Location: The Gunpowder Mills are five miles from Cork City on the N22 - the main Kerry/Killarney road.
The Gunpowder Mills, Ballincollig Co. Cork is a unique and exciting Industrial Complex, which meanders along the bank of the river Lee.
The mills were established in 1794 by Charles Henry Leslie a leading Cork bank family. Eleven years later, when Napoleon's control of France posed a grave threat to Britain the British Board of Ordnance bought the mills from Leslie. As well as this the Army Barracks was built in town to protect the supply of gunpowder.
In 1837 the mills employed about 200 workers and produced about 16,000 barrels of gunpowder. By the mid 1880's the Gunpowder Mills, Ballincollig was one of the largest Industrial establishments in the Cork area. About 500 men and boys were employed and a wide range of skills were in use in the mills - coopering, millwrighting, carpentry as well as other skills associated with gunpowder production.
The many buildings used in the manufacture of gunpowder are still scattered along the main canal and millraces which stretched along for about a mile and a half along the Southern bank of the River Lee. The mills complex covers over 130 acres. One of the most important features of the mills was the main canal which acted both as a means of transport and also provided power to drive the waterwheels and a water turbine which worked the sawmills. The canal was fed from a weir on the River Lee. The entrance was controlled by sluice gates which have recently been restored.
The Gunpowder Mills visitor centre offers an exciting interpretation of events on the site. The day to day work carried out as well as serious explosives which occurred. The centre houses an exhibition gallery, slide show, coffee shop and craft shop facilities.

Blarney Castle is one of Ireland's oldest and most historic castles.An ancient stronghold of the MacCarthys,Lords of Muskerry, and one of the strongest fortresses in Munster. Its walls are in places 18 feet thick.
Blarney Stone:The famous Blarney Stone is embedded in the battlements.The stone has the traditional power of conferring eloquence on all who kiss it.
The word blarney was introduced into the English language by Queen Elisabeth I and is described as pleasant talk, intended to deceive without offending. Locally the power transferred is better known as acquiring the gift of the gab, that is being able to talk on or out of everything.
The stone is set in the walls below the battlements, and to kiss it, one has to lean backwards (grasping an iron railing) from the parapet walk.
The Rock Close: In the grounds of the castle the Rock Close and its surroundings is a curious place of ancient trees an far more ancient stones, by legend a garden of druidic origin and a centre of worship in pre-Christian days. The place has an aura of magic and mystique with Wishing Steps, Witche's Kitchen, druids' cave and many other delights, telling a story of centuries past.
Blarney House: Blarney House is one of the most elegant and gracious of the Great Houses of Ireland. Built in 1874 it is beautifully situated overlooking Blarney Lake.It has corner turrets and bartizans with conical roofs and now restored inside with fine rooms and stairwell.It also contains a collection of early furniture, Family Portraits, Tapestries, and works of art.

Lughane, Blarney - 3 miles from Blarney; and Ballyshoning, Berrings -5 miles from Blarney, Mass was celebrated at these rocks in penal days; and it is said that the profile of a priest's face can be seen in the rock at ballyshonin.

Medieval Ring Forts:
Ringforts were built in the 7th and 8th Centuries by the Danes with two or three banks and ditches made of stone. Within these enclosures stood the ancient farmstead of early Christian times. Lisnaraha is one of the largest ringforts in Ireland and is three miles from Blarney Ballynahara is five miles from Blarney

Round Towers:
The origin of the Round tower was that in the event of an invasion, the monks could store their chalices and valuables at the top of the tower by climbing a rope ladder and pulling the ladder up behind them. Waterloo, which is one mile from Blarney, was built by Fr. Matt Horgan, the then parish priest of Blarney. He also built Whitechurch Round Tower approximately four miles from Blarney.

St. Olan's Well:
Aghabullogue, is ten miles from Blarney.The Well And ruins of St. Olan's church can be seen today The origins of St Olan's (patron saint of the parish) well lie in pre-Christian times. We know that the Irish people worshipped water. The arrival of Christianity saw many of these wells blessed and used by Christians. Pilgrimages (known as rounds) are still made at the well especially on the feast day of Saint Olan on September the 5th . Here prayers are recited and water is used to cure ailments especially those of the eye.. Votive stones are left behind symbolising the leaving behind of pains and illnesses. Nobody interferes with these stones for fear of picking up that ailment. The well is preserved and Stations of the Cross and a Statue of the Blessed Virgin were added in the 1970's. The well itself is a beehive shaped structure with a small opening at the base, a whitethorn grows at the top of the well. The locals maintain the site on a regular basis. A number of stories remain about St. Olan.