Other atractions close to the Pilgrim's Rest Hotel

Visit Youghal When Staying at our lovely Irish Hotel The Pilgrims Rest Ireland

Youghal has been designated as an Irish Heritage Town by Bord Fáilte. Situated within a comfortable drive of our wonderful Irish Hotel Youghal developments include an interpretative centre and other attractions such as Tynte's Castle an urban tower house located on the eastern side of North Main St. When visiting Ireland a trip to Youghal is a must. It is our pleasure at the pilgrims rest Hotel Ireland to offer to our guests advice on all the places and activities that are available during your stay in Ireland.

Youghal used to be a busy Irish textile centre and one of Cork's most popular seaside resorts, it is one of the most historic and interesting towns in Ireland being situated at the mouth of the Blackwater one of Ireland's best known salmon fishing rivers, there is a promenade leading to a magnificent 8 kilometre beach. It is well worth a visit when you are staying in Ireland. Here In Youghal Ireland we have an ancient walled seaport town: it was occupied in turn by the Danes and the Normans, and received a charter from King John. It was part of the great tract of lands granted to Sir Walter Raleigh. His home, Myrtle Grove still stands there (open to the public). Tradition has it that here he smoked the first cigarette and planted the first potatoes: but tradition and historians don't always agree. The main street is spanned by an old clock tower. St. Mary's Parish Church has recently been restored to good effect, along with the adjacent town wall. Here you will find the tomb of Margaret, Countess of Desmond, who died at the age of 147 from a fall from a cherry tree. There are several other old abbeys, towers and buildings in the town - follow the signposted Town Trail. The film Moby Dick was shot on location here.

The name Youghal derives from the Irish "Yew Wood". Yew was once extensive throughout Ireland. In Youghal Ireland yew wood was used to feed the ironworks of Richard Boyle during the 17th century.

Ardfinnan

Nestling in the lovely valley of the Suir in a beautiful part of Ireland, about five miles from Cahir and eight miles from Clonmel the village of Ardfinnan is one of the most picturesquely Irish Villages - situated in all of Munster.
Looking down from the heights that surround it, with its magnificient and historic castle standing out from the trees to the north, with its church and school on the South and the verdant sward of the village green in front and the river gliding gently in between, gathering speed over the weir and surging through the arches with a subdued roar, Ardfinnan is in truth one of those old world spots where one could quitely rest and forget for the moment the stresses and turmoil of the restless world outside. This wonderful place is one of Irelands jewels and is a short drive from The Pilgrims Rest Hotel Ireland. Enjoying a comfortable and relaxing stay at one of Irelands comfortable hotels that is close to some of the most spectacular Irish scenery.
To the South The Comeraghs, and the Knockmealdowns, to the East Slievenamon and to the North West The Galtees turn the area into a natural amphitheatre of beauty and peaceful existence.Some seven miles away are the famous Mitchelstown Caves and seven miles in the opposite direction is Clonmel. Four miles to the South is an area known as the Vee which cuts right through the mountains and has some of the most beautiful views in the area. Most of the bigger towns in the area are less than twenty minutes drive from Ardfinnan. There are four public houses in the village offering traditional Irish Hospitality and the craic can be mighty in any one of them. On the north side is the Pure Drop owned by John & Ann Peters. On the south side are The Greenview Bar, The Jolly Roger, & The Hill Bar owned respectively by the Ryan family, Roger Conroy & Liam Leahy. Ardfinnan is surrounded by Mountains, and has some of the most magnificent and varied scenery in Ireland. Book your stay at the Pilgrims Rest Hotel Ireland now. We are a small traditional Irish Hotel with all of that world famous Irish Hospitality.The Woollen Mills situated beside Ardfinnan Castle was recognised as one of the foremost makers of tweed in Europe at one time but has sadly been overtaken by modern techniques and is now closed. This is not to say that all of traditional Irish crafts have died out as you travel around this part of Ireland you are sure to find some wonderful traditional Irish craftwork.Ardfinnan is made up of different areas as well as being divided by the river Suir which runs through the middle of the village. Areas to the North of the river are The Cross, Barrack St, St Joseph's Tce. Areas to the South of the river are, Main St, The Green, Mount Carmel, Castleview, St Finnians. The Green is a beautiful picnic area which is overlooked by the castle from across the river. No profile of Ardfinnan would be complete without mentioning The Cross (Spitalands) on the north side of the village where the Pure Drop Lounge is located. The road leading to Newcastle from the Cross was known as the "Camp Hill" so called , the old people said because Oliver Cromwell's army was once camped along the river bank field in Neddins and Clogharden nearby. An old and very well preserved stone age fort stands on the hill behind The Cross.

Ardfinnan Castle

Ardfinnan Castle, which is located seven miles to the west from Clonmel, is a 12th century building, but unlike any of the other castles in the area it is still inhabited and private property.As such very few visitors are allowed but the Castle can be viewed from the Bridge and the Green from across the river. Restored, after the destruction caused by Cromwellian battle and the ravages of time after it had stood derelict for a hundred years. The Castle is built on a large rocky incline and it looks out over the Suir valley with the Knockmealdown mountains to the south, and the Galtee Mountains to the northwest. It was built by John, son of King Henry II of England. Afterwards to become King John (of Magna Carta Fame), he was barely sixteen years when he was invested with the Lordship of Ireland and arrived on these shores as Earl of Morton. He landed on the east coast of Ireland in 1185 with a powerful army, and immediately took possession of Limerick and Dublin. He then marched South and on the way he built Ardfinnan Castle as well as Lismore and Tibroughney castles. They were built, at strategic points selected by his father. Ardfinnan was to command one of the main passes over the Suir stretching into the counties of Waterford and Cork. The Castle remained in the possession of the British Crown until 1215, when it was given to Philip of Worcester for 100 marks by Henry the III. However three years later the King resumed possession. An ancient document from the Close Roll of Henry III reveals that the Castle was later acquired by the Bishop Of Waterford who was subsequently dispossessed of it by Geoffrey De Marshall, Justiciary of Ireland, Thomas FitzAnthony and Griflin FitzGriffin. They were commanded by the King to return the Castle and other lands that they had seized on the Bishop but beyond that there is no further information. Ardfinnan Castle was then reserved as a military fortress until the 17th century when the Cromwellians dismantled it. Cromwell in a dispatch from Castltown, the 15 February 1650 to The Hon. William Lenthall, Esq, Speaker of the House of Commons said; "I had almost forgot my business". The major-General (Ireton) was very desirous to gain a pass over the Suir, where indeed we had none but by boat or when the weather served; wherefore on Saturday we marched from Cashel with a party of horse and foot to Ardfinnan, where there was a castle with and at the foot of it a bridge, which he about four o'clock the next morning attempted to take, killed about sixteen of the out guard, lost but two men, and eight or ten wounded. The enemy yielded the place to him, and we are possessed of it, being a very considerable pass, and the nearest to our pass at Cappoquin, whither we can bring guns, ammunition and other things from Youghal by water and then over this pass to the army.

General Ireton, President of Munster, planted his artillery on the high craggy land at the far side of the Suir and commenced his siege of the Castle. The bombarding continued vigorously until a breech about eighteen feet wide was made in the wall or curtain on the south side, and after this the Castle was easily taken. Some Stories about the Castle A rather unusual story is told about this siege, it concerns a butcher who took up his abode in one of the castle rooms after the attack began and could not be persuaded to leave his place of refuge. Later when the soldiers of the Commonwealth began to ascend the ramparts with scaling ladders he emerged from his hiding place and with a handspike in his hand planted himself in the middle of the breech and defended it to the last with heroic gallantry. As the attackers poured into the breech he continued almost alone, swinging the dangerous weapon over his head and roaring terrible threats. The first soldiers to scale the dizzy heights were thrown headlong down, but soon the odds were overwhelming and he was forced to retreat, completely uninjured.
After the surrender he was asked why he did not come to the defence of the Castle before the breech was made and replied: "I did not mind what was doing, on the outside but I could not bear the coming into the house". There is no account of the fate of this brave man, or of the garrison itself, but as the latter surrendered before any serious loss to the besiegers, it is presumed that their lives were spared.

There is also a curious legend about Ardfinnan Castle, a story that dates back to the time it was being built, embedded in the wall of the old woollen mills and close under the foot of the Castle was a stone about 15 inches square bearing the impression of a woman's head. This was said to be the effigy of one Jane Squib, who was a cook in the employment of King John at Ardfinnan Castle. This figure was treated with contempt and subjected to every indignity by the people of the district, especially women, for a long number of years. What did Jane Squib do to merit this unseemly behaviour? Legend has it that the building of the Castle took about two years, and the people employed in the work lived in surrounding huts. Then later as it progressed towards completion it was occupied by servants and dependants of King John, among them Jane Squib. Jane being cook was frequently asked by the masons for some of the goods in her pantry but she invariably refused, and they vented their disappointment and anger on her by making the effigy called Jane Squibs Head and heaping insults on it. A remarkable feature of the legend is the dislike shown by the women of the surrounding countryside for the effigy, apparently demonstrating how they as hospitable Irishwomen, condemned the selfishness of Jane Squib. 

The Knockmealdown Mountains
The Knockmealdown Mountains Ireland they extend, in an east-west direction, for approx. 20 kilometres, from just north of the town of Cappoquin, Co. Waterford Ireland. The Pilgrims Rest Hotel Ireland is ideally situated for easy access to the mountains. The mountain border between co. Waterford, and Tipperary Ireland runs along the peaks of the range, and they extend into Co. Cork Ireland. The highest peak is Knockmealdown, at 794 metres is one of the highest peaks in Ireland. .

From Clonmel, Co. Tipperary Ireland, drive to Ardfinnan, then south to Goats Bridge where you cross the road, and continue south, towards the mountains, until you arrive at a T-junction, where the road has become almost a track. Park here, and walk left at the T-junction, towards the Liam Lynch monument. It is a 3.5k walk uphill ( 220metres height gained) to the monument, so if you have more then one car in your group, you could leave a car at the T-junction, and drive up to the monument.

About 10metres past the entrance to the monument, there is a track up through the trees, which takes you on to the open mountain. Walk on a bearing of 192 degrees, for 1k. to the top of Crohan, (220m height gained).  From Crohan, walk on a bearing of 168 degrees, for 2k. dropping a little, and climbing 100m. on to Knockmeal.  There is a partial, worn track along the way, and you'll be walking along a wall. At the top of Knockmeal, where the wall takes a 90 degree turn right, walk on a bearing of 242 degrees, for 1.5k. to Knocknafallia, height gained-170m.

( Short Cut- If you wish to shorten the walk, you can avoid Knocknafallia, and go straight to knocknagnauv. Follow a bearing of 242 degrees to the low point between Knockmeal, and Knocknafallia, and then, on a bearing of 290 degrees for 2k to the peak of Knocknagnauv,  655m. )

From Knocknafallia, walk on a bearing of 332 degrees, for 1.25k. to Knocknagnauv, with height gain of 50m. Then walk on a bearing of 280 degrees, for 2.5k to the highest peak, Knockmealdown. You drop down 150m. to the col, and then have a steep walk of 250m. to the top. Here you will find an old Trig. Stone.

( Short Cut- If you wish to avoid the climb up to Knockmealdown, from the col below, drop down on a bearing of 320 degrees, for 1k. then at 4 degrees for another kilometre, then at 48 degrees, for 1.75k. to the bottom of Roche's Hill.
            From the peak of Knockmealdown, drop down along the ridge, on a bearing of 316 degrees, for approx 200m. then on a bearing of 10 degrees, along the ridge, for 1.4k. Then drop down steep ground, on a bearing of 60 degrees, for approx 1.75k. until you hit the trees at the bottom of Roche's Hill. ( This leg is over rough, rock-covered ground. )  Follow the rough path down beside the line of trees, until you come to an opening in the trees. Follow this grassy path until you come to a dirt road. Walk down the dirt road until you cross a bridge, and meet another dirt road. Turn left, and follow this road to your car.

For more information contact The Pilgrims Rest Hotel Ireland Management

From the town of  Cappoquin, Co. Waterford Ireland, take the R669 road towards The Vee. 13k from Cappoquin, just past Glentanagree Bridge, there is a parking place on the left of the road. Leave your car here. Walk back along the road for about 200m. There's a gate on the left, into a field, with a worn track going towards the mountain. Walk up on a bearing of 60degrees, for 2k. until you reach the top of Knockmealdown. There's a height gain of 530m. and it should take approx 80-90mins.

From the top of Knockmealdown, walk on a bearing of 326 degrees, along a broad ridge, for 3k. to Sugerloaf Hill. You will be gradually descending for approx 2k. with a height gain of 100m. up to Sugerloaf Hill. It will take approx 50mins. From the top of Sugerloaf Hill, you will be looking down on The Vee, to the north, and The Gap, and Bay Lough, to the west. Drop down to The Gap, where there is a car park. In case of fog, use a bearing of 244 degrees, and it's about 1k. From here you can walk along a path to Bay Lough, ( bearing, 350 degrees ). From the lake, walk back along the path to The Gap car park, and back along the road for approx 2k. to where your car is

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