the climb.

The Wild Atlantic Way

Even though it is beautiful, Mizen head didn't look like a typical tourist destination. It might be the weather, inaccessibility, or sheer lack of marketing. This place does not draw as many tourists as it should. In a way, it could be a good thing. As I took my time to soak up the views.

Coast Line Cliffs

The visit takes around 2-3 hrs. But, take your own time to watch the ocean waves crash on the moss-covered rugged stone cliffs. Pink, white and yellow wildflowers add a tender touch to the rugged coastal line. No picture can ever do justice to this place. You need to be there to see it.

Mizen Head Trails - Bridge View Path

The main walkway has beautiful coastal cliff views. Cross the iconic Mizen bridge and at the end of the path is the signal station. Look out for seals swimming in the turquoise water underneath the bridge. On the way back, make a brief stop at the keeper's quarters, bird mural room.

Beauty and The Beast

Mizen Head - Sea Arch Path

On the way, make a stop at Barleycove Beach. This is a piece of heaven in Cork Co. with crystal clear waters, less crowd, and unspoiled beach. Destination I want to get lost in, just to find myself again.

Barleycove Beach

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Ballycotton Cliff Walk, Ballycotton, Cork Co., Ireland

I am unable to comprehend how TripAdvisor has 500 reviews on the Ballycotton cliff walk and 5000 reviews on Blarney Castle. The walkway has breathtakingly beautiful views and is a hidden gem in Cork Co. If I had one only a day in Cork, I would choose to spend it here. The true reason for a trip to the Emerald Isle lies in the beautiful rugged coastlines and never-ending green pastures. 

Ballycotton is a small fishing town an hour away from Cork city center. Bus Éireann has limited service 240 to Ballycotton. The best way to reach the cliffs is to drive. Parking is available on site and is free. A narrow walkway runs across the coastline for around 5 miles and takes around 4 hrs to complete the walk. The path is fairly easy to walk but stop and make way for people coming in the opposite direction.

Definitely choose a bright sunny day for the walk. When we reached the cliffs, thick floating clouds covered the coastlines like a veil covered the beautiful bride. With visibility around 10ft, I was quite disappointed. Luckily, it cleared up shortly revealing stunning coastlines. Navigating the path with young kids can be challenging.  The path is not wheelchair/ stroller friendly as there are many styles to cross. At the beginning of the path, there is a small park with benches. A good place to set up a picnic and spend a couple of hours listing to the sea. 

The cute little town of Ballycotton has numerous bars and restaurants. Consider touring the Ballycotton lighthouse on the island if you have time and blessing from the weather gods.  Tour starts from the Ballycotton pier from 10 AM onwards and lasts around 90 min. The pure joy of traveling to places like this reminds me of why I love2travel. 

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What To See Along M8 In Ireland

M8 is a part of the major motorway running from Cork to Dublin. It runs mainly through Cork Co and Tipperary Co but touches a part of Limerick Co and joins M7 in Laois Co. The drive on M8 was effortless. A lovely landscape of yellow-flowered Furze bushes on either side of the motorway with a green backdrop made the drive pleasant. We were able to cover these places in a day along M8.

• Rock of Cashel, Tipperary Co.
• Cahir Castle, Tipperary Co.
• Swiss Cottage, Tipperary Co.
• Mitchelstown Caves, Tipperary Co.
• Blackrock Castle Observatory, Cork Co.

Rock of Cashel: In the 5th century, Rock of Cashel was a seat for High Kings of Munster. Later, it was donated to Church. All the current building ruins are from the 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th centuries. Adjacent to the church ruins in a graveyard. Rock of Cashel has a prominent place in history and it is quite interesting how this place held up over centuries of invasions, abuse, harsh weather, and black death. Take a guided tour of the remains.

Cahir Castle: On the banks of river Suir, stands one of the best-preserved castles of Ireland, Castle Cahir. Even though it was built in the 12th century, the castle was well maintained, restored, and still holds its original defensive structure. Guided tours of the castle are available daily. Take time to climb all the stairs and visit a vast variety of rooms in the castle.

Swiss Cottage: Around 2 km walk from Cahir Castle, is a charming 19th-century ornamental cottage surrounded by lush fields and flowing river. Away from the hustle-bustle of the town, this cottage is a place for nature lovers. The cottage is a small house with a tea room and a family room on the ground floor and two bedrooms on the first floor. The architecture is impressive but most of the cottage had been restored. The original cottage took a lot of beating over time and was vandalized.  Guided tours are the only way to see the cottage and no photography is allowed as most of the furniture is on loan from the national museum.

Mitchelstown cave: Like many others, these caves were discovered by accident. If this is your first time visiting a cave, you will definitely enjoy watching the formations. Having visited many of the best caves and caverns previously, it was a pretty quick stop for us. Good spot to get off the road and stretch your legs for a bit.

Blackrock Castle

Blackrock Castle Observatory: Visiting Blackrock Observatory is a great way to end your day. This is an old castle turned into an observatory with a functioning telescope. There is a separate castle tour and an observatory tour. The castle tour is very short and takes visitors to the top of the castle. You can get a look at the functioning telescope at the top and fantastic views of the River Lee. However, this telescope can be used only by Cork University students. The observatory is mostly self-guided and has a short guided tour in an inflated planetarium. 

Beautiful View of River Lee

Visiting The Blarney Castle, Blarney, Cork Co., Ireland

Just 10 km away from Cork city center, Blarney Castle is one of the popular tourist destinations of Ireland. Some people love it and some people are repelled by the thought of kissing a stone. Needless to say, the same rock was kissed by thousands of people already. Blarney Castle is more of ruins of the castle than the castle itself. 

The village of Blarney is accessible by car or bus. Numerous travel agencies offer day tours to Blarney Castle from major cities like Cork/ Dublin/ Waterford. There is much more to Blarney Castle than meets the eye. The castle is surrounded by luscious green grounds and a variety of gardens. Still, the admission price is quite steep @ €18  per person for what it has to offer.  The sight of a flowing river, River Martin, through the castle grounds makes it picturesque. Castle and gardens are open throughout the year, but Blarney house is open seasonally. 

There is plenty to explore on the castle grounds. However, it is always better to start the tour of the castle. Depending on the weather, wait times can be very long. Blarney Stone is on the top of the castle. The only way to reach the top is to climb never-ending spiral stone stairs. Each floor has a little something to explore. After reaching the top, get ready to kiss the stone. Don't worry, you will have a lot of help to reach the stone. Don't forget to smile for the camera. You can take your own picture at the stone or purchase your picture at the end of the tour. Thankfully climbing down the stairs was easy.

Beneath the castle, is a dungeon that is mostly inaccessible and to the left of the castle, is a badger cave. We went inside the cave but there is nothing to explore. Duh! it is just a cave with a muddy floor. 

All the walking and climbing made us tired and hungry so we headed right to the café. Stable Yard Café has a nice collection of coffee, tea, ice cream, scones, pizza, and a lot more. With the lovely ambiance and delicious food, the café was a refreshing stop. 

Off we went on our way to explore the castle gardens. There are various gardens around the castle grounds. It can take a whole day to explore this vast area. The poison garden was interesting. However, Rock close is my personal favorite. The rocks and trees are covered with moss and have a fairytale charm to it. 

We dragged a stroller and two kids through the rugged paths and stairs to explore these gardens. Well, they were worth the effort.

Outside the castle is a small shop 'Blarney Chocolate Factory'. As a chocolate lover, I cannot skip any shop that has 'chocolate' in its name. They have quite a good collection of chocolate and fudge at a reasonable price. Dark Orange Bar is the best.