Our tour with Paddywagon Tours began at the Cork Cruise Ship Termínal. I had identified Paddywagon Tours in Trip Advisor; their reviews were excellent. They offer a similar excursion to that of NCL for much less. Our group began the excursion app. 30 minutes after disembarkation began. It looked like we had two large full buses and one smaller one. The buses were comfortable, new and had USB charge connections and WiFi. We were collected steps away from our arrival area. The nearly 7 hour excursion did not include lunch and cost 65 euros.

The day began with a drive to Blarney Castle. Admission to the Blarney Castle and Gardens was included. Despite that the day was cold and rainy, I very much enjoyed the gardens with blooming daffodils, tulips and other beautiful flowering bushes and trees.

To enter the castle and garden, we were given vouchers which allowed us to skip the lines and save precious time. We also visited the Blarney Woolen Mill known as the largest Irish shop in the world. After visiting Blarney for a little over two hours, we proceeded on a panoramic drive through Cork. Our guide pointed out the highlights including St Finbarre's Cathedral, Shandon Bells, English Historic Market and the River Lee. My preference would have been to forego Blarney Castle and spend the time in the city of Cork. I found Blarney Castle uninspiring and disappointing. The line up to the Blarney Stone was endless and the climb up the steep steps inside the relatively uninspiring castle interior was claustrophobic. Skip it; visit Cork City instead.

We drove through the beautiful Cork Countryside to the charming picturesque historic harbor town of Kinsale, famed for the battle of Kinsale in 1601. In Kinsale, we enjoyed typical views of the rolling fields of West Cork and made a brief stop to overlook picturesque Kinsale Harbor and its 2 forts - Charles Fort and James Fort. It was just off the Old Head of Kinsale that the Lusitania sank in 1915. Kinsale is beautifully situated at the mouth of the harbor and is exceptionally colorful with picture post card buildings and many country Irish folk with strange and distinguished accents.

In Kinsale, we had two hours to visit this small town and have lunch on our own. Some guests chose to go to have a leisurely sit-down lunch. My friend and I decided to instead have a quick bite of local fish & chips, visit the spectacular Gourmet Pantry for homemade dessert and explore this exceptionally picturesque coastal town.

We relied on Trip Advisor reviews to identify a well priced well-known and highly rated local take-away fish & Chips for a quick lunch. Dino’s was EXCELLENT! The best freshly made crispy French Fries and one piece of local cod. Dino’s is strategically located in front of the marina and has a sit down restaurant should you opt for a casual sit down lunch.Dino’s menu is extensive should someone opt out of the fried lightly battered cod.

The BEST part of our culinary experience in Kinsale was finding the Trip Advisor recommended Gourmet Pantry where owner Sabrina and two young, charming and helpful Irish ladies serve some of the most delicious homemade pastries, pies and savory treats I have even had. They also serve sandwiches and some amazing homemade spreads and dips. We tried the roasted pimento spread on freshly made sourdough bread which was amazing! In terms of desserts, we had a raspberry and white chocolate tart...exceptional, a piece of carrot cake...rich and fresh, and an assortment of their tempting macaroons that were fresh and delicious. Whatever you select, you will LOVE. At Gourmet Pantry you will also find a wide variety of freshly made bread loaves which looked divine! The almond croissants were tempting: fresh, crispy and rich. Their original single serving quiches, savory rolls, sandwiches and salads, could make for a delightfully memorable lunch in Kinsale. Whatever you so in Kinsale, walk over to meet Sabrina and the ladies at the Gourmet Pantry. You will thank me and the other Trip Advisor reviewers who consistently give this small bakery and deli a block away from the port in Market Street excellent reviews. I am so glad I found that and thank those who suggested I drop by the Gourmet Pantry and Deli.

On our return to the Breakaway, we had a quick overview of Cobh, the last departure point of the Titanic. In Cobh, we visited St. Coleman's Cathedral - the final worshiping point of many Irish immigrants and one of the most magnificent cathedrals in Ireland. We took a panoramic drive to view the highlights of Cork including the River Lee, St Finbarre's Cathedral, Shandon Bells, English Market and Grand Parade. Had we had time before boarding, we would have visited the Titanic experience which is barely 100m from where the ships dock.