Ballydehob

Nestled on stunning Roaringwater Bay and acting as a gateway to the Mizen Peninsula, Ballydehob is a lively artistic town bursting with good music, good food, and good craic. Ballydehob knows how to throw a party and the calendar is full of music, food and even yoga festivals throughout the year.

Being small doesn’t limit its ambition as the party town of West Cork and the year in Ballydehob is punctuated by a litany of festivals - Trad Fest, Jazz Fest, Music Fest, Summer Fest, Yoga Fest, Theatre Fest, Threshing Fest, Christmas Fare and the Gathering of the Boats (Cruinniú na mBád). You get the idea it would be better to consult the town website to find out when festivals are not on!

For a small town it boasts many great restaurants and pubs including Budds, Antonios and The Irish Whip Bar which contains a fascinating small gallery to World Wrestling Champ Danno Mahony of Ballydehob. Let me unfairly pick out one restaurant and one bar. Restaurant Chestnut is an intimate 18-seater Michelin Star restaurant by Rob Krawczyk set with not too much modification in the converted Chestnut Pub. It is probably the most intimate and rewarding Michelin starred restaurant you could ever dine in.

Levis Pub in Ballydehob, West Cork. has been in the hands of one family for over 100 years. The next generation have taken on the challenge of keeping the pub alive and maintaining that legacy. It is a top spot full of the wonderful clutter and memorabilia on your Irish Pub wishlist and it is the type of music venue which is loved by the musicians as much as by the customers. The performers set up behind the grocery counter, the crowd of about 100 stands between them and the bar, and the effect is magical. People stand on chairs, hang off rafters, poke their heads through doors and windows, all ready to love the music. Go there to hear musicians who love their craft and to take away real memories.

Top Tip: Head down by the community centre to the 12 Arch Bridge on the former Skibbereen to Schull light tramway. It is now at the centre of the Fastnet Trails along Roaringwater Bay to Schull. While down there take some photos of the scenic bridge and harbour or even a selfie with the lovely wooden sculpture of the Man with the Camera!