The Guide http://www.blarneypark.com/ Munster Cork _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Map of Cork _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Cork Irelands largest county, Cork has beautiful coastal scenery, especially along its three rugged peninsulas, Mizen, Sheep's head and Beara. Cork City, which hosts popular annual jazz and film festivals, is the only major urban area in the county and most of Cork's other small towns and villages, which are mainly dotted along the coastline exude a traditional air as if they have not changed very much in the last century. Cork has a large number of ancient monuments and tombs and some of the finest are scattered around Clonakilty and on the Mizen Head. One of the most impressive of these is the Drombeg Stone Circle near Rosscarbery. Kissing the Blarney Stone at the top of Blarney Castle remains an ever popular tourist activity, but although the castle can become crowded in summer it is worth a visit. Southerly Cork and Kerry have the warmest climate of all Irish counties and the Fota Wildlife Park near Cork City takes advantage of the clement conditions by letting their grassland animals roam free in large enclosures. The Great Famine hit Cork hard and thousands of people emigrated to America from Cobh during the 19th and 20th centuries. The Fastnet rock, the most southwesterly point in Ireland, was called the Tear Drop because it was the last piece of last the emigrants would see before reaching America. The interesting Mizen Vision signal station visitors centre is one of a number of places where seabirds and dolphins can be spotted off the Cork Coast. Whales are also often spotted from the Mizen Vision viewing room. Corks most famous son was Michael Collins, who led the military campaign against the English, which led to the setting up of the Irish Free State in 1921. A small visitors centre is based at his former home, which was burnt by the English near Rosscarbery. Quick guide to Cork Inis recommends - Fota Wildlife Park Tourist Attractions http://www.blarneypark.com/ Translate this Web page English to French English to German English to Italian English to Portuguese English to Spanish _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Design and content by INIS (Irish News Internet Services 1998-99) Contact INIS by emailing inis@irishnews.com or Tel: 01232 322226 Copyright © the Irish News Internet Services   County Cork is Ireland's biggest county Ireland's most common surname and the black stuff from Cork? Murphy('s)