IN the city of Cork, it is extremely profitable to take one-day tours of local attractions since the flow of tourists here is not as high as in Dublin or Galway, and the format of the tour implies travel not on a huge bus, but in a minivan for six people.
The peculiarity of any tour in the country is extremely strict timing.
It has an early start, and the end is mandatory no later than 6 pm.
If people are slightly delayed in one place, then there will be less time for the next object since after six in the evening, no one will work there.
If you are a student and want to visit Ireland and West Cork in particular, you should set aside a lot of time for it.
The thing is, Ireland is a country with a rich history and beautiful landscapes; studying and visiting can take up a lot of time, which students don't have much of, considering how many assignments they have to do, even when studying online.
Luckily, they can ask for help on specialized sites by simply leaving a "write my paper" request.
Charles Fort
A day trip to the west of County Cork is packed with some of the highlights.
The journey begins at Charles Fort, a classic example of late 17th-century star-shaped coastal fortification.
One of the country's largest military installations, Charles Fort, is inextricably linked with some of Ireland's most memorable moments.
It also offers stunning views of Kinsale Harbour and the West Cork coastline.
Across the harbor, there is the symmetrical James Fort.
Soon after the Charles Fort was built (in the 1680s), named after Charles II, it became clear that although it perfectly protected the entrance to Kinsale Harbour, it was extremely vulnerable from the land, which seemed to hang over it, so for the next two hundred years its main function was to house barracks for the British army.
In the 20th century, both coastal forts fell into disrepair and eventually turned into military museums.
Nowadays, the fame of the forts is associated with the old "Spanish trace" and the more modern "German trace," and in both cases - with military battles.
The need to build these massive fortifications was caused by the Spanish invasions of the "Invincible Armada."
However, these places were fortified thoroughly before them since Kinsale was once an extremely important seaport: in the 10th century, the Vikings ruled here, and in the 13th - the Normans.
By the end of the 16th century, thanks to the huge volume of maritime trade, Kinsale turned into the main city on the southern coast of Ireland.
In 1601, Spain supported another Irish rebellion against English rule, occupying the local harbor.
As a result, a major naval battle took place here, ending in the triumph of the English, and the latter began to build large defensive forts.
The Spanish, however, are still remembered with warmth in these parts because they were helpers in the holy fight against the occupiers.
Therefore, the abundance of Spanish flags on the streets of Kinsale should not be surprising.
Visiting Charles Fort would be a good idea if you are a student interested in history or an applicant who is going to enroll in the history department.
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Kinsale
One of the most beautiful towns in Ireland, Kinsale is located near Cork and also boasts more than a thousand years of history.
Today, it is the gastronomic capital of Ireland, famous for its many restaurants, and the annual Gourmet Festival is held there.
The permanent population of the town is only a little over two thousand people.
However, this figure increases significantly in the summer months, when the town is flooded with tourists, yachters, golfers, and fishermen.
The Irish sometimes call Kinsale their Monaco - looking at the number of yachts moored here or looking at the real estate offers from local agencies, you understand that these analogies are not accidental.
Atlantic Ocean
Immediately after leaving the Kinsale harbor, the Celtic Sea ends, and the Atlantic Ocean begins.
In Ireland, this section is called the Wild Atlantic Way - a tourist route along the western part of the island.
It passes through 9 counties, three provinces, and one hundred and fifty attractions right up to the north, where the ocean gives way to the Irish Sea.
Timoleague Abbey
Moving west from Kinsale along the Wild Atlantic Way, you find yourself in another truly fabulous place - the town of Timoleague, famous for the ruins of an ancient (13th century) Franciscan abbey.
Unlike Kinsale, time seems to have stopped here.
The main and only major street here is designed in the traditional Irish style and clearly tries to compete with the colorful streets of neighboring Kinsale.
West Cork is the perfect place for students and tourists who are looking for amazing landscapes and areas with a rich history.