Having circumnavigated the Ring of Kerry we landed in Kinsale at the Old Bank Town House, not prepossessing from the outside and, as usual, a choice based on internet reviews. I had tried to get rooms at the Trident because Fergus (partner of Clare) said to, but there was a sheep shearing thing going on and the hotels were full, and the Trident is not as well placed as the OBTH so it worked out well indeed.. It was great and an affirmation of online reviews. Kinsale itself was GRAND. We wandered a bit and decided to eat at Crackpots because Fergus  recommended it; thank you Fergus.Then we dropped in to Kitty O'Se's for a pint and some music and all in all it was a lovely place. Next morning we avoided Cork and drove on to Waterford, specifically for the crystal factory. I have to say that I've never understood the cost pf Waterford crystal but having been to the source, I get it. Wow. It actually is "hand cut", or at least 95% of it is. The only pieces that are machine cut are some new designs that are overlapping circles that are more accurately produced mechanically. There was the 45 minutes of frustration while we tried to find the place and my utter amazement when Jim told me he had seen it as we drove into the city, but we won't "go there". We asked one man how long he has been cutting crystal: since 1971! Sure, I understand that they have a show group of guys and production for the tourist market, but at least it's convincing and interesting. So between Kinsales charms and Waterford Crystal it would be hard to pick a winner.

Downtown Kinsale; LOVED the colour in the south!

at Kitty O'Se's (which I translate to O'Shea)

a panorama view of Kinsale

that's a serious champagne flute!

This bowl weighed about 4 pounds and the guy was free-handing it on a diamond saw.  All day.

Every kid needs Cinderella's carriage. Gorgeous