As our enforced staycation continues (due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis), we headed to West Cork for the day, taking in a few towns on the way to our final stop in Bantry.
There seemed to be a marked difference in the level of health measures taken in different towns as the pressure to close things stepped up.
The first ‘big’ place we passed through was Bandon, ancestral home of Graham Norton and formerly a bit exclusionary towards Catholics – a sign at the walls from the 18th century apparently read:
Entrance to Jew, Turk or Atheist; any man except a Papist
We went on from there along quite narrow country roads, stopping next at a small pub we came upon at a crossroads (the Beehive at Dungannon).
After a quick non-alcoholic pint and general discussion of the evil virus taking hold, we headed on.
Baltimore was a nice place to stop and have lunch. We ate a fantastic meal of hake, chips and salad while looking out to sea.
Baltimore has a decent enough seafront and harbour, with regular boat trips out to Sherkin Island, Cape Clear and Fastnet Rock.
