Jameson Distillery

<![CDATA[ALUSOARE - Ireland]]>Tue, 15 Oct 2024 00:26:05 +0200Weebly<![CDATA[The Jameson Midleton Visit]]>Tue, 25 Feb 2020 23:00:00 GMThttps://www.alusoare.com/ireland/the-jameson-midleton-visit

I am not a whiskey fan, so this post will for sure not be able to provide a relevant opinion on the whiskey itself, but I can let you know what I thought about visiting the Jameson Distillery in Midleton (I've done the one in Dublin as well on a different trip)

Getting There

I went there by car, but you can reach it by public transport as well. It's a 23 min by train and 36 by bus. You can check more timings under this link.

The Visit

We booked the Jameson Experience Tour and it was 22 Euro per person. This includes a guided tour, a tasting & at the end a drink of your choice (whiskey neat, whiskey with ice, cocktail - one option, soft drink)

The Tour

The tour lasts for about 1h. It starts with a video that tells the story of the Jameson whiskey and how and why they moved to Midleton.

And then continues by explaining the process that they are using.

They have a lot of trucks carrying barrels placed for pictures, I found them super cute.

You also get the chance to visit a micro brewery where they make GIN, yeap you heard it right, they are making Gin. Now when checking the website to remember the price of the ticket I saw that they are also making beer, interesting expansion of business.

Right before the end you pass by the "cellar" where they keep the whiskey barrels, the cool thing is that they are allowing picture now.

All this is followed by a tasting. You get the chance to taste the difference between a Scottish, an American (Jack Daniels) and an Irish (Jameson) whiskys.

At the end you can have a drink. As i normally don't drink whiskey, I opted for the cocktail version. They had Ginger Ale & Lemon (with whiskey) cocktail, definitely interesting. I would drink it again.

Dublin vs Midelton

If you have the option to visit both but only have time for one, i would for sure tell you to go for the one in Midleton. Why, easy - at the one in Midleton you can see the workplace, the distillery itself. It actually works during weekdays, while the one in Dublin is more of a museum. Now if you don't have this great option and you'll only be in Dublin, then please do check it out as it's an interesting story to discover plus who knows maybe like me you discover that you actually like whiskey in some form (Note: in Dublin I tried the Whiskey Cranberry Juice cocktail, pretty good as well)

]]><![CDATA[Cliff Walks: Bollycotton & Ardmore]]>Tue, 18 Feb 2020 23:00:00 GMThttps://www.alusoare.com/ireland/cliff-walks-bollycotton-ardmore

If you like walking along dramatic landscape than you came to the right place. I'll share with you 2 very nice locations which I have discovered (with some local help) where you can take a long walk.

You'll need a car, but it's so pretty that it is totally worth it.

Bollycotton

"The Atlantic Coastal path from Ballycotton to Ballytrasna and on to Ballyandreen is part of the East Cork way. It is know as The Ballycotton Cliff Walk This beautiful cliff walk is rich in wildlife, which goes through farmland, then across a small tiny beach on the way its is 13 kms and takes 5 hours." (Source)

"The scenery is spectacular, on one side you have farmland, pasture and meadows and the other you have stunning view of Ballycotton lighthouse and the Wild Atlantic Coast. The single pathway is quiet narrow in places, with many styles and steps along its route, so it is not suitable for bikes or pushchairs. Wear good walking shoes or boots as it can be slippy in some areas after wet weather." (Source)

Ardmore Cliff Walk

"The approximately one-hour tour leads around Ardmore Head along a beautiful stretch of coastline. You can start your walk either from the Cliff House Hotel in Ardmore or in the opposite direction from the Ardmore Round Tower. The path leads through a graceful landscape past sacred springs, old lookout points and, of course, imposing cliffs." (Source)

"This is a unique 4km walk with beautiful sea scapes. Breathtaking views. Legends. Wildlife. Battle sites. And don't forget, it's simply smothered in Irish Heritage." (Source)

Do you spot the rainbow? :)

These 2 walks will boost your energy and appreciation for nature, so make sure to add them to your itinerary when around Cork

]]><![CDATA[Day Trip to Cobh, Cork]]>Tue, 11 Feb 2020 23:00:00 GMThttps://www.alusoare.com/ireland/day-trip-to-cobh-cork

One of the cool things about Cork is that you can use it as your main accommodation location and take day trips from there. Whether with a tour company like Paddy Wagon, by car or by train you can easily explore several of the gorgeous locations of Cork County & surroundings.

Reaching Cork is not easy, although it has an airport, there seem to be less and less connections from across Europe, leaving your options to three: pay a lot of money for connecting flights but landing in Cork, travel to Dublin and from there a 3.5h long bus to Cork, or rent a car. For me it's a different story, my sister lives in Cork so this adds to the motivation of visiting her every now and then. Also, I opt for the bus, as I am not a big fan of driving on the other hand side

Getting there

Now that you are in Cork city, if you have a car then you need 30 min (20km) to reach Cobh, 34 min by bus (200) or 24 min by train (from Kent station)

Some spots to explore

I spent about 2 hours in Cobh, but I'll list you also some of the places you can visit to make it into a longer visit :)

St. Colman's Cathedral, Cobh

"It overlooks Cork harbour from a prominent position. Construction began in 1868 and was not completed until over half a century later due to increases in costs and revisions of the original plans. [...] The tower contains a carillon which, with 49 bells, is one of the largest in Europe" (Source)

If the impressive Cathedral does not trigger your interest on the outside, I loved the interior, so make sure you don't miss it.

The Harbor

I read on a blog post as a fun fact that it's the second biggest natural port in the world after Sydney but well, it's hard to judge as several others are claiming the same thing.

Anyway, despite this the view is very relaxing so totally recommend to check it out

You can pass by the Titanic Museum, which is done in a quite realistic way from what my sister told me & you can take a boat to the Spike island

Deck of Cards

if you are into cute houses, then you'll live this. walk up the hill and you can get your first shot from the little garden.

And here another view of these pretty houses for you to check out :)

]]><![CDATA[What you need to see Cork]]>Tue, 26 Feb 2019 23:00:00 GMThttps://www.alusoare.com/ireland/what-you-need-to-see-cork

At first sight, maybe you don't seem to have a lot of things you can do in Cork, but have a look how I spent a wonderful day in the second biggest city of Ireland.

Getting there

This is not the easiest part. Most of the cities in Europe will have a connection via Dublin. I was coming from Brussels, so landed in Dublin in the morning and from the airport there is every hour a 3-3:30h direct bus to Cork. The company name is AirCoach, they have blue buses. It is best to book in advance but you can get in most cases a spot in the bus also without reservation.

Start your day with Breakfast at Cafe Gusto

Breakfast is a great part of your day as you need energy to cover all those kilometers when visiting a new place. I loved the Crushed Avocado feta, lemon & mint on sourdough toast. I added a poached egg on top just for some extra protein ;). The coffee is good but i must admit that there are better ones in town.

English Market

"... a civic space, a meeting place, a thoroughfare, and a bustling social hub of the city. With its variety of products, the pride of place accorded to small traders, the personalised service, the growing emphasis on organic products and reliance on small-scale producers, it is forever popular. A mix of traditional Cork fare and exciting new foods from afar, along with longstanding family-run stalls and newcomers from outside, all contribute to its unique appeal, which is celebrated widely, especially by visitors to the city..." (Source)

Ring the bells at the Church of St Anne, Shandon

"Climb 132 steps and see spectacular 360 degree views of the city" (Source) on your way up stop at the 1st floor where you can ring the bells, they even have the notes for the soundtrack in Games of Thrones.

"The Tower forms a striking landmark, visible from many parts of the city, with its red sandstone (North & East) and white ashlar limestone (South & West). It is believed that the colours of the tower gave rise to the sporting colours of Cork." (Source)

Bring cash!

The Butter Museum

Did you know that "In the 18th century, Cork had the largest butter market in the world" ?(Source)

The small Museum has a few elements that were used to make butter back in the days and you can read some history of butter. What I found interesting was the video that explained how the KerryGold Butter became world famous.

Bring cash!

River Lee

"River Lee is a river in Ireland. It rises in the Shehy Mountains on the western border of County Cork and flows eastwards through Cork, where it splits in two for a short distance, creating an island on which Cork's city centre is built, and empties into the Celtic Sea at Cork Harbour on the south coast, one of the largest natural harbours in the world." (Source)

George Bool House

"George Boole, for whom the Moon's Boole Crater is named, was a self-taught child prodigy who is considered one of the most influential mathematicians of the 19th century. His invention of Boolean logic, a system of binary values that condenses complex thoughts into simple equations, helped paved the way for the digital revolution." (Source)

"On a quiet street in the heart of Cork's Georgian quarter sits the house where Boole did some of his more important work while working as the first professor of mathematics at Queen's College, Cork (now University College Cork). Boole moved into the house on Grenville in 1849, and penned his seminal work "An Investigation of the Laws of Thought there." (Source)
Side Note: You can't visit the house inside, but can take a picture of the door :P

Cork University (UCC)

"UCC was established in 1845 after a long campaign for a higher education institution in Munster." (Source)

Some interesting Facts
- 1910 Mary Ryan was appointed as Professor of Romance Languages, being the first female professor in Ireland and the UK.
- The stone corridor is home to the largest collection of Ogham Stones on public display in Ireland.
- it came into existance on 30 Dec. 1845

You have a few points of interest within the University

Crawford Observatory dates from 1880. "The Observatory houses an equatorial telescope, one for which Howard Grubb, who made it, received a Gold Medal at the Paris Exhibition of 1900. The Observatory also contains a Ciderostatic telescope and Spectroscope." (Source)

Lewis Glucksman Gallery "is an award-winning building that includes display spaces, lecture facilities, a riverside restaurant and gallery shop." (Source)

Stone Corridor - "The cloisters contain a collection of Ogham Stones illustrating an early coded form of the Irish language. These are ancient gravestones, each one marking the burial place of a distinguished person in a Celtic tribe, a chieftain or a bard, and date from the second or third century of the Christian era - the period before Saint Patrick came to Ireland." (Source)

Fitzgerald Park

Coffee @ Cafe Depeche

Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral

"William Burges was appointed architect for a new cathedral in 1862, after a competition for which there were 63 entries. [...] In 1865 the foundation stone was laid by Bishop John Gregg and on St. Andrew's Day,1870, the building was consecrated. The towers and spires were not completed until 1879. The cathedral is built of Cork limestone and the interior of Bath stone and the walls are lined with red Cork marble. [...] It has been said that St Fin Barre's may be the most coherent French Neo-Gothic style cathedral in western Europe." (Source)

The Cathedral Labyrinth it's a place that welcome you to pause for a few moments and reflect. Built in 2015 the labyrinth is a single winding path without branches leading to a center. Unlike mazes where choices of direction have to be made it is impossible to see the end of the journey, labyrinths offer no choices and lead to a central goal which is visible at every stage of the journey (Source - info on site)

Elizabeth Forth

"is a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork, Ireland. Originally built as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls, the city eventually grew around the fort, and it took on various other roles - including use as a military barracks, prison, and police station. Since 2014, the fort has seen some development as a tourism heritage site, reportedly attracting 36,000 visitors during 2015. (Source)

Dinner at Cask

Street Art

StreetArt: Electricity Boxes

"Mad About Cork's electrical box paintings honour a wide variety of Cork heroes and characters including Cillian Murphy, Maggie Barry, Daniel Florence O'Leary, Mary Agnes Clerke, Ashling Thompson, Mary Elmes, the O'Donovan Brothers, King Joffrey/Jack Gleeson, and the legendary Cork band The Frank and Walters." (Source)

Other Street Art

When walking along the streets of Cork it is easy to spot street art around, here what i found

]]><![CDATA[Book of Kells @Trinity Collage]]>Tue, 08 Jan 2019 23:00:00 GMThttps://www.alusoare.com/ireland/book-of-kells-trinity-collage

It's been a long time i wanted to visit the Old Library in the Trinity Collage and somehow never got the chance, until now. Have a look to see more about my experience

Should I book online or make the queue...well it depends. I booked online as i had to catch the bus to Cork and did not have a lot of time, but if you can go early in the morning (which btw i strongly recommend) I don't think you'll spend a lot of time queuing.

What is the Book of Kells?

"is an illuminated manuscript Gospel book in Latin, containing the four Gospels of the New Testament together with various prefatory texts and tables. It was created in a Columban monastery in either Britain or Ireland and may have had contributions from various Columban institutions from both Britain and Ireland. It is believed to have been created c. 800 AD. The text of the Gospels is largely drawn from the Vulgate, although it also includes several passages drawn from the earlier versions of the Bible known as the Vetus Latina. It is a masterwork of Western calligraphy and represents the pinnacle of Insular illumination. It is also widely regarded as Ireland's finest national treasure." (Source)

Materials & Methods used

Some Elements: Triskels & Spirals

My impression

It was far too crowded to enjoy. I was disappointed as i expect if you theoretically have a certain number of people per hour that can enter to be able to be able to read the information available on the walls. But this clearly depends when you go, i went there at 13:00 on a Wednesday and I felt everyone pushing around and instead of making sure everyone has her/hist time with the information/pictures available they were getting in front of you and so on. At the book table itself i don't even want to mention it anymore. So either be lucky and go when very few are there, or better don't go.

The Old Library

This is of course also crowded, but at least with the super tall walls and big room does not give you the same crowded feeling of being pushed around in the museum area before the Book of Kells room. If you like special libraries you'll for sure like it, and even if maybe you won't get to take the best photos that you see going around the internet it will still offer you the feeling of you being tiny in that huge room. Below you can see some of my pictures.

Hope I did not ruin your mood of getting into the library, I am not saying you should not go, i am just saying to make sure to go when it is a bit less crowded and arm yourself with patience if you can only go in peak days/hours

]]><![CDATA[Day trip to Dingle Peninsula]]>Tue, 20 Nov 2018 23:00:00 GMThttps://www.alusoare.com/ireland/day-trip-to-dingle-peninsula

The country side of Ireland is so incredibly dreamy that is a pity if you do not get out of the city at least for a little trip

I never drove on the other side of the road so I got quite well along with the day trips that are being organized by the different companies. I booked the trip via PaddyWagon as I never had bad experiences with them and they always have some funny stories to share.

Cost/person is 39 Euro out of Cork
Bridge St Tourist Office (next to St Patrick's Bridge)
Departs: 8:20 AM
Returns: 7:00 PM

As in all such trips there are several stops along the way so you can take wonderful pictures. The guide will share different interesting or funny facts about Ireland or the area being visited.

Stop 1: Killarney

This stop is a common stop with the tour going on Ring of Kerry. If you do the trip one after the other it can be a bit boring as the city is first of all not very big and second you don't really have enough time to go far.

You always have the option to go on a carriage tour that would bring you till the national park but it depends on your mood. This tour is about 12 Euros and takes approx. 1h. It looks like a good option if it is raining heavily as the carriage is covered.

If you decide to walk the streets, here how it would look like.
Head first to St. Mary's Cathedral which was designed by the renowned English Architect Augustus Welby Pugin who is said to have gained inspiration from the ruins of Ardfert Cathedral "which is particularly evident in the slender triple lancets in the east and west walls." (Source). It took several years to built due to the Great Famine period taking place in Ireland at that time 1842-1855

As at some point it started raining I took advantage to enter into a coffee place to re-energize :). I tried the Flat White & the cheese cake @Noelle's Cafe

2. Inch Beach

Second stop on your itinerary is at Inch Beach. This "Blue Flag Inch Beach spans for 5 kilometres and is the perfect place with an easy gradient and plenty of space providing a safe environment for all types of water sports including Surfing, Kayaking, Windsurfing, Kite Surfing, Hangliding and Fishing. " (Source). It was very windy and the sun was fighting hard to come out but it's amazing how huge this beach is :)

3. Slea Head Drive

The views are absolutely spectacular, you get the chance to stop 3 times along this road to spot different views over the ocean.

1. Stop

2. Stop is at the Dun Chaoin location. Some details from an information board available on site is mentioning that the population back in 2016 was of 159 people. This parish is farmed for the richness of the Irish language found here and for the close connection to Blasket Island. Here lived the writers Tomas O Criomhthain, Peig Sayers and Muiris O'Sullivan.

3. Stop is at Cleann Sraithe. This place was featured in Star Wars VIII. If you are lucky enough you have the chance to spot Puffins, cormorants, whales or sharks.

4. Dignle Town

On your way back to Cork you will be stopped for about 1.5h in Dingle. This is the place where the Dingle whiskey is made and you can get the chance to give it a try in a bar. Buying it though is hard as in general it is sold out.

Make sure you have some fish and chips as with the proximity to the fish you will have some super fresh fish (catch of the day). I had mine at the Dingle Bay Hotel

Another must try seems to be the ice cream @Murrphy's. The ice cream is good but extremely expensive from my point of view. I tried the Dingle Sea Salt Flavor but they change them throughout the year.

Whether you take a picture of the statue or go on a boat tour don't miss out Fungie a wild Bottlenose Dolphin. It's believed he is about 32 years old with a life expectation as per experts of 40-50 years. Now if it's Fungie or any other dolphin it's still a super cute animal.

Walk around the main ally and the port.

And I will end my journey with a picture of some fluffy Irish sheep, as they always make me smile and hope so they will make you :)

]]><![CDATA[♥Dublin ♥]]>Wed, 08 Feb 2017 10:45:07 GMThttps://www.alusoare.com/ireland/dublin

If you read my post about why I go every year to Ireland my 2017 trip to Dublin will not come as a surprise. See how my weekend looked like :)

So excited of what a great weekend you'll have if you follow my lead ;)

Perfect Pint

The most important thing, when in Ireland, do not ask where the closest Irish Pub is as, YOU ARE in IRELAND, they are all IRISH PUBs, so where is the closest PUB will do. Get yourself a pint of Guinness, whether it is at the Temple Bar (a pint is almost 8 Euro!!!) or at a different PUB.

Best Chicken Wings in The WORLD

probably in Europe or even in Dublin, but they are super good. The restaurant is called Elephant & Castle. You can only book it by going there personally and on the same day . A bucket of checking wings is 13 Euros. If you are in Dublin in the weekend, book your table in advance anywhere you decide to go out for dinner, the city is not big enough for all those who want to eat out :)

Book A Daytrip

I never go on day tour with local companies, I prefer to discover things on my own, either get into a train or a bus to head to a destination, or just rent a car, but in Ireland I take a different approach. I book a tour!!! Why? simple, as IRISH people are awesome and super funny and part of seeing a new place is going with a tour company. My last one was to Belfast ;)

or tour some museums

Learn how to pour the perfect pint at the Guinness Brewery

Learn about the Irish Whiskey at the Jameson Distillery. You get to taste different types of Whiskey to understand the difference between the Scottish, American and Irish one

Meet wax James Joyce and some may others at the Wax museum. The cool part about it is that it tells you the story of Ireland

We still have The Trinity Collage on our list as till now we did not manage to see it...but next year!

Spend some time in a random bar

grab some pints of Guinness or if not your think, Carlsberg & Heiniken are quite popular

Eat some PUB food. Imagine an Irish Breakfast with a pint of Guinness at 12PM

Walk the streets early in the morning

If you need some space and quiet time, make sure you start your day early

Dublin Castle 8AM

Christ Church Cathedral

St Augustine & St. John Cathedral

River Liffey view over Ha'penny Bridge

ordinary women of the city, placed in 1988 to celebrate the millennium of the city

Get lost in the Temple bar area

inside the Temple Bar Bar

Get into the Streetart

Trivoli Car Park

Temple Bar Area

I guess you are tired now, ready to go back to the airport? You probably already know by now that your way there is with AirLink? It's time now for your last pint before you head home. Hope you enjoyed.

]]><![CDATA[Ring of Kerry]]>Wed, 01 Jun 2016 09:21:17 GMThttps://www.alusoare.com/ireland/ring-of-kerry

We booked a tour with Paddywagon as they are perfect when you don't have the time to organize it on your own and on top of this Irish guides are always super fun.

Cost/person is 39 Euro out of Cork
Bridge St Tourist Office (next to St Patrick's Bridge)
Departs: 8:30ish AM
Returns: 7 PM

Killarney

The tour starts with a 1.5h, mainly highway, drive till the city of Killarney. If it is not too cold you can get a carriage tour till the castle once there. We did not mange as we had to sort some personal problems but we could go around and see the rest of the city.

Bog Village

Our next stop was at Bog village. It is actually a sort of a village museum showing houses from the past. The entrance fee is 5Euro which I guess is reasonable and the place is nicely maintained.

Landscape Photo moment

Unfortunately I don't remember the name of this stop but it was shortly after we left the village. Very nice place for a picture on a sunny day.

Waterville

little village which was made famous by Charlie Chaplin give you am great view over the Ballinskelligs Bay

and ok, I'll show you also the statue of Charlie ;) .. his house is a bit down the road.

Lunch with a view: Scarriff Inn, Caherdaniel, Ireland

from Waterville the drive till where we had lunch is just purely amazing; A constant WOW effect.

and after enjoying the tiny sheep :) we stopped for lunch...

Sneem

one of Ireland's most colorful and charming villages.

Ladies view
is a scenic point along the N71 portion of the Ring of Kerry, in Killarney National Park, Ireland. The name apparently stems from the admiration of the view given by Queen Victoria's ladies-in-waiting during their 1861 visit.

Last stop is at the 18m high Troc waterfall in the â€‹Killarney National Park.

Having said this and with all the pictures I hope you will decide to go for the tour either on your own or with one of the many organized tours in Ireland.

Not to forget. In July there is a bicycle ride (112 miles aka 180 km) organized for charity, if interested I googled the event and you can find more details HERE

]]><![CDATA[Why I go every year to Ireland]]>Thu, 11 Feb 2016 11:44:15 GMThttps://www.alusoare.com/ireland/why-i-go-every-year-to-irelandI had a discussion about Ireland earlier today so became a bit melancholic so decided to make this post, all places are really amazing so highly recommend you to check them out if in Ireland

I first went to Ireland in February 2012 for a short weekend, but it was enough to know that this will for sure not be the last time. We did not have very big luck with the weather (I know what should I expect in February) and my camera back than was quite basic so no relevant pictures from then, but here the first thing that stroke us when wanted to cross the street: LOOK RIGHT --->

So in 2013 we said to stick to the basic and go again in February and yeah the weather was of course not good but we had a absolute fabulous time.

We did a One Day Trip from Dublin to Glendalough & Kilkenny. Both gorgeous places even on a rainy day.

Getting closer to today, 2014 was the year to check out the famous Cliffs of Moher and Connemara. This was organized in a 2 Day Trip from Dublin sleeping in Galway. It is needles to say that it was absolutely spectacular. The trip through the winding roads of Ireland is so relaxing. I would like that these trips never end.

Cliffs of Moher

Connemara

and yet again, this was not enough, I know that I should have gone maybe on a roadtrip for 7-10 days but then again I would miss the happy Irish people that I meet every year.
Well 2015 was the year of discovering the South so I went to visit my sister who recently moved to Ireland in Cork. Ok, Cork itself it not that nice, buuuuuut the surroundings are absolute amazing. Maybe best to rent a car here. We went till the West Coast where they say is the most western part of Europe (debatable) and then on the way back we stopped of some delicious fish and chips in Kinsale a lovely & very colorful city. Next day we checked out the Blarney Castle, but due to the long queues we did not kiss the stone ;)

Blarney Castle

Mizen Bridge, West Cork

Kinsale

Hoping for some new experiences this year when I go back in April....already very excited.
If you never been to Ireland, please do so you will absolutely love it!

"Ireland is where strange tales begin and happy endings are possible"
(Charles Haughey)

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