Bantry House and Garden in West Cork, Ireland

The Bantry House and Garden is located in Co. Cork along the Wild Atlantic Way.

The second Earl of Bantry and Mary, his wife, traveled to the continent with notebooks and sketchbooks to bring home ideas for recreating their own palazzo by the water.

Standing there and overlooking the Bantry Bay (a deep-water gulf extending for 30 km to the west), it really had a Mediterranean feel to it. Add the sunshine, and the breeze from the water, and your mind might easily get transported to a more southern location.

This is the back door of the manor. Behind these big windows is a beautiful library.

The dining room at the Bantry House.

The photo was taken behind the gate to the staples. No matter where, the southern feeling was always there.

The Bantry Manor Garden is splendid and well cared for.

We climbed the famous Hundred Steps (there are 103 steps) to the top of the seven terraces. The house itself sits on the third terrace.

The euro 11  adult entrance ticket was really worth it.