Placenames and their Amazing Stories in West Cork
Overview
It is said the mighty inscribe their toponymy on the landscape. Gaels, Vikings, Normans, Spaniards, Pirates, English and the Irish all controlled this section of coastline at one time or another and they all left their mark in the toponyms and microtoponyms of this beautiful area.
Inclusions
- Coffee and/or Tea
- Lunch - We provide a picnic lunch featuring local artisan foodstuffs.
- We provide hiking poles for those that want to use them
- Parking Fees
What to expect
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Castlehaven, Castlehaven Cross, Co. Cork, Ireland
After introductions at our departure point, your guide will give a brief overview on the planned route and a few safety pointers for walking on the off-road sections.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Castlehaven, Co. Cork, Ireland
Our first stop is at Jim Barry's Cross where we briefly discuss the science and study of placenames and some of the history behind Irish placenames.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Castlehaven, Co. Cork, Ireland
Our 2nd stop is about 100m off road on the Legach, this is an amazing beautiful stop on the edge of the ocean. Based on placennames here we share some amazing stories about how local farmers obtained fertiliser from the sea to grow their potatoes and other crops.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Castlehaven, Co. Cork, Ireland
Our 3rd stop is at Sandy Cove beach. Here we discuss how sand was harvested by local farmers using horses and donkey's.
Duration: 10 minutes
Additional information
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Most travelers can participate
- Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
- Gear/equipment sanitized between use
- Guides required to regularly wash hands
- Regular temperature checks for staff
- Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
- Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons
- COVID-19 vaccination required for guides
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
Cancellation
After doing the Dawn Swim we just had to see what Conor's other tour was like and it did not disappoint. For 2 ½ hours we walked and listened to his fascinating stories that just seemed to bring nondescript rocks and coves (cuas - I was listening) to life. Conor is a gifted storyteller and we par...
After doing the Dawn Swim we just had to see what Conor's other tour was like and it did not disappoint. For 2 ½ hours we walked and listened to his fascinating stories that just seemed to bring nondescript rocks and coves (cuas - I was listening) to life. Conor is a gifted storyteller and we particularly enjoyed his final story about the Earl's of Castlehaven. While we are by no means experts, this tour unlocked a whole new chapter of Irish culture for us, particularly for my husband.We were in West Cork for a couple of days and went on a guided walk at Castlehaven nr Castletownshend It was a sheer delight to learn about local beauty spots, the origins of place names and much history Including a battle in Castlehaven bay between the English Irish and Spanish which took plac...
We were in West Cork for a couple of days and went on a guided walk at Castlehaven nr Castletownshend It was a sheer delight to learn about local beauty spots, the origins of place names and much history Including a battle in Castlehaven bay between the English Irish and Spanish which took place before the battle of Kinsale! Also We went to an ancient holy well, its water is still used today in local churches! Conor our guide brought the history alive and treated us to tea and biscuits at the harbour We thoroughly enjoyed the walk Thanks ConorVery informative, good fun and easy to listen too. Learned lots about the area, and the cup of tea was lovely too! Would recommend it to anyone with an interest in place names, the Irish language or local history Brendan & Susan
Very informative, good fun and easy to listen too. Learned lots about the area, and the cup of tea was lovely too! Would recommend it to anyone with an interest in place names, the Irish language or local history Brendan & SusanThe views and the history which Conor brought to life on the spot are truly amazing. It was lovely to stand there and imagine what life was like for those who lived there during the various periods of history. My 19 year old daughter was every bit as enthusiastic as me at the end of the trip!
The views and the history which Conor brought to life on the spot are truly amazing. It was lovely to stand there and imagine what life was like for those who lived there during the various periods of history. My 19 year old daughter was every bit as enthusiastic as me at the end of the trip!This activity is a must do. Instead of a tour in the usual sense of travelling around the place taking it all in, Conor offers a relaxed walking tour on the geographic equivalent of a microscope slide. The entire tour takes place within the confines of a single townland - that of Gleann Bearachái...
This activity is a must do. Instead of a tour in the usual sense of travelling around the place taking it all in, Conor offers a relaxed walking tour on the geographic equivalent of a microscope slide. The entire tour takes place within the confines of a single townland - that of Gleann Bearacháin/Castlehaven - with one exception when we step out of the townland briefly, over a tiny stream, to survey the ground in a way that vividly brings to life the whole idea of a townland. This is a place where every knuckle and hollow of rock has a name, where every bay, cliff and island has multiple stories to tell, some of which are very important in the context of Irish and even world history. Conor is a master dinnseanchaí - a storyteller of micro placename history, weaving this knowledge with general history, geology, and economics among many other disciplines. It brought to life an Ireland that I barely knew existed - a successful, self-sufficient, sea-faring nation that was the envy of covetous neighbours, highlighting the randomness of happenstance and fickleness of allegiances that still resonates in this messy, modern world of today.Conor's knowledge of this area and it's history is expert. He's a thoughtful host and his stories are thoroughly researched, engaging, and accessible. I am not a "history person" an did just loved it, as did my 18 and 11 year old daughters. Definitely not a tour I could have done on my own or thr...
Conor's knowledge of this area and it's history is expert. He's a thoughtful host and his stories are thoroughly researched, engaging, and accessible. I am not a "history person" an did just loved it, as did my 18 and 11 year old daughters. Definitely not a tour I could have done on my own or through a guidebook. Conor obviously loves where he lives and what he does. His passion is contagious. 100% recommend.