County Cork is the largest of the counties if the Republic of Ireland and
is situated in the south west. Cork is also known as the 'Rebel County'. It has
a rocky indented Atlantic coastline with the Bays of Bantry, Dunmanus,
Roaringwater, Courtmarsherry, Clonakilty and Youghal, as well as the Harbours of
Kinsale and Cork. The interior has wild rugged mountains rising as high as 682 m
and fertile valleys, notably, the Bride, the Blackwater, the Lee and the Bandon.
Cork, the second largest city of Ireland, has a town centre uniquely situated
on an island between two channels of the Lee River. The attractions include
Blarney Castle, some prehistoric remains of dolmens and stone circles, the ruins
of medieval abbeys and churches.
Rich farmlands and river valleys contrast with the wild sandstone hills of
the west and there is the magnificent coastline of the Atlantic Ocean with great
bays and secret coves, rocky headlands and long soft golden sands.