Get ready to explore

By Geraldine Fitzgerald

Whilst desperate for the smell of jet fuel and a bit of sunburn, people are hesitant about hopping on a plane this summer.

Travel costs become eyewatering the moment kids are off school; concern over political unpleasantness and further pandemic issues linger. Staycationing is looking very attractive indeed this year.

We live in a gorgeous country with exquisite scenery from Castletownbere to Kerry to Kilkenny and the rest of the country. With a bit of planning, you can avoid scones that cost a squillion euro, and instead enjoy mining the rich seam of unique offerings all over our island. You don’t even have to leave the province to find the good stuff.

West Cork rocks. Even marine mammals like to come here for their holliers, and you can book whale and dolphin-watching tours from several harbours including Courtmacsherry, Baltimore and Bantry. You can also spot seals, porpoises, fin whales and on a great day, a breaching humpback.

Night kayaking on Lough Hyne near Skibbereen is a delight, with unchallenging paddling through water that’s magically alight with millions of sparkles caused by the bioluminescent microorganisms in the water.

You’ll find surfing and sailing all over the coast; deep-sea diving in Baltimore or a swim in the Blue Pools of Glengarriff will be bracing but fun, and a dip off any of our beaches will fix what ails you. It’s all the rage.

If you really don’t fancy getting wet, you’ll find farmers markets and food festivals in most towns over the summer. There are walks a plenty, through scenery like the iconic Mizen footbridge, to Liss Ard House and gardens, and any coastal area with a walking trail across its cliffs never fails to impress. (Careful, now.)

Waterford is close to Cork once you negotiate the labyrinthine roadworks at the tunnel and although famous for a floury bread roll, a swanky greenway and a hurling team, actually has magnificent countryside dotted with historical buildings. Deeper digging in the local entertainment will unearth Escape Room challenges and a bit of axe-throwing, if you’re in the form.

There’s a reason tourists flock to Kerry; it has unabashedly dramatic scenery. Instead of overpriced coffee in Killarney, where everyone is absolutely lovely but might sell their granny for the right price, try a ferry trip out to the rugged archipelago of the Blaskets.

The jaw dropping views have been admired as background to movies from ‘Star Wars’ to ‘Ryan’s Daughter’; if you look up dinglepennisula.ie you can even take the film location tour through the most photogenic of sights and sites.

You mightn’t have been to Tipperary since your school tour to the Rock of Cashel – it’s time go back for a look in 2022.

Visit Cahir Castle; walk through the nature park in the Glen of Aherlow and get some inspiration at the Brian Ború Cultural Centre. You can sail along Lough Derg if the idea of walking the historic pilgrimage trail around it doesn’t appeal; explore Mitchelstown Caves while arguing which of the dripping formations is a stalactite and find loads of beautiful places to eat. Contrary to the song, Tipperary is not a long, long way at all.

County Clare is also just a quick zip up the road and there’s nowhere better to bask in a west coast sunset than the Cliffs of Moher. The Aran Islands are nearby; the friendly market town of Ennis is just that, and the Burren is starkly gorgeous.

The trick to a good staycation is route-planning. The notion of spontaneity is lovely, but if you want to stay anywhere overnight, you’ll need to book ahead.

Be sensible; food at tourist attractions is expensive so instead of moaning about being ripped off, load the car with kid-quietening goodies. However, there are amazing eateries scattered all over Munster so it is well worth planning a meal in one or several of them as a treat.

Don’t stand too close to cliff edges; avoid wandering sheep and clean up after yourselves.

For detailed information pretend you’re a tourist and look up each town for opening hours; things to do; accommodation and attractions.