Fishing
Kinsale is one of the southern Irish coast's sea-angling centers. The area has numerous shipwrecks for wreck fishing (not the least of them the Lusitania, near the Old Head of Kinsale). Try Kinsale Angling (1 Rampart Lane, The Ramparts; www.kinsale-angling.com; 021/477-4946) for charter boats. They also run whale- and dolphin-watching trips. Prices vary widely, so call or e-mail for more information.
Golf
Embraced by the sea on three sides, the nothing-short-of-spectacular Old Head Golf Links (www.oldhead.com; 021/477-8444) is Tiger Woods’s favorite Irish course. Named one of Golf Magazine’s “Top 100 Courses in the World” in the 2000s, it is hauntingly beautiful, rain or shine. The course retains a resident environmentalist to ensure that crucial wildlife habitats are not disturbed. But golfing here costs big money: Greens fees in summer are a whopping €275 weekdays/ €300 weekends for one 18-hole round, and €450 for 36 holes. In the winter, prices drop by around €180 for one 18-hole round, and €300 for 36 holes.
Sailing
There’s excellent sailing out from Kinsale Head. Sovereign Sailing (www.sovereignsailing.com; 087/617-2555 or 086/858-6212) offers a full range of yacht-sailing options for all ages and levels of experience. Between March and November, full- or half-day sails from Kinsale leave every day. Rates vary widely based on the kind of sailing you try, but a half-day trip on a 27-foot day yacht costs €150 for up to three people, €200 for up to five. They can also provide lunch.
Watersports
The Oysterhaven Activity Centre (www.oysterhaven.com; 021/477-0738), 8km (5 miles) from Kinsale, rents windsurf gear, dinghies, and kayaks. The cost ranges from around €20 to €40 for windsurfing equipment, €15 to €25 for kayaks, and €12 per hour (€18 for 2 hours) for SUPs (stand-up paddleboards). Windsurfing lessons cost €50 for a 2 1/2 hour taster session, up to €95 for a full day. Things get pretty busy during summer, so try to book ahead as much as possible.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
