County Cork is situated in the South West of Ireland, it is the largest of all the Irish counties and in many ways the most diverse. The county of Cork covers just less than 3000 sq. miles and the capital of the county is Cork City at the mouth of the River Lee.
Rich farmlands and river valleys contrast with the wild sandstone hills of the west, and above all there is the magnificent coastline with bays, rocky headlands and long soft golden sands.
The main features of County Cork include long river valleys. Roads in general follow the river valleys. Cork has three significant rivers, Blackwater, Lee, Sullane and Bandon. North Cork is centered along the valley of the Blackwater River. Mid Cork is again centered along river valleys which run from west to east, the Lee. The area is dotted with many small towns and villages, interspaced with beautiful scenery.
South Cork hosts miles and miles of coastline stretch, a composite of golden beaches, quite coves and rugged cliffs. Many towns with a long sea-faring tradition are to be found here.
Cork City is located at the mouth of the River Lee and has always been an important sea port. It is the second largest city in Republic of Ireland. Cork City has a remarkable charm it is known for its relaxed and friendly atmosphere, bridges and hilly streets.
East Cork stretches from the River Blackwater to Cork Harbour. It is an area of fertile farmland between the Galtee mountains in the North to the golden sands of Youghal and Garryvoe beaches in the South.
West Cork is a most important tourism area with its many miles of coastline and spectacular scenery. The area is renowned for having a cosmopolitan lifestyle where good food and a good lifestyle are found in the most scenic of surroundings. The inhabited islands of Cork are located off the West Cork coastline.
County Kerry is located in the extreme south west of Ireland. The county is noted for its agriculture, tourism and beautiful landscapes and it contains the highest mountain, Carrantuohil. Kerry's coastline stretches to over 1,000 kilometres. The peninsulas of Dingle, Iveragh and Beara define the highly indented seashore.
Kerry has no major rivers, but has a large number of smaller rivers. The total length of the principle rivers is over 1,100 km the most significant being the Feale, Laune and Maine Rivers.
The physical environment of Kerry contains a number of unique features. In the North the Shannon Estuary bounds the county, the central and northern half of the county is low-lying and relatively flat dominated by grassland and pastureland for cattle and sheep production. The Dingle peninsula is surrounded on three sides by the Atlantic, and mountains with considerable areas of upland peat bogs which dominate its landscape. It also contains many important proposed natural heritage areas and is an important tourist destination.
Mountains dominate the remaining southern parts of the county including the Macgillicuddy Reeks. Carrantuohill, which is 1,035 metres high, is Ireland's highest mountain.
The Killarney oak woods are the largest areas of native forest in Ireland. These are unique both for the oak tree themselves as well as the diversity of other flora and fauna to be found in this ecosystem. This area contains valley bottoms and coastal lowlands dominated by natural grasslands and pasture land. Much of this area has been designated as natural heritage areas and is the home of very important natural tourism products - the Lakes of Killarney and the ring of Kerry for example.
The county also contains many unique offshore islands with strong heritage and faunal significance both for Co. Kerry and for Ireland as a whole. These include the Blaskets, Sceilg Michael and Puffin Island.
The Kerry gaeltachts (Areas where Irish is spoken) cover extensive areas in both the Dingle and Iveragh Peninsulas. There are two large gaeltacht areas in the county - Gaeltacht Uibh Rathaigh and Gaeltacht Chorca Duibhne. The gaeltacht's primary resource is its language and culture.
Ireland's climate is influenced by the relatively warm waters of the Gulf Stream and by the prevailing southwestern winds from the Atlantic. This combination results in an equable climate with temperatures fairly uniform across the whole country.
Coldest months: January and February with mean daily air temperatures of 4 to 7 degrees Celsius (30 to 40 Fahreheit) .
Warmest months: July and August with mean temperatures of 14 16 degrees Celsius (60 to 70 Fahrenheit).
Sunniest months: May and June, averaging five to seven hours of sunshine per day.
Average annual rainfall:
800-1200mm (31 to 47 inches) in low lying areas
750mm (30 inches) in some Eastern areas
1500mm (59) inches in parts of the west
2000 mm (79 inches) or more In mountainous area
