The Long Way RoundNotebook No 29December 2024
Cork's south-east town, the half-hour before lunch in summer.
Collected by Deborah. Read her editorial perspective
We arrive in Kinsale harbor a half-hour before the day-boats depart, the sound of mended nets a low drone. It is a moment of anticipation, with the pubs yet to open and a cold snap in the air. This southeastern Cork town is just beginning to stir.
Slea Head
A walk to Charles Fort develops an appetite, the reward is always lunch at Bastion. The fresh catch will feature prominently on your plate soon enough. This simple progression, a well-trod path, provides both views and sustenance after your excursion.
This is Ireland's most photographed harbor, for reasons evident to all who visit.
The Ireland Edit Way
Cut the itinerary in half, then cut it again. The letter we send before every first visit.
Every hotel change costs you half a day. Luxury, in Ireland, is staying put.
Six questions we apply before booking any room in Ireland. The November test, the dinner-twice test, the landscape-over-room test.
To understand Ireland, stop looking at the castles and start looking at the kitchen table.
From the notebook
Collected notes. A few times each season.