012 Kinsale Walks and Ghost Tour

Segment 1- Mindie

 

Kinsale – County Cork – off the coast of southern Ireland

 

Kinsale isn't a thin place… sometimes you need to relax and rejuvenate and have fun. Most lovers of thin places and liminal spaces also love history and stories of local people – heroes, villains – and Kinsale is very rich in history that impacted the evolvement of society in the western world with the famous "Battle of Kinsale."

Kinsale has two historic forts, Charles and James Forts. And so many other bits of interesting history.

 

Kinsale is of my favorite towns for relaxing.  I love the vibe.  The town is clean, vibrant It's an art and foodie town. The people are friendly. It's totally walkable and everywhere you look is color and light.

 

When you go to Kinsale a good way to get your bearings is to go on a tour guided by Don or Barry – on Don and Barry's Historic Strolls. I was lucky enough to get an interview with Barry when I was in Kinsale recently.

 

segment 2 – guest interview

 

Barry Moloney – Don and Barry's Kinsale Historic Stroll

 

Don and Barry's Historic Stroll in Kinsale offers a walking tour full of history and interesting information about this seaside town in County Cork.

 

 

SEGMENT 3– Kinsale ghost tour

 

There are a few consistently operated ghost tours in Ireland.  Being the owner of a ghost tour company here in the states, I always like to see what other companies and groups do when crafting and putting on a ghost tour. I've been on the ghost tour in Belfast and the Ghost Bus in Dublin.  Both were great experiences through very different.

 

Kinsale has an interesting ghost tour.  The term Ghost tour is so subjective. It can have multiple definitions in people's minds. People can perceive ghost tours as anything from paranormal investigations to history walks to people dressed in character leading a theatrical performance. 

 

Kinsale ghost tour is that kind of ghost tour – a performance and it's quite comedic.  Two actors, Brian O'Neill and Don Herlihy dress in character and lead their group of guests around the historic Kinsale town center and recount stories of ghosts and historical figures in way that keeps the guests' attention and keeps guests laughing. This performance is so well done. And there are some elements of surprise.

 

The tour starts at Kinsale's oldest tavern - the Tap Tavern, which has been owned by Brian O'Neill's family since 1886.  His mother, Mary O'Neill still owns it today and she and Brian manage the operations. Mary is often there when guests gather for the ghost tour. I had the pleasure of meeting her while I waited to speak to Brian.

 

The tour takes about 90 minutes. It covers all the interesting parts of the town and it is very entertaining. An evening well spent.

 

Don't miss it if you're in Kinsale.

 

Kinsale Ghost Tours

http://kinsaleperformanceevents.com/hentertainment/ghost-tout/

 

 

 

SEGMENT 4 – Ardmore in County Waterford

 

Ard Mohr means Great Height

Ardmore: Great Height – blog post by Mindie Burgoyne

A seaside resort and fishing village. It's near Youghal in the south of Ireland – not too far from Kinsale or Cork City.

 

Ardmore is a thin place. I guess I sense the thinness of a place on the approach. Maybe there's something about the round tower, maybe something about the old ruins. But as you climb the hill to the old monastic ruins you get a jolt of something when the round tower comes into view. It's a seaside town with a beautiful beach and sheltered bay. It's a resort town for tourists with stunning views of the bay and a cliff walk above the town.

There are also ecclesiastical ruins in Ardmore are associated with St. Declan, a 5th-century saint who established this monastic community here on a hill at Ardmore… in fact the name Ard Mor – means "Great Height."

The devotional stops in Ardmore are traveled by pilgrims and associated with St. Declan. They include the ecclesiastical ruins up on the hill, a holy well, and a large stone on the beach.

According to one of the Lives written about him, St. Declan was born in this region and later went to Rome and became a bishop. He left Rome and returned to County Waterford - - to Ardmore with plans to build a monastery. However, he left without his bell. A bishop's bell was similar to his crozier. A symbol