Not to miss

Beamish & Crawford Brewery

This famous brewery is the most ancient porter brewery in Ireland. Beer drinkers will love the well presented tours that end with a few rounds of the famous Beamish brews. The brewery is hard to miss as it is across the road from the Counting House, a building that takes first prize for eye-blinding, mock Tudor, architectural awfulness.

Cork Butter Museum

Okay, so it may not sound so exciting, but there's something quietly charming about a butter museum. The museum focuses on the history of dairying, the growth of the Cork Butter Exchange, and the craft of traditional butter making. Definitely scone-worthy.

Blarney Castle

This is your chance to see a beautiful old castle (built 1210-1446), walk in some nice gardens, and, of course, kiss a magic stone that makes you talk better. But when you go to kiss the 'stone of elequence', kiss it early, before the coach crowds arrive.