Cork - travel guide, holidays in Cork -

Informations on Cork: history, politics, economy, culture, Did you mean: Cork
For an other version of this travel guide, please visit Ooaj.com: Travel in Cork + Hotels

Cork is a city in the Republic of Ireland. It was orginally built on several islands (the Irish name, Corcaigh, means marsh) and the centre of the city sits between the north and south channels of the river Lee. Many of its biggest streets such as Patrick Street or Grand Parade also used to be river channels. As the second city of the country, (although much smaller than Dublin) it regards itself as a rival and sometimes carries the subtitle of 'the real capital'. It is going to have the chance to live up to this in 2005 as Europe's City of Culture.

Table of contents

1 Getting in

Getting in

Swansea-Cork Ferries 1 (http://www.ferrybooker.com/swansea_cork/swansea_cork_ferries.asp) run a daily car ferry service between Swansea in the UK and Cork.

Cork International Airport Flights from numerous domestic and European locations - Alicante, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Budapest, Cardiff, Dublin, Durham/Tees Valley, Edinburgh, Glasgow(International), Leeds/Bradford, Liverpool, London(Gatwick, Heathrow & Stansted), Lorient, Malaga, Manchester, Munich, Newcastle, Nice, Paris, Plymouth, Prague, Rome, Southampton, Warsaw.

Direct train and bus routes Rail: www.irishrail.ie . Bus: www.buseireann.ie

See

Cork Vision Centre. This is in an former church in North Main Street. It has a large scale model of the city which should help your understanding. Free admission.
Elizabeth Fort. Offers a good view over the city. However it is not easily seen from the city. From Southgate Bridge, go up Barrack Street and turn right. There is a police station within the fort.
St Finbarr's Cathedral. This is just a few minutes away from the Elizabeth fort and much easier to find. A fine 19th century Gothic building. Visible from the back is a golden angel high upon a tower.
Shandon Church. The tower and bells are symbols of the city, and overlook it from the north. This church is situated in a conservation area.
Lewis Gluckman Gallery. (http://www.did-you-mean.com/Lewis_Glucksman_Gallery.html)) This piece of modern architecture is situated within the grounds of University College Cork. Within is state of the art technology to protect and display major exhibitions of international art, along with facilities for workshops, film screenings, lectures and art classes. A caf� is situated on the ground floor.

Eat

English Market. This is an old covered market in the centre of the city with an abundance of excellent food to suit all tastes and a pleasant cafe, often with live piano music.

The Bodega. Coal Quay. This is actually a cafe/bar set in a very large old industrial space. Very beautifully refurbished. As a place for a drink in the evening it has become less appealing over the years. However they do a very nice brunch menu on a saturday and sunday. Priced from 8-12 euros. Also very nice lunch menu. The best eggs Benedict I have had outside New York City. The crowd is a very diverse mix of young people, professionals and families.

Caf� Paradiso. Fantastic vegetarian restaurant, one that even the most hardened meat eaters flock to. At the upper end of the budget but worth it for the gourmet vegetarian delights. The Bridgestone Vegetarian Guide says '?I now firmly believe that Cork's Caf� Paradiso is the only vegetarian restaurant ? maybe in the whole of Europe ? where the actual enjoyment of the food is paramount...' Find them at 16 Lancaster Quay, Cork. Tel 00353 21 4277939.

The Ivory Tower. Oliver Plunkett St. This restaurant is a Cork institution. Very eclectic and eccentric food. A five course set meal at 55 euros a head. Cheap it is not. However an intimate and unusual small room with very friendly staff and award winning food. The famous dish from here is Sword fish with banana ketchup. For the less adventurous there is a good selection of high quality quite game-y food. A great wine list.

Fenns Quay. No. 5 Fenns Quay, parallel to Washington St. Quite a modern looking restaurant, a step down price wise from the ivory tower. Contemporary and very high quality and continental cuisine in a nicely renovated old house. Expect to pay about 35-40 euros a head.

Quay Coop. This a great vegetarian restaurant across the walking bridge on Grand Parade. Great selection of veg a vegan food. Freshly baked bread on premises. This was a coop set up in the eighties by a few of the alternative communities in Cork. It has since become one of the best health food and veg restaurants in the city. www.quaycoop.com

Wagamama. South Main St. This is a Japanese noodle bar. Good lunch option starting from 8 euros. Nice japanese beer. Has a bit of a chain feel. But good food and reasonable.

Ciao Ciao. Washington St. Grand Parade end. Great little Italian place. Run by and patronised by Corks growing Italian community. This place is kind of kitsch looking with the Chianti bottle candle holders etcetera but great Italian cuisine at reasonable prices.

Drink

Sin �, Coburg St. Dark, small and welcoming. Good for traditional music. One of Cork's more atmospheric pubs.
Long Valley, Winthrop St. Busy pub with constant turnover of clientele. Sandwiches are not to be missed! Classical and jazz music in the background. A bit expensive, but not overly so given its city center location.
Franciscan Well, On the riverside north of the Gate Cinema. Has a large beer garden. Brews its own range of beers and has a fine section of foreign bottled beers. This pub organises beer festivals twice yearly.
An Br�g, Oliver Plunkett St. off Grand Parade. Diverse patrons and music make this a favourite among all groups. A late bar open until 2am. Expect to queue during the student year.
The Mutton Lane Inn, Mutton Lane. off Patricks St (first turn after burger king). This is owned by the same people that run Sin � and it shows. Dark and very comfortable with candle lit tables and trad sessions every monday night. Get in early this place gets packed. Nice selection of beers both foreign and local. This is the oldest pub in Cork.
The hi-b, Oliver Plunkett St. off Grand Parade. (Upstairs). This pub is owned by the grumpiest man in cork. It is a tiny room up old creaking stairs. It has a nice mixture of old guys and a young crowd very friendly and welcoming to newcomers despite its intimidating aesthetic. On a wednesday evening an ole fella plays jazz piano and takes requests. This place is not for everyone, but if you like the kind of intimate place where a stranger sits to tell you his life story then the hi b is great. Be warned, the owner does not tolerate mobile phones in his bar (among numerous other things). Like a stranger sat at my table once told me "you are no-one in Cork until you have been kicked out the hi-b"

Venues

Freak Scene, Club One Off Oliver Plunkett Street. Great Student night every Wednesday. Running for 11 years it has outlasted all competitors in a fickle Cork Scene. Casual Dress, in fact wear whatever you want!!!!
Freakscene website (http://www.freakscene.com/)

Map of live music venues (http://www.corkgigs.com/venuemap.php)

Around

Blarney Castle, This is a famous and probably over-rated Irish attraction. A historical story behind it has given rise to the word 'blarney' meaning the ability to talk your way out of trouble.
Cobh, Formerly known as Queenstown. This was the port for Cork in the ages of the great lines, and still sees the occasional cruise ship. It can be reached by a suburban train.
Fota Wildlife Park and Arboretum, set on an island in Cork harbour and reached by road or the Cobh suburban train.

External links

Cork Kerry Tourism (http://www.corkkerry.ie/)
An online guide to County Cork (http://www.cork-guide.ie/)
Live music events listing for Cork (http://www.corkgigs.com/)
University College Cork website (in English) (http://www.ucc.ie/travel/). See also UCC on Wikipedia
The online guide to Cork's top resorts (http://www.theirishriviera.com/index.html)

Travel in Cork

Informations on Cork: history, politics, economy, culture, Did you mean: CorkFor an other version of this travel guide, please visit Ooaj.com: Travel in Cork + Hotels