Top Things to do in Bandon
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Top 10 Things to do in Bandon, Ireland
Discover the best top things to do in Bandon, Ireland including Church of St. Patrick, Timoleague Franciscan Friary, Ballycotton Island Lighthouse Tours, Blacks Brewery, Inchydoney Beach, Courtmacsherry Sea Angling Centre, West Cork Heritage Centre, Michael Collins Centre, Kilbrittain Whale, Charles Fort.
Restaurants in Bandon
1. Church of St. Patrick
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
Reviewed By permia - Ireland
This is a wonderful church in a pleasant west Cork town. Built in the late 1850s, significantly comprising limestone, the facade is most pleasing.
We visited on a bright sunny early spring day and the unclouded sunlight and azure sky showed the exterior and interior to the best.
Inside is magnificent. The vista along the central aisle bounded by arched columns is delightful. The side aisles are overhung with impressive flying buttress type wooden constructs. An assembly supports and decorates the grand ceiling.
A high altar is the highlight of the front area. Gracefully ornate, it provides the backdrop for the attractive congregation-facing altar.
Numerous stained glass windows seemed aflame with the undiluted bright Sunshine, a superb effect. A colourful organ was in the ascendant at the rear, a beautiful scene.
2. Timoleague Franciscan Friary
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 67 reviews
Timoleague Village is located in the heart of West Cork, just 45 minutes from Cork City and is close for the following villages and towns of West Cork such as Kinsale, Innishannon, Rosscarberry, Bandon, Inchydoney, Clonakilty and its close seaside neighbour Courtmacsherry. Timoleague Abbey is the main focal point in the village and it stands picturesquely at the water's edge at the head of a long sea inlet. Timoleague Abbey has been chosen as one of the main Discovery points on the Wild Atlantic way.In its day it was one of the largest and most important of the religious houses in Ireland. It was founded by one of the MacCarthys for the Franciscans in 1240, on the site already associated with St. Molaga - hence the name Timoleague, i.e. Tigh Molaga or the House of Molaga. Like all such monasteries, it was suppressed during the Reformation but the monks stayed in the district and returned in 1604 to repair it and bring it back to life. It must have recovered to some degree: the important MSS, known as the Book of Lismore, was in its keeping in 1629. It is said that the monks did a goodly trade in smuggled Spanish wine! Timoleague has its own Bird Sanctuary area for those with outdoor interests, and for the surfers, they can experience Surfing at the Blue Flag Beach at Inchydoney, the Michael Collins Experience in Clonakilty for those interested in local history and for the walkers and water lovers,the Seven Heads Walkway and Courtmacsherry bay are the ideal places to explore.. Take a boat trip from Baltimore and explore the Islands off Baltimore such as Sherkin Island and Cape Clear Island for some great scenery and wildlife.For Food Lovers the area offers some of the best Dining options in Ireland and specialise in local produce. Timoleague is the ideal base to explore all that West Cork has to offer and has several accommodation options including Caravan and Camping and BB options ... See Failte Ireland for full route details of The Wild Atlantic Way We look forward to Welcoming you to our beautiful part of the Country...
Reviewed By didr - Connecticut
Ireland has a lot of ruined abbeys and churches. this one is especially interesting. We visited in the late evening, when there were no other tourists and we could freely explore. The architecture is quite well preserved, and the location is stunningly beautiful.
3. Ballycotton Island Lighthouse Tours
Overall Ratings
5 based on 68 reviews
45 minutes from Cork city and you will be transported on an exclusive historical natural visitor experience. A charming 10-seater passenger ferry 'Yassy' and a local guide will transport you to the previously inaccessible island; up the steep grassy incline to the summit and inside the black tower and onto the lantern balcony. Only goats live on the island.. sometimes they come and say hello!
Reviewed By Eamonn H - Cork, Ireland
Absolutely great trip to The Ballycotton Lighthouse on the island off Ballycotton. Cant recommend this highly enough. Suitable for young and old it is a great family day out. Our guide was Eddie Fitzgerald and he was fantastic, a former lighthouse keeper he had plenty of stories of his times as a keeper. The boat trip out and back in was lovely and they treated us to a longer journey coming back taking us around the island which was a real bonus. Stopped by the Inn by the Harbour before & afterwards and enjoyed the hospitality and the banter with the locals.
Great value for money at €20 & a must do if you find yourself in Ballycotton especially on a fine day. The views are spectacular so dont forget the camera and binoculars. Plenty of opportunities to take photos.
4. Blacks Brewery
Overall Ratings
5 based on 84 reviews
Guided brewery tours with tasting samples. Come see a working Irish micro brewery in action. Home of the award winning Kinsale Pale Ale. See map for walking shortcut. Parking available also. Open for tours tasting on Saturdays throughout Sept. For booking http://www.ticketmaster.ie/Blacks-Brewery-tickets-Kinsale/venue/416872
Reviewed By Larko54
Super tour with loads of opportunity to taste a few beers and some delicious gin. I'm not a beer drinker at all but there is such a huge variety that there is something for everyone's palate. Only disappointment is that the delicious specialty beers aren't available in the shops for purchase !
5. Inchydoney Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 586 reviews
Reviewed By macbethIreland - Ireland
Great place to get away from it all, this hotel pulls out all the stops to make your stay enjoyable relaxing and hassle free , great sea water pool , great food hotel if fab , staff brillent, 10/10
6. Courtmacsherry Sea Angling Centre
Overall Ratings
5 based on 3 reviews
Courtmacsherry Sea Angling Centre is one of Irelands Premier Angling Centres based in the picturesque village of Courtmacsherry ,on the Wild Atlantic Way,located only 50 km from Cork International Airport ,nestled between the Old Head of Kinsale and the Seven Heads Peninsula. Our purpose built Charter and Self drive boats offer the sea angler the ultimate in safety and comfort.The Bay produces good results for anglers that decide to fish inshore or offshore ,the wrecking and shark enthusiast and the shore angler. Our vessels are berthed at Courtmacsherry Pontoon where you can embark in safety, rod hire is available at our tackle shop on the pier , with accommodation, a shop,lively bars with nightly entertainment and restaurants nearby. We can offer Angling packages with Self catering,B&B,and Hotel accommodation.
Reviewed By dell794
We're just back from a weekend fishing and thoroughly enjoyed it. We done the self drive on Friday and charter boat Saturday , we lucked out on self drive but hey, we were lucky on charter to have Jim as our skipper, friendly, very knowledgable and always ready with the kettle
7. West Cork Heritage Centre
Overall Ratings
4 based on 10 reviews
Reviewed By emsrem - Port Coquitlam, Canada
This is an interesting and well-appointed small museum. It has various local artifacts and exhibits from Cork and Bandon's history. I would suggest taking a stroll around the building as well, as it's set in a gorgeous old church. You can also make an appointment to see the local birth, death and wedding registries here. They were immensely helpful in researching my family's genealogy.
8. Michael Collins Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 212 reviews
We are a family run interpretive centre, just off the main road(R600)between Clonakilty and Timoleague/Kinsale).We are also located on the Wild Atlantic Way. We are open from Mid June to Mid September. At the centre we give presentations interpreting the life and times of Michael Collins. We begin with an audio visual presentation showing all the places connected with Michael Collins in West Cork, we also have a second audio visual consisting of archive footage. The most unique part of the presentation is our live lecture which is conducted by an expert historian who gives an account of the 'Big Fella's' life from 1906 until his death. We also have a full scale replica of the Ambush site in Beal na mBlath. We also do private Michael Collins tours.
Reviewed By Johnkelly299 - Bray, Ireland
Tim and Dolores Crowley have created a private museum of memorabilia relating to the life of the patriot Michael Collins. Tim presents the story of the much admired man with great passion and insight. His presentation includes a tour de force description of the emergence of the free Ireland.
9. Kilbrittain Whale
Overall Ratings
4 based on 14 reviews
On 15th January 2009 a fin whale beached on the strand in Burren, Kilbrittain Co Cork, Ireland. It was an enormous animal. The skeleton was put on display in a permanent position in the local village and is an amazing sight. There is a video with sound of the story of the whale. Free amenity. There is a picnic area with tables and a beautiful woodland walk with a historic castle in the background.
Reviewed By M C
The whale skeleton is presented and displayed in a smart way that makes it a good tourist attraction and a nice experience for children and may be adults as well, that is really admirable.
However, the road signage was not the greatest and the roads leading to the village are really narrow.
10. Charles Fort
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By SteMcCormack - Dublin, Ireland
This place is worth the visit just for the views from the walls alone, In addition to the walks around the parapets, some of the buildings are still intact and house different exhibits from the various time periods the fort was in use (1680s up to World War 1).
Other bulidings are in ruins but it still gives a very good feel for what the fort would have been like when it was occupied.
There are some steps, steep slopes and rough surfaces, but most of the areas were pretty easily accessible, although Wheelchair users might struggle.
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