Things to Do in South West Ireland - page 2

Elizabeth Fort has played a part in Ireland’s tumultuous history since 1601; it was constructed in timber on the orders of British politician Sir George Carew to defend British military interests in Ireland and named after Queen Elizabeth I. Built on a limestone outcrop just south of Cork’s walls, it was expanded into its present stone star-shape in 1624–26 under the leadership of Oliver Cromwell and saw much action for the next two centuries withstanding sieges between Britain and Ireland.

By 1719 the fort was a military barracks for 700 British soldiers but after they moved to a larger base in 1806 it served many functions, including a deportation center for criminals being sent to Australia; a food depot during the Great Famine of 1845-52, when the potato crop failed; and an air raid shelter in World War II. Latterly it became a Garda (Irish police) station before being opened to the public in 2013.

Derrynane Beach looks out of place when compared to the rest of Ireland—almost like a tropical sliver of the Caribbean that’s drifted across the Atlantic. Here at this long, white sand cove on the famous Ring of Kerry, lush green mountains serve as the backdrop to a clear, turquoise bay. The natural harbor is popular for swimming, and a flotilla of sailboats and pleasure craft are often found offshore. At low tide, stroll across to Abbey Island and scramble around on the rocks, and visit the remains of St. Finian’s Abbey on the leeward side of the island. From the vantage point on Abbey Island you can view the surrounding beaches, some of which have towering sand dunes that have been formed by fierce winter storms. Not far from Derrynane Beach is O’Carroll’s Cove Beach Bar and Restaurant—the only beachfront bar you’ll find on the entire Irish coast.

A rocky peak rising 230 meters from the ocean off the coast of Portmagee, Skellig Michael is one of the most striking landmarks of Ireland’s southwestern coast and famous for its vast population of seabirds. One of two UNESCO-listed Skellig Islands, Skellig Michael is the one and the only island where it’s permitted to land, with access only possible by boat.

Despite its isolated surroundings and near-vertical sea cliffs, the now-uninhabited island was once used as a retreat for hermit monks, and their stone beehive huts, crosses and a cemetery can still be seen perched atop the rocks. The fascinating remains of the sixth-century monastic complex are among the world’s earliest examples of Christian life and can be reached via a steep 600-step climb from the dock.