﻿Kinsale is one of Ireland's most beautiful towns, famous for its brightly colored buildings,
numerous shops, including art galleries and antique stores, with many excellent restaurants,
often called the "Gourmet Capital of Ireland". It's slightly out of the way, about 17 miles south
of the bigger city of Cork, and yet it has become one of the most popular visitor destinations in
the country, primarily because of its beautiful setting with the waterfront harbor and the lovely
arrangement of its narrow, winding streets that are just perfectly ideal for walking. Here we have
an authentic and cozy village feeling with these many blocks for discovering on foot, lined with
an excellent variety of shops that are usually smaller and independent family operated boutiques.
You don't see those high-end luxury fashion and designer shops like Louis Vuitton and Chanel here.
Instead, it's much more of an authentic local shopping experience, with typically Irish workers
who are friendly and happy to chat with you. You'll find it is the perfect town to walk around
in. Kinsale is such an ideal town for walking, and that's partly because of its small size, just
about 400 meters from one end to the other, with a lovely concentration of shops and restaurants
in that central part of the village. There are many variations of these paint jobs and colors
of the stores along the streets, turning the urban landscape into an outdoor art gallery, delightful
to look at as you stroll along. Throughout the program will be taking you on walks along those
main streets of town, showing you the beautiful shopfronts and restaurants along the way.
Market Square, and these little pedestrian lanes, have a lively atmosphere. It's a popular gathering
place, surrounded by a delightful array of colorfully painted, picturesque shops and
boutiques, just a few blocks, and there's no cars in these beautifully painted colorful buildings
with some benches where you can sit down and relax and enjoy the sights. It's the kind of place where
you just want to hang out and relax. We've gotten used to pedestrian zones in most towns
of Europe and come to expect them where cars are not allowed, but it's not that common in Ireland,
except in a few places such as Kinsale. Even here, the pedestrian zone is pretty small, it's only
three little blocks. -- d but the entire center of town is very friendly for the pedestrian,
for walking along. Yeah, there's cars in the streets, but not many -- doesn't matter because
it's still a wonderful place to walk, enhanced by the large number of shops and restaurants
housed in these historic buildings that are so well-maintained and delightful to look at,
keeping you pleasantly occupied while strolling along. It's quite different than most Irish towns
that usually consist of one main road running through the center of the town, with buildings
along both sides. You don't often have that tangle of inviting side streets that you want
to go exploring like you find here in Kinsale. Partly it's because Kinsale is located out of
the way -- i's t's not on a major thoroughfare connecting to other big cities. It's along a
waterfront on the southern edge of the country. And another factor is that it was occupied and
developed by the British from 1600 up through the early 20th century when it really took its form.
For a while, Irish were not even allowed to live here. The map shows how the central streets are
clustered together and intersect with a variety of different angles. Many of the streets start
with the same word "Market" because this had been the market center of the old town, as it is today,
along with several other main streets that go all around the center. And yet the actual pedestrian
zone where cars are not allowed is just a few tiny blocks around those colorful buildings,
next to Market Square, the very center of town. This intersection of three streets is another
focal point of town where you've got Pierce Street, Market Street and The Glen coming together
with several outstanding restaurants and hotels such as the White House, and across from it,
the Blue Haven Hotel, Bar and Bistro, one of the top gourmet dining experiences in Kinsale. The
restaurant is highly regarded for its delicious cuisine, showcasing a range of dishes made with
locally sourced ingredients, including fresh seafood, meats, and seasonal produce. There's
also an attached pub where you can kick back and have a light meal and some Guinness,
along with a range of Irish Whiskey's, local craft beers, and carefully curated wine options.
You can also have a meal at their Fish Market Bistro. The Blue Haven Hotel features stylish,
cozy rooms, blending modern amenities with a touch of traditional charm.
The White House Hotel and restaurant has a distinctive white facade, in contrast with
the vibrant colors of Kinsale streetscape. It's a historic building with a rich heritage
that dates back centuries. The restaurant features a mix of traditional Irish dishes
and contemporary European flavors, from seafood delicacies like fresh oysters and grilled fish,
to succulent meat dishes and vegetarian options, a diverse range of delectable choices
to suit various pallets. The restaurant's ambiance is warm and inviting. Next to
it is another popular venue, Kitty O Se's, with traditional live Irish music every day. Oh yes,
you'll find lots of Irish music in the pubs of Kinsale, (singing) It is a small town with a
friendly atmosphere, seemingly more of a place for locals rather than tourists. (singing)
We will see more pubs and restaurants later, but for now we're going on a walking tour of
some of the main streets of town, starting in the very center on what is probably the
best street in town for walking and shopping, Market Street, with a mix of shops, restaurants,
pubs and little hotels. The town consists of well-preserved historic buildings because during
the 20th century, this area was in economic decline. Nothing much happened here. There was
very little development. And so the old buildings from centuries ago are still standing. It's one
of those delightful historical sequences where a town was booming in the 1600s and 17 or 1800s with
many attractive shops and homes built in a nicely organized village center. Then went into decline,
left alone for 100 years, and now it's been rediscovered. The buildings are all renovated
and painted in a lively variety of colors. In the last 40 years, Kinsale has really blossomed and
has bounced back today as a very attractive destination. Market Street intersects with
Main Street, another lively thoroughfare that runs right through the center of town,
lined with an array of shops, restaurants, pubs and historical landmarks. This is a place where
they love their bookshops. You'll be captivated by those colorful facades of the buildings. It's
a shopper's paradise where you can browse through an array of specialty stores, fashion boutiques,
artisanal craft shops and more. If you're walking has worked up a little appetite, you will find
plenty of places to satisfy, with a little snack, some meals, sandwiches, drinks, coffee and bars,
perhaps a little Irish tea and a muffin. There's a couple of steep staircases that go from
Main Street up to Higher O'Connell Street, but there's not a lot up there, so you can skip that.
Instead, there is much more of town to discover. The largest and busiest street in town is Pearse
Street. It's so wide they even have diagonal parking, with many cars going by, wide sidewalks,
and lots of shops and restaurants. Mylie Murphy is a place you can get fishing supplies or rent
a bicycle. That way you can explore some of the many bike trails available in the
vicinity. Pearse Street has a lot to offer, but with a much different character than those
other narrow streets that we've been walking on. It's more like a typical big city street. Then
it changes names to The Glen and at that point connects to Market Street. Even though it does
not have that old-fashioned character, it's definitely worth taking a walk along Pearse
Street. Among the excellent restaurants here is Hamlets, associated with the Blue Haven Hotel,
with indoor and outdoor seating. And it's nice that this is not just a touristic street, but one
for the locals where they have their post office and there is a grocery store here. Let's take a
look inside this supermarket and see how similar it is to the markets that we've got everywhere.
You'd feel right at home walking these aisles, maybe just getting a snack or perhaps if you're
staying at a vacation rental here, you can get some supplies for your own kitchen.
Kinsale is a town of gourmet fine dining, but perhaps sometimes you want to take a break from
the fancy restaurants and the high prices and just get some down to earth food and snacks,
and here you've got it right in the supermarket on Pearse Street.
A block away is a street called Market Place that has a curious historic site, The Old Pound, which
was not a prison, but it was for the care of stray livestock, especially pigs and horses. Now, this
old stone structure is preserved as a historic site on the corner in the middle of the Old Town.
St. Maltose is one of the oldest churches in Ireland, built from 1190 in the Norman style.
A few blocks away, we arrive at Desmond Castle. It was built about 500 years ago. It's a fine
example of an urban tower house. It was originally built as a Custom House, playing a major role in
importing wine. The Earl of Desmond was granted the right to take one cask of wine from every
shipment, and Kinsale in those days was a major importer of wine to Ireland, from Spain and France
and Portugal. Inside the castle they have a small wine museum, with different kinds of corkscrews,
old bottles of wine and different paraphernalia. After 1641, the castle was converted into a prison
because the French navy attempted to capture Kinsale and they were defeated. And so the
prisoners were held here, and it's known locally as the French Prison because of soldiers who
were locked up here during the Napoleonic Wars. It's worth climbing up the steps to the rooftop
observation deck for the view looking out over the Old Town with Kinsale harbor in the background,
showing the many boats in the marina. You can take an excursion cruise from this harbor that serves
as a hub of activity with fishing boats, pleasure crafts and sailboats, dotting the shimmering
waters. Kinsale’s ideal harbor made it a significant center for maritime trade and fishing,
as far back as the 13th century. The town thrived as a bustling port, attracting merchants from
across Europe and establishing trade connections with cities like Bristol and Bordeaux. From the
shoreline, the harbor looks pretty big, but it actually extends way beyond what we can see
forming a major naval facility back in the Middle Ages and on through the 1800s. The water's edge
makes a delightful place for a stroll. And another feature of this harbor is there are some nice
restaurants and several hotels right along the waterfront. Dino's Family Restaurant has been in
the area since 1970 as a family-run business. They serve homemade chips, fresh fish, crispy chicken
and their famous King Dino burger. They support local suppliers and farmers to get their fresh
fish and produce using local ingredients wherever they can. And they have a stand up counter for
quick service of takeaway food. Fishy Fishy is also a fine restaurant along the waterfront,
operated by a husband and wife team who opened their original Kinsale Gourmet store in 1990
and expanded into this roaring success. Be sure to call ahead for a reservation.
There's a nice little park along the Promenade, which is primarily a place for the local families
to gather and give the kids a chance to get out, play around, and have some fun. Also, along the
waterfront, Actons is the oldest hotel in Kinsale and thoroughly updated as a contemporary four-star
destination. I've stayed here with my groups several times and really enjoyed the facilities,
their excellent buffet breakfast, as well as its great location, an easy walk right into town. You
would love to have dinner at Bastion, the only restaurant in Kinsale with a Michelin star,
where they make everything they serve in-house, operated by the McDonald family.
Another gourmet feast can be enjoyed at Max's Wine Bar and Seafood restaurant,
located on Main Street, also operated by a husband and wife team since 1999. Many of the
restaurants here are also pubs and small hotels, good for bed and breakfast, following in the path
of an old Irish tradition where hospitality and comprehensive service for guests takes care of
everything a visitor could ever hope for. Now you can see why Kinsale has been called the "Gourmet
Capital of Ireland". Yet it's a place where they don't take themselves too seriously and love to
have fun. Hello? Hello? Hello? He's got married. I am a shy mermaid, I am a shy mermaid. It's that
old tradition of a stag party, having some fun here at Hamlet's restaurant. The red-haired groom
is a Viking taking on the pirates. You're pirates. We are here. Yeah, we are real pirates. That old,
old tradition. Exactly. Yeah, We keep that tradition. Yeah, we're plundering and yeah,
looting, pillaging and stuff like this. And the hens have their fun too. (laughter and cheers)
Ah, the joy of victory. They just won something. (cheers, honking)
We were just trying to get across the street to a highly-recommended restaurant, Jim Edwards. It's a
gastropub. Some locals were telling us this is an excellent restaurant, and as we sat and enjoyed a
meal, we saw more and more local people coming in to fill up the place. So we knew this was a
good spot. As confirmed by our chat with one of the owners. So it's a family business here. So
there's my mom, my dad. We grew up upstairs and, yeah. And there's now myself and my two brothers
are here. Great. And plus, you have accommodation. We do, we do, there are seven rooms, seven. Seven
rooms? Yeah. Aha Fantastic. Naturally, they have a lot of wonderful fresh fish on the menu,
and they are famous for their scalloped potatoes. It figures that Irish can be very creative with
potatoes. And they were. And there they're big side dishes of vegetables. It was an amazing
feast at a reasonable price. So don't think that a pub is strictly a bar with a lot of Guinness
and maybe a pub lunch. Many of them are gourmet restaurants nowadays, especially in Kinsale.
The restaurant is located along Market Quay, a short street, extending from the harbor to Market
Square. The street has a market on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. till 2:30 for fresh produce, local cheeses,
baked goods, crafts and souvenirs. Down at the harbor end of Market Quay, you'll find the Tourist
Information Office -- free maps, brochures and help on finding accommodations. They also have
a very good website. At the other end of Market Quay, we're back at Market Square, that essential
gathering place of town. It's kind of curious, it's not really much of a piazza, it's just a
widening of the sidewalk with some restaurant tables out there, but people love to gather here.
It's right next to that small pedestrian zone with the colorful buildings we saw earlier,
another great place for gathering, especially when your dog wants to play tug of war,
then run around and play some games, a friendly guy who wants spectators to join in on the fun.
We are almost finished with our visit to this beautiful town of Kinsale, but there is one
more major sight to see on the hill just outside town, where we find a massive fortification. And
that's the historic site of Charles Fort, built in the late 17th-century by the British to protect
Kinsale from attack by the Spanish, the French and Irish rebels. Because earlier in 1601, Kinsale
was the site of a major battle between Spain and England, in which the fourth Spanish Armada was
here to help the Irish rebels fight against the British to gain their independence. Unfortunately
for the Spanish and Irish, they lost that battle and England continued its domination over Ireland
for the next several centuries. And this fort is one of the reasons why they maintained that power.
This location up on the high ground gave them a commanding view over the entire coastline.
That completes our detailed visit to Kinsale. You can find many more videos about Ireland in
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