Kinsale is the Portafino of Ireland

Kinsale is just 15 kilometres south of the city ofevery part of the continent discussing the merits
Cork but it feels like you have travelled 1500of sailing, fishing, drinking and eating. Happiness and
kilometres such is the distinction between the twowarmth grace this lovely town and it comes from
places. When you reach Kinsale from whateverthe giving and inviting nature of the locals. You
direction you arrive, you enter a town thatmay be a landlubber out of your depth in marine
seems to have the chic aura of Nice in the Cotematters but you are treated as a seafarer for
de Azur, or perhaps Portafina on the Amilifi Coastjust being there. Lack of knowledge is not a
in Italy. You are suddenly in another country, fardetriment as there are many here to educate
way from Ireland, you feel. And it is a nice placeyou joyfully and with the patience that only the
to be!grateful enthusiast can tolerate from the naivety
There is an air of laid back confidence andof the beginner.
independence about this beautiful place; aEach year in the inevitable Fall, or Autumn, Kinsale
cosmopolitan ambience that imbues the feeling ofhosts the renowned Kinsale Gourmet Festival,
being above your status here. Add in the warmwhere the chefs and their restaurants open their
breezes provided by the Gulf Stream and shakehearts and doors to all comers to provide superb
the cocktail that adds dozens of fine restaurants,innovative value in the warmest and most
superb accommodation, a salubrious marina, agracious manner. Here you can arrange various
stunning museum, designer boutiques plus colourfulpackages with hotels and guesthouses that
friendly pubs and you sip from the most appealingensure you eat for the same price in any of the
glass that a visitor can partake.towns many fine restaurants.
Surrounded by all the stimulating side effects of aThe book of life is short and Kinsale should be a
maritime town, you overhear all accents fromchapter in yours.