Discover North Cork & The Golden Vale

Begin the day with a private guided walking tour of Mitchelstown led by local guide Ciara O'Brien of Barnahown (ciara@barnahown.com; Mob: 086-8930620) discovering the town’s rich history, elegant architecture, and vibrant local character epitomised by its original shopfronts while exploring one of Munster’s hidden gems.

Learn why the Kingston family selected Mitchelstown as their family seat.

Enjoy a farm-to-fork Taste of Cork lunch at Mitchelstown’s famous O’Callaghan’sCafé & Delicatessen, featuring a selection of local specialities including O’Callaghan’s award-winning pate which celebrates the region’s renowned food culture and heritage over many generations of farming. 

While in Mitchelstown centre be sure to check out the authentically maintained shop fronts which Mitchelstown is famous for and see if you can spot a tractor or two on the main street. This is dairy country – at the heart of Ireland’s Golden Vale – and home to the internationally recognised Kerrygold butter.

After lunch be sure to pop in to The Town Coffee Co, one of Cork’s award-winning sustainable hospitality businesses to try their brew of the week and grab some goodies from their micro farm shop supplied by local grower Michelle from Open Hearth Farm. 

The culinary experience begins with a visit to the renowned Praline Pastry & Chocolate School for a truly heavenly chocolate experience.

Discover the artistry and passion behind handcrafted luxury chocolates and have the chance to create your own unique chocolate while enjoying an indulgent tasting experience filled with exceptional flavours and beautiful creations that represent the local producers of the area.

In the afternoon, visit Eight Degrees Brewing and embark on a fascinating journey through the world of Irish craft beer.

Experience the passion behind their award-winning ales during a guided brewery tour, from the flagship Howling Gale Irish Pale Ale to the traditional-with-a-twist Sunburnt Irish Red and the full-flavoured Full Irish IPA.

Located at the foot of the Galtee Mountains, Eight Degrees Brewing takes inspiration from the surrounding landscape to create adventurous beers using natural ingredients and exceptional craftsmanship. Discover the art of brewing, meet the people behind the beers, and enjoy a memorable tasting experience in one of Ireland’s most celebrated independent breweries.

Call on the MacGuilllycuddy family at Galtee Honey Farm to learn about their generations of work to protect and promote the native Irish bee and sample a delectable selection of honey – from their most popular wildflower blend to heather and wild ivy honey all washed down with a delicious honey mead.

This area of the Galtee Vee Valley is widely recognised as having one of the most abundant native bee populations in Ireland due to the conservation work of the many beekeeping families in the area of several generations and these effort support the overall biodiversity of the area which enables the wider farming ecosystem to thrive.