Ireland > Drinking whiskey at the distillery

We depart by bus heading for Midleton, where we visit the Jameson’s Whiskey Heritage Center. This is the oldest whiskey distillery in Ireland. In this renovated distillery, the tour demonstrates how whiskey is made. We see the storage area, the large waterwheel used for power, and of course, the kettles and barrels used for aging the whiskey. At the end of the distillery tour, there is a tasting session.

Ireland - Jameson Irish Whiskey Heritage Center

We are offered a small glass of whiskey. Unfortunately, I don’t like it. Around noon, we arrive in the city of Cork. The bus parks along the River Lee in the center of the city. We have an hour and a half to explore and get something to eat — not a lot of time. We walk down Saint Patrick Street, Cork’s main shopping street. In one of the side streets, a church tower catches my attention. It belongs to the Father Mathew Church, which we also visit inside. Along the streets, we buy a sandwich, which I eat immediately inside the shop. We then walk back via Saint Patrick Street to the River Lee, where the bus is waiting. Through the beautiful countryside, we drive toward Killarney National Park. In the park stands Muckross House. This beautifully furnished 19th-century house was regularly visited by Queen Victoria. We take a guided tour of the house and then enjoy a long walk through the gardens in the sunshine. Unfortunately, photos are not allowed inside (though I secretly take one). Around six o’clock, we arrive in Ballyheigue, where our hotel is located near the sea. We stay two nights here, giving our luggage a rest. After the dinner buffet, we take a walk to the ruins of Ballyheigue. The ruins are located on a golf course, and we reach them by walking across the fairways. Only the front facade of the house remains intact, but through the windows, there is a nice view of the beach and the sea. In the evening, part of the group goes to the pub beneath the hotel. The band plays cheerful Irish songs, and the full pub sings along enthusiastically — we join in, of course.