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Blarney Castle Tour: Explore Irish Heritage
4.7
27 Ratings
Cobh
Explore Blarney Castle, savor Kinsale’s gourmet delights, and discover Cork’s history on this unforgettable shore excursion from Cobh.
Explore Blarney Castle, savor Kinsale’s gourmet delights, and discover Cork’s history on this unforgettable shore excursion from Cobh.
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Blarney Castle & Gardens - Situated in County Cork, Ireland, Blarney Castle is a historic fortress famed for the Blarney Stone, which is said to bestow the gift of eloquence upon those who kiss it. This 15th-century castle is surrounded by stunning gardens, including the renowned Poison Garden and a tranquil rock close. Visitors can explore the…
- Blarney Castle & Gardens - Situated in County Cork, Ireland, Blarney Castle is a historic fortress famed for the Blarney Stone, which is said to bestow the gift of eloquence upon those who kiss it. This 15th-century castle is surrounded by stunning gardens, including the renowned Poison Garden and a tranquil rock close. Visitors can explore the castle’s towers and take in breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. The gardens provide peaceful walks and picturesque scenery, making Blarney Castle a must-see for both history and nature enthusiasts.
- Blarney - Located in County Cork, Ireland, the Blarney Estate includes the historic Blarney Castle and its lush surrounding gardens. Covering over 60 acres, the estate beautifully combines nature and history, featuring wooded paths, serene lakes, and formal gardens. Highlights include the famous Poison Garden, the peaceful Rock Close, and the meticulously maintained grounds. The estate offers visitors the chance to explore both the cultural significance of Blarney Castle and the natural beauty of its expansive parkland, making it a delightful destination for history buffs and nature lovers.
- Blarney Woollen Mills - Situated in Blarney, County Cork, Ireland, Blarney Woollen Mills is a renowned retail store celebrated for its high-quality Irish woolen products. Located in a historic 19th-century building, it offers a wide selection of traditional Irish goods, such as sweaters, scarves, blankets, and handmade items crafted from wool and cashmere. The mill is also a popular spot for Irish gifts, jewelry, and souvenirs, with a focus on craftsmanship and heritage. It’s a must-visit for those seeking authentic Irish products and a glimpse into Ireland’s rich textile traditions.
- Cobh Cathedral - Officially known as St. Colman’s Cathedral, Cobh Cathedral is a magnificent Gothic Revival church located in Cobh, County Cork, Ireland. Perched on a hill overlooking the harbor, the cathedral boasts stunning stained-glass windows, intricate stonework, and a striking 91-meter spire, making it one of Ireland’s tallest and most visually impressive cathedrals. Built in the 19th century, it is dedicated to St. Colman and stands as a prominent landmark in Cobh, a town famously linked to the Titanic. The cathedral’s scenic setting and beautiful architecture make it a popular destination for visitors and a place of significant historical and cultural importance.
- Kinsale - An opportunity to explore this charming town, enjoy a lunch break, visit a local pub, or simply indulge in some window shopping!
What's Included
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Entrance to Blarney Castle and Gardens
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Entrance to Blarney Castle and Gardens
What's Not Included
- Snacks
- Snacks
Additional Information
The shore excursion begins at the port of Cobh/Cork or Ringaskiddy, with the first stop at Blarney Castle. Here, guests will have up to 2 hours of free time to kiss the legendary Blarney Stone, explore the stunning gardens, and shop at the renowned Blarney Woollen Mills.
Following the Blarney visit, the tour continues with a scenic drive through Cork…
The shore excursion begins at the port of Cobh/Cork or Ringaskiddy, with the first stop at Blarney Castle. Here, guests will have up to 2 hours of free time to kiss the legendary Blarney Stone, explore the stunning gardens, and shop at the renowned Blarney Woollen Mills.
Following the Blarney visit, the tour continues with a scenic drive through Cork city center, showcasing famous landmarks such as The Shandon Bells and The English Market, while learning about the formidable Vikings and Anglo-Normans in Cork.
The journey then proceeds through the picturesque rolling Irish countryside, leading to the delightful village of Kinsale, known as “Ireland’s Gourmet Capital,” making it an ideal spot for lunch.
+++Docking at Ringaskiddy? No worries, the tour also departs from here.+++
Official guides and tour escorts
Guaranteed return to the ship on time
If the ship does not dock, a 100% refund is provided
Entrance to Blarney Castle & Gardens is included in the price
- Please note the Meeting location to Meet your guide, Pat, will be at the “ Annie Moore “ statue just outside the front gates of the Cruise terminal. He will be displaying a sign showing ‘YOUR SHORE TIME’
- +++++Please note Entrance to Blarney Castle and Gardens is Included within our shore excursion price!+++++
- If your ship is porting at RINGASKIDDY, you can join this tour as our coach also departs from this port, it is just a short ride from Cobh.
Location
Cobh Cruise Terminal
Please note the Meeting location to Meet your guide, Pat, will be at the “ Annie Moore “ statue just outside the front gates of the Cruise terminal. He will be displaying a sign showing 'YOUR SHORE TIME'
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.7
(27 Ratings)
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Eileen_s
Oct 9, 2025
Ireland tour - We had a wonderful guide, and lwe loved the tour. Blarney Castle was cool, but a lot of steps to climb. The town of Kinsale was really cute and our guide gave us good food recommendations too!!
Review provided by Viator
Catherine_h
Sep 15, 2025
Great Day - Our guide Pat was very knowledgeable and answered all of our questions. He was Very helpful and pleasant
Blarney castle and the gardens very lovely and the weather was incredible.
Review provided by Viator
Kbuter
Sep 5, 2025
One of the best tour guides - Patrick was amazing and professional. He personally walked us to points of interest as well as filled us with so much historical information about his country. It was truly wonderful. Everything was timely and went exactly as promised.
Review provided by Viator
Elise_b
Sep 4, 2025
Perfect blend of touring and free time! - Loved our day with Patrick today as we did a driving tour of Cork, and spent time in Kinsale and at Blarney Castle and Gardens with time for shopping (if desired) at Blarney Woolen Mills. We had time to walk around the cute town of Kinsale and eat lunch without rushing. At Blarney Castle, we could leisurely enjoy the castle, the gardens, the shops and grab a coffee or ice cream, again, without being rushed. I think that's what made this tour stand apart from others being offered. Patrick was very interesting and easy to understand during our time in the bus. He also answered all our questions about life in Ireland today. We couldn't have been happier with our choice to take this tour.
Review provided by Viator
Shona_h
Sep 3, 2025
Highly recommend this tour - Great service, well organized pickup, very nice bus and driver. The tour guide was knowledgeable and provided a professional and informative tour. They were very attentive to the cruise departure requirement and ensured we were back with ample time. There is a good balance of free time and guided time.
Review provided by Viator
A4185eecarolyng
Aug 24, 2025
Busy brilliant day! Lovely scenery! - Our guide was great. His information about the castle was very helpful and we had a very well planned day in Irish countryside. We really enjoyed Blarney Castle and we could have spent a whole day there lots to do and great shopping and would have enjoyed lunch there too. Kinsdale was a very cute place though and we had a great view from the interesting fort site. Well worth the money. Definitely understood the importance of getting us back to the ship on time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Maryscharer
Aug 19, 2025
BlarneyCastle & Kinsale - Great tour. Lots of free time to explore. Beautiful day starting with Blarney Castle. Arrived early to beat the mines. Nice tour of cork as well as an afternoon spent in Kinsale. No issues arrive back to ship in time for departure.
Review provided by Viator
Lynchelec
Aug 17, 2025
Great Trip - Our driver was really great and we had a wonderful time on this trip. If you are thinking about booking it, do it. You won't regret the choice.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lauren_t
Aug 11, 2025
Excellent experience - would book again - Excellent tour. Plenty of time at Blarney Castle to walk around. We decided not to walk up to the Stone, but our bus was the second one there so the wait wasn't long. Kinsale was beautiful and allowed plenty of time (about 2 hrs) to walk around, shop, and eat.
Review provided by Viator
Iain
Aug 20, 2025
A worthwhile port of call trip. - This tour was similar to one offered by the cruise company, but at a much, much lower price. We picked this due to the level of ability (easy), as my Mother is not as sprightly as she was. We were met by Pat (our guide) at the entrance to Cobh port), and then went to the coach which was conveniently parked around the corner. The coach was modern and well equipped with air con and usb ports (if you needed to charge phones, etc.).
The tour included stops of 2 hours at Blarney Castle (lovely grounds), and Kinsale (lovely fish at Dino's "chipper"), with a drive through Cork city between the stops.
Pat was both knowledgeable and enthusiastic and kept the group engaged throughout. Kevin (our driver) navigated some of the narrower streets with ease.
We would have given the trip 5 stars had we had either a brief stop in Cork, or longer at Blarney Castle - the drive through the city was a bit needless in our opinion. However, we would highly recommend the tour despite this.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
