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Bantry
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Bantry is a thriving
market town and fishing port on the coast of County Cork, located at
the head of Bantry Bay. The town is surrounded by some of Ireland's
most spectacular countryside with drives and walks that will take
your breath away. The Beara peninsula is to the northwest, with
Sheep's Head also nearby, on the peninsula south of Bantry Bay
The compact town centre of Bantry has a wide variety of shops, bars,
coffee shops and restaurants in addition to a three screen cinema,
tourist office, museum and library. The town also has a weekely
market on Fridays which sees a varied selection of market stalls
selling West Cork’s finest local foods, antiques, art, crafts and
livestock.
The Bantry region is divided into three main areas corresponding
with the peninsulas - The Beara Peninsula, The Sheep's Head
Peninsula and The Mizen Peninsula. These extend south-west in the
Atlantic up to 30 miles. Touring routes are numerous and include the
breathtaking scenery of the coastal routes around each of these
peninsulas. Bantry Town itself is a hub for the serious walker with
access to the Sheep’s Head Way and Beara Way. These walks contain
many well signed loop walks that can take just a few hours or a few
days.
There are a number of annual festivals and events held in the town
which attract a large number of tourists. These include the Bay Run
half marathon in May, the Chamber Music Festival in June and July
followed by the West Cork Literary Festival in the second week of
July. August Bank Holiday weekend is the Bantry BBQ Festival with
street barbeques, live music and street performers. The town is also
host to horse fairs, national road bowling competitions and one the
country’s largest agricultural shows.
Bantry House, the home of the former Earls of Bantry is
spectacularly situated and exuberantly furnished. It is one of
Ireland's most attractive Great Houses, full of treasures collected
by various generations of Earls of Bantry from all parts of the
world. The beautiful gardens have been restored and are home to
sub-tropical plants and shrubs. The gardens and house are open to
the public. In the courtyard of Bantry House, The French Armada
Exhibition Centre has been developed. This features the story of the
ill-fated French Armada invasion of December, 1796.
Water sports, pony trekking, boat cruising in the Bay, cookery
courses, cycling on well signposted routes all can be enjoyed in the
area. Bantry Bay Golf Club, 2km from Bantry on the road to
Glengarriff is a demanding 18 hole course, designed by Christy
O'Connor Jnr.
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Bantry Holiday Homes - County Cork, Ireland