I have on many occasions passed through Rosscarbery and stopped for lunch here but this is the first time that I have spent the night here and I will be back. I will also be including here as a central location for exploring West Cork. I am on a quick visit to parts of West Cork and also then will turn back and visit places in East Cork such as Fota, Cobh, Youghal and Ballycotton, where I will spend tonight.
Though it rained most of the way from Limerick through Cork and then out into West Cork, the rivers were swollen from all the recent rain and many had flooded out on to the roadways it was a pleasant trip and I made a wise decision in spending the night in the Celtic Ross Hotel overlooking Rosscarberry Bay. This is the ideal centre for exploring West Cork and though I will not have time to go further than Glandore, Union Hall and Gallyhead today if I had more time, or if in the Summer months with longer evenings, I would then travel onto Bantry, Skibbereen, Mizen Head and much more.
My morning walk took me out to the Blue Flag Warren Beach and I walked by the estuary to get to there. The estuary was alive with sea birds and though a cold breeze blowing the walk took me longer than I had expected. I know that I have already mentioned and suggested the walk on the Ring of Kerry on May 4th but on that weekend there is also another great outdoor/walking weekend here in West Cork. This is Exploring the Islands of West Cork and having visited some of these already, such as Cape Clare and Sherkin Island I highly recommend that if you are in Ireland, or planning to be here in early April, let Travel Plans include a stay in West Cork that weekend.

My first stop yesterday was Clonakilty and this is a very special place to me. This was home to my hero – Michael Collins – one of Ireland’s great military and political leaders. You can visit the Michael Collins Centre in Clonakilty and we can arrange tours to Collins and War of Independence Sites. Michael Collins was killed in an ambush at Beal na mBlath on August 22nd, 1922 and this is a picture of the monument close to the place where he died.
I will have some pictures for you after the weekend.