Today we'll travel to Dungarvan.

Our stops today are Waterford Crystal and Mount Congreve before heading to the Tannery for a two-night stay.

*Light Lunch snack can be purchased at the Cafe at Mount Congreve.

The head gardener, Elmer Dool, leads our tour of Mount Congreve.

We are just a short drive along the Blackwater to Dungarven.

Over the next two days, we'll explore the Dungarvan area and Learn how to cook Irish Cuisine from world-renowned chef Paul Flynn at The Tannery 

Link: https://tannery.ie/

When we arrive at The Tannery, we will be checked in and our cookery course will start at 430PM. Dinner after the cookery course in the cookery school.

The following day, we will visit some of the most historic houses and gardens on the Blackwater River, Lismore Castle and Turin House.

Home will be at Fernhill House for the next two nights. The lovely Georgian House owned by the O'Neills has recently been updated with historically accurate furnishings and is now proud to be part of the Bluebook properties.

Today we leave Dungarven for the lovely Cork coast and West Cork.

Here's our tour schedule for the day, the 12th of September

930AM         Depart Fernhill House Hotel

                        Kate Ryan will give a talk about Cork's Food Culture.

11-1:30 pm Arrive at Glenbrook Farm, just outside the main city centre.

                        Here we will meet Peter Twomey and Brian McCarthy.

                         Peter is the fourth generation of his family to farm the land at  Glenbrook, where he lives with his wife and two children.

A traditional dairy farmer, Peter decided to sell his herd and go into free-range rare breed pig farming instead. Pig farming is less intensive than dairy farming, needs less land, and allows Peter to increase the biodiversity on his farm. Peter has also reserved some land to establish Ireland’s first ex-dairy beef finishing farm.

Because he needed less land for farming, he collaborated with innovative urban farming entrepreneur and Nuffield Scholar, Brian McCarthy. Brian established Cork Rooftop Farm during the first Covid lockdown in May  2020 on the roof of a disused car park owned by his family’s flower business. He transformed the space into Cork’s first urban farm in the city centre through a Community Supported Agriculture Scheme. Its success meant the farm quickly outgrew the space right at the time  Peter was making his transition from dairy to pig farming. A  collaboration was born. Now Glenbrook is a free-range pig farm and a  60-acre horticulture farm with further collaborations with Cork Food  Policy Council to create a Cork Food Hub to support other small-scale horticulturalists. A first on the island of Ireland.

                         We will meet Peter and Brian who will give us a tour of the farm and explain what they do, how, and why this kind of farming is essential for food security in Cork and beneficial to the environment.

                         This will be followed by a tasting of the porky delights in one of the barns that are sporadically and magically transformed into a pop-up restaurant throughout the year.

1:30pm           Depart Glenbrook Farm for The English Market

2pm                 The English Market

                      We'll tour the English Market, learn about its importance as a custodian of food culture in the city, and learn about the foods of Cork that can only be found here.

2:30pm           The Farmgate

                         We will settle into The Farmgate for a late lunch that will draw together all the stories and tastes experienced throughout the day.

                         Head Chef, Pamela Kelly, will cook us a lunch of Glenbrook Farm free-range Porchetta with black pudding and seasonal vegetables from  Cork Rooftop Farm, followed by traditional Irish apple tart and cream,  tea/coffee.

                         During lunch, we'll learn about the story of The Farmgate and its role in preserving dishes that are traditional to Cork and Ireland.

3:45pm           Depart The Farmgate / The English Market, and board coach back to Fernhill House Hotel

Drinks before Dinner -

Dinner on your own     

Today, we'll head Northwest and call The Europe Hotel home for the next two nights 

Link: https://www.theeurope.com/  

Spa time is booked for the 14th & 15th. This is meant to be a relaxing time with time to unwind and rejuvenate.

Bantry House & Gardens will be on our garden stop.

https://www.bantryhouse.com

We will experience the local cuisine and explore the wonderful Killarney National Park and Muckross House. 

Link: https://www.nationalparks.ie/killarney/

Late Start today after Spa

We'll spend the day exploring Limerick and further afield in Ballyhoura, visiting Castlegaade and some private and public gardens. We will also be touring private homes and castles in the area. 

Link: https://www.thesavoycollection.com/the-savoy/

We'll spend our last two nights of the journey exploring Ireland's Ancient East, visiting the gardens and the fair city.

Also, a special invitation has arrived from Knockmore House, which is close to my heart and the hotel. We will spend the late afternoon with them and have many stories to share!The tour at the  5-star hotel at Powerscourt Estate. Link: www.powerscourthotel.com  

Just an Hour drive from our last location we'll board in Dublin and depart home.