'''Cork''' (Irish: ''Corcaigh'') is situated on the banks of the River Lee in the south of the country. With a city population of 119,418 in 2006 (190,384 including suburbs)[http://www.cso.ie/census/documents/census2006_Volume%201%20-%20Table%205.pdf] it is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the third largest in all of Ireland.

Understand

Orientation

Cork is the anglicised version of the Irish word '''Corcaigh''', which means ''marsh''. The city centre was originally built on marshland and boats were able to navigate into the channels which separated the many islands. Many of the wider streets, such as St Patrick's Street, the South Mall and the Grand Parade, are actually built on former river channels. St Patrick's Street is Cork's commercial hub, and is known colloquially as either "Patrick Street" or "Panna".

The center of the city forms an '''arrow-shaped island''' between the North and South channels of the '''River Lee'''. There are upwards of thirty bridges over the two channels. This, combined with the one-way traffic system, can make the centre a little bit confusing for first-time visitors. The River Lee flows from West to East, and outside of the centre, hills rise steeply to the Northside, while the Southside is flatter. St. Anne's Church watches over '''Shandon''', just to the North of the river. The '''University''' is about 2 kilometres to the west of the centre.

The '''Train Station''' is about 1 km to the East of the centre. '''Shops''' are generally concentrated around St. Patrick's Street, Oliver Plunkett Street, Paul Street and North Main Street. '''Bars''' and '''Restaurants''' can be found everywhere, but especially around MacCurtain Street, Washington Street and Oliver Plunkett Street. '''Financial''' businesses are centred on the area around the South Mall and the '''Administrative''' heart of the city is on Anglesea Street.

History

The patron Saint of Cork, '''Saint Finbar''' (c.550-c.620) founded a monastery on the south bank of the River Lee approximately 1,400 years ago. A settlement grew up around this monastery and was added to (and ransacked) by '''Viking''' invaders during the ninth and tenth centuries. The town grew and the English Norman King Henry II, who had been requested by Pope Adrian IV (the only English Pope) to collect papal dues not paid, gave Cork ''city status'' in '''1185'''.

Cork slowly grew during the late middle ages, developing into a crowded, walled city, centered around North and South Main Streets. The city enjoyed a ''golden age'' of sorts during the seventeenth century providing '''butter''' to ships which plied the North Atlantic. During this period the city expanded and many Italianate residences were built on the hills to the North in Sunday's Well and Montenotte.

After a sluggish start following independence, the city grew substantially during the latter half of the twentieth century. Currently, as a result of the '''Celtic Tiger''' phenomenon, development is having a profound effect on all aspects of the city, including its appearance, mostly for the better. From a small merchant town, Cork has grown into a cosmopolitan and vibrant city that, within the Republic of Ireland, is second only to Dublin in size and importance.

'''Statio Bene Fide Carinis'''' ? "A safe Harbour for ships" is the motto of the city that is found on the coat of arms.

In recent years Cork has developed a slightly separatist mentality [http://www.peoplesrepublicofcork.com/] when compared to other parts of Ireland. This is most evident in colloquial speech (Cork Slang) [http://www.corkslang.com/] and references to Ireland's capital, Dublin. This is, however, mostly tongue-in-cheek humour.

Get in

By boat

Car ferry services depart from Ringaskiddy (15km SE of the city) to Roscoff and Swansea. Ferries sail to/from Ringaskiddy through Cork Harbour (the second largest natural harbour in the world; Sydney harbour being the largest) and past Cobh - the last port of call for the Titanic. From April to October there is a weekly ferry service to Roscoff in France with [http://www.brittanyferries.ie Brittany Ferries]. The Cork-Swansea ferry service was suspended in 2007 for lack of a suitable vessel. The Cork-Swansea ferry service will be reinstated in 2010 with the new operator [http://www.fastnetline.co.uk/ Fastnet Line] resuming the service in March.

By air

[http://www.corkairport.com Cork Airport] ({{IATA|ORK}}) is the 3rd largest airport in the Republic of Ireland after Dublin Airport and Shannon Airport. The airport is located 8km south of the city centre, connected by the N27 Kinsale Road. The destinations focus on Great Britain and Western Europe, with connections to Dublin and Belfast also available.

Among the main scheduled passenger operators out of [http://www.corkairport.com/flight_info/airlines.html Cork Airport] are [http://www.aerarannexpress.com Aer Arann], [http://www.aerlingus.com Aer Lingus], [http://www.airsouthwest.com/ Air Southwest], [http://www.bmibaby.com BMI Baby], [http://www.jet2.com Jet2], [http://www.ryanair.com Ryanair], and [http://wizzair.com Wizz Air]. [http://www.corkairport.com/flight_info/index.html Destinations include]:

  • Alicante, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Belfast, Berlin, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Dublin, Durham/Tees Valley, Edinburgh, Geneva, Glasgow (International), La Rochelle, Leeds/Bradford, Liverpool, London (Gatwick, Heathrow & Stansted), Lorient, Malaga, Manchester, Munich, Nantes, Newcastle upon Tyne, Nice, Paris, Plymouth, Rennes, Rome, Southampton, Warsaw.
  • There is a taxi rank located outside the arrivals entrance. Taxis to the city centre cost around ?20 and can carry up to 4 passengers (or up to 8 if you request a van-style taxi). Fares for longer journeys are reasonably priced and negotiable.

    [http://www.buseireann.ie/ Bus Eireann] route [http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1221566303-226.pdf 226] links the airport with the city centre. Route [http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1213892284-249.pdf 249] stops at the airport on its route between Cork and Kinsale.

    [http://www.skylinkcork.com SkyLink] operate the Cork Airport Express shuttle service every 30 minutes (recognisable by their bright yellow buses). There are two routes to the city centre: Route 1 via MacCurtain St and Route 2 via Western Road / Washington St.

    [http://www.shannonairport.com Shannon Airport] ({{IATA|SNN}}) may be useful for some travellers. There are direct flights to Shannon from the United States and different selection of European cities. Shannon is connected to Cork in 2 hours 25 minutes by [http://www.buseireann.ie Bus Eireann] and [http://www.skylink.ie SkyLink] bus services.

    By train

    The train service in Ireland is operated by [http://www.irishrail.ie Irish Rail] (Irish: ''Iarnrod Eireann'') which provides rail services from Cork to Dublin (16 trains per day), Cobh (22), Tralee (3 direct, 6 with one change) and Mallow. All other towns and cities are accessible through connecting trains.

    Cork's main station is Kent Station, located on the Lower Glanmire Road, a 10-minute walk east of St Patrick's Street.

    Trains in Ireland can be expensive by comparison by other modes of transport. For example, a single (one-way) adult ticket from Dublin to Cork typically costs ?36 if booked [http://www.irishrail.ie online], though a certain number of services offer a ?20 single fare if booked online. Be aware that adult single tickets bought at the station cost ?66 [http://www.irishrail.ie/your_ticket/fares_enquiries.asp], almost the same price as a return journey. By booking online on the Dublin train you will be automatically allocated a reserved seat; you can also select which seat you would like manually. The Irish Rail network is undergoing a significant upgrading in terms of both infrastructure and rolling stock.

    Four routes operate from Kent Station, Cork:

    1. Intercity route to Dublin Heuston, serving: Mallow, Charleville, Limerick Junction, Thurles, Templemore, Ballybrophy, Portlaoise, Portarlington, Kildare, Dublin Heuston.

    2. Intercity route to Tralee, serving: Mallow, Banteer, Millstreet, Rathmore, Killarney, Farranfore, Tralee

    3. Commuter route to Cobh, serving: Little Island, Glounthane, Fota, Carrigaloe, Rushbrooke, Cobh.

    4. Commuter route to Mallow, serving: Mallow.

    By bus

    The main nationwide bus carrier in Ireland is [http://www.buseireann.ie Bus Eireann] who run services from Dublin to Cork every two hours, on even hours from 8AM until 6PM. Similar express direct bus services exist to Waterford (hourly), Killarney, and Limerick, Shannon Airport and Galway (hourly).

    [http://www.aircoach.ie Aircoach] also run services to and from Dublin every two hours, on odd hours from 7AM until 7PM. A connecting bus goes to Dublin Airport.

    [http://www.citylink.ie City Link] operate services on the Limerick-Shannon Airport-Galway route.

    By car

    The main inter-city road network in Ireland has received a lot of investment in recent years, though sections of poor road still exist, even on the road between the largest cities.

    The M7 and M8 which connect Cork to Dublin is mostly motorway with 2 lanes in each direction. Approximate journey time is 3 hours 15 minutes in good conditions.

    The N20 to Limerick is mostly single carriageway with one lane in each direction; there are short sections of dual-carriageway (2 lanes in each direction) around Cork and Limerick. Approximate journey time is 1 hour 45 minutes.

    The main arteries into Cork are mostly wide and in good condition, but outside of these the streets can be very narrow and steep; drivers who are unfamiliar with this style of close-knit street layout may find these conditions extremely challenging.

    Car rental

    Car rental services in Cork mainly operate out of Cork Airport. The close proximity of Cork Airport to Cork City means that this is not as inconvenient as it might appear, particularly when the excellent bus and taxi services are included. Below are the car rental companies listed on the Cork Airport [http://www.corkairport.com] Website as having locations at Cork Airport:
  • FAST Car Hire http://www.fastcarhire.co.uk
  • [http://www.carhire.ie/car-hire-cork-airport.html Car Hire Cork Airport] CarHire.ie office located at the main car rental desk at Cork airport.
  • Nova Car Hire http://www.novacarhire.com Book securely online today
  • Rhino car hire http://www.rhinocarhire.com
  • Atlas Car Hire [http://www.atlascarhire.com] - Not listed on Cork Airport website, but shares a location with Thrifty Car Rental
  • Avis
  • Budget Car Rental [http://www.budget-ireland.com]
  • Hertz [http://www.hertz.ie]
  • Irish Car Rentals
  • Alamo / National
  • Dan Dooley Car Rentals
  • Dollar Car hire Cork [http://www.dollar.ie] - Operates as part of Thrifty in Ireland
  • Enterprise Rent-a-Car
  • Europecar
  • Malone Car Rental Cork [http://www.malonecarrental.com] - Operates under the Thrifty umbrella
  • Thrifty Car Rental Cork [http://www.thrifty.ie]
  • 353 Car Rental Cork - [http://www.carrental8.com/static.aspx?source=Car-Rental-Ireland]
  • Get around

    Walk

    Cork has a small city centre. A visitor will most likely be staying, eating, drinking and touring in the city centre. Taxis are plentiful (except for late Friday and Saturday nights, when demand exceeds supply). There is a bus service to the residential suburbs. Most buses leave from the main street, Patrick's Street or the nearby bus station at Parnell Place.

    A guided bus tour departs from near the junction of Grand Parade and South Mall at regular intervals and provides an interesting tour of the main highlights of Cork for those who do not have a lot of time on their hands.

    Taxi

    There are numerous Taxi ranks located throughout cork city, fares are calculated on a meter and all taxis are the same price. Fares are also negotiable for longer out of town trips. Most drivers also offer fixed priced guided tours. (See taxi regulator: [http://www.taxiregulator.ie])

    Taxis appear as normal cars except with a yellow bar above it with their license number and 'TAXI' or the Irish equivalent 'TACSAI' written on it. If the light's on, the taxi is free, but some taximen forget to turn on and off their light, so check to see if anyone's in the cab.

    See

  • '''Cork Vision Centre'''. This is in a 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. Visitors are allowed to ring the bells. This church is situated in a conservation area.
  • '''Lewis Gluckman Gallery''', [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Glucksman_Gallery]. 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 cafe is situated on the ground floor.
  • '''Cork City Gaol'''. Slightly outside the city centre, this attraction is very much worth the visit. It can be reached by using the city sightseeing bus, by taxi or by a 30 minute walk. There is a small admission fee, but is worth every penny. The Gaol also provides fine views of the west of the city, including the University.
  • '''Cork Historic Walking Tours''' [http://www.walkcork.ie] offer the visitor the opportunity to understand the City's history, from its foundation by St. Finbarre right up to the 20th Century. The tour brings the visitor to the site of the ancient monastery of Cork, through the areas of Viking settlement, the medieval streets of the Norman walled city and along the waterways of the expanding 18th and 19th century city. The tour explains the history of the city in an informative and relaxed way.
  • '''University College Cork'''. Take a stroll through the College which is open to the public and take in the variety of architecture here, From the newly constructed extension of the Boole Library to the newly repointed limestone Honan Chapel which is popular for graduate weddings.
  • '''Pairc Ui Chaoimh''' This 50,000 capacity stadium is located in Ballintemple and is home of Cork GAA. It is open on matchdays and Monday and Wednesday for tours.
  • Do

    Festivals

    Cork has a thriving cultural scene that was acknowledged internationally when it was named the European Capital of Culture for 2005. Several festivals are held annually in the city giving the visitor an opportunity to experience a wide range of music, theatre and film.

  • '''Midsummer Festival''' [http://www.corkfestival.com]. A month long festival featuring theatre, music, art, poetry and much more, throughout the city. Mid June - Mid July.
  • '''Film Festival''' [http://www.corkfilmfest.org]. Established more than 50 years ago, the festival features an impressive selection of Irish and international films. Beginning of October.
  • '''Jazz Festival''' [http://www.corkjazzfestival.com]. One of the largest jazz festivals in Europe that consistently attracts top acts from around the world. Last weekend in October.
  • Sports

  • '''Watch a Gaelic Game''' During the Munster Championship in the summer, a number of games are played in Pairc Ui Caoimh, while smaller games are played all throughout the year. See the [http://www.gaa.ie GAA Website] for more information.
  • '''League of Ireland Football''' Watch a [http://www.corkcityfc.ie/main.php Cork City FC] soccer match during the [http://www.loi.ie FAI League of Ireland] season from March to November. Turner's Cross Stadium is located 1.5km south of the city centre. Home matches take place on Friday nights at 7:45pm. Tickets cost: ?15 (adult), ?8 (under-18 & OAP), ?5 (under-12), free (under-5).
  • Sail Cork. ast Ferry Marina. mi east of Cobh. 353 21 4811237. ttp://www.sailcork.com. Teaches dinghy and cruiser sailing, powerboating and navigation. Courses are run all year round and are available for juniors and adults.

    Eat

  • Captain Americas Cookhouse and Bar . -5 South Main Street. A very popular restaurant with young,friendly and fun staff. Take a walk around the restaurant and look at the collection of music and celeb memorabilia.

  • '''Bana Thai''' Maylor Street (Behind Brown Thomas). Excellent Thai food, great lunch menu, really relaxed atmosphere.
  • '''Liberty Grill''' Washington Street. This American-style cafe offers excellent food, especially their burgers.
  • '''Nash 19''' 19 Princes Street, off Oliver Plunkett Street.
  • Cork English Market. rand Parade, South Mall. nter via Grand Parade or Princes Street. ttp://www.corkenglishmarket.ie. AM - 5:30PM. ree. 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. It also includes an excellent cafe: "The Farmgate".

  • '''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 Saturdays and Sundays. Priced from 8-12 euros. Also very nice lunch menu. The crowd is a very diverse mix of young people, professionals and families.
  • '''Cafe Paradiso''', 16 Lancaster Quay, Tel: ''+353 21'' 4277939. 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 "_cI now firmly believe that Cork's Cafe Paradiso is the only vegetarian restaurant ? maybe in the whole of Europe ? where the actual enjoyment of the food is paramount."
  • '''Scoozis''', Off Winthrop Street. One of the most popular restaurants in Cork, always busy for lunch and dinner. Booking is advisable, but people also often just turn up and queue. Staff are young and friendly, menu is varied, cheap and full of very tasty food. Perfect for big parties, small groups of friends and even a romantic meal for two.
  • '''Clanceys''' A traditional Irish pub restaurant, That offers quality food with an Irish atmosphere.
  • '''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.
  • '''Luigi Malones''', Emmet Place. Famous for its International Food, Luigi Malones sits across for Cork Opera House.
  • '''Jacobs on the Mall''', South Mall. Award-winning restaurant with incredibly delicious gourmet food. Expensive but worth it, it's easily one of Cork's finest restaurants.
  • Drink

    Barrack Street is known in Cork for its amount and variety of bars. '''The Barrack St. Challenge''' challenge is to drink one pint in each bar starting in Nancy Spain's and still be able to walk by the time you reach the Brewery. Cork is also well known for its live music scene.

  • '''An Brog''', 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.
  • '''An Spailpin Fanach''' Irish for 'the migrant labourer' has traditional Irish music most nights, is a traditional Irish pub and has a great atmosphere after 9pm. Located on South Main Street, across the road from the Brewery.
  • '''The Bierhaus''', Popes Quay (''at Shandon footbridge''), Tel: ''+353 21'' 4551648, [http://thebierhauscork.com]. Claims the best selection of beers in Cork, with over 50 on offer and new beers on tap monthly.
  • '''Costigans''', Washington St. Great atmosphere at weekends, Always a good place to start when doing a pub crawl of the lively Washington St.
  • '''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.
  • '''Freak Scene''', The Qube / The Works Oliver Plunkett Street, [http://www.freakscene.com/]. Great Student night every Wednesday. Upstairs has alternative and indie, downstairs disco and soul and is the gay section of freakscene. Running for 12 years, it has outlasted all competitors in a fickle Cork scene. Casual Dress, in fact wear whatever you want.
  • '''Gateway Bar''', ''next to Elizabeth Fort'', and is the oldest pub in Cork. It was established in 1698 and the Dukes of Wellington and Marlborough were among its patrons. It is possibly the oldest pub in Ireland. That title is being claimed by a few pubs in the country. The Brazen Head in Dublin was a pub before The Gateway, but didn't hold a continuous license!
  • '''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"
  • Loafers. 6, Douglas Street. ttp://www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=2118302850. A cosy pub just south of the city centre, Loafers is Ireland_fs oldest gay venue. Its laidback, friendly atmosphere attracts a diverse clientele, and it_fs generally more popular with women than the other gay venues.
  • '''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.
  • '''MvM - Movies vs Music''', Everyman Palace, McCurtain St. This is the place to be on a Saturday night. Playing all the hits from 60s,70s,80s,90s and modern day. They also have a comfy couch cinema showing the best in cult movie titles, such as 'Batman the TV movie', 'Whitnail and I', 'Planet of the Apes', to mention but a few. If that's not enough they have playstation, connect 4, draughts and electro buzz in their games room or chill out with a lovely cocktail! The latest club in Cork. 11:45PM-2:30AM. Check it out, you'll love it!
  • '''Mutton Lane Inn''', Mutton Lane. off Patricks St (first turn after Burger King). This is owned by the same people that run Sin e 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.
  • '''Savoy Theatre'''. St Patrick's Street, [http://www.savoycork.com]. Home to "Bang" student night on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the college year, "Goldsounds" on Friday Nights and Rapture every Saturday Night Savoy is a must for under 20s visiting and at 10 Euro for entry its very reasonable. Opens at 11PM.
  • '''Sin e''', Coburg St. Dark, small and welcoming. Good for traditional music. One of Cork's more atmospheric pubs.
  • '''Tom Barry's''' Another traditional Irish bar, on Barrack St.
  • Sleep

    Budget

    There are a handful of hostels in the city:

  • '''The Bru Hostel''' [http://www.bruhostel.com] tel: ''+353 21'' 4559667, 57 MacCurtain Street. The Bru Hostel is a nice new hostel with an attached bar. Live music and a lively pub most nights. Prices start at ?12 and include breakfast, wi fi internet, bike and luggage storage.
  • '''Kinlay House''' is on the north side of the city, in an increasingly international area of the city. It can be found underneath Shandon, tel: ''+353 21'' 4508966. Rates start at ?13. A free breakfast and include a free light breakfast! Kinlay House is an environmentally friendly hostel, so you can stay here guilt free!!
  • '''Sheila's Budget Accommodation Centre''' [http://www.sheilashostel.ie], 4 Belgrave Place, Wellington Road, tel: ''+353 21'' 4505562. Rooms start from ?13, and includes free wi fi internet.
  • '''Corks International Youth Hostel''', 1 & 2 Redclyffe, Western Road, tel: ''+353 21'' 4543289. Member of the Hostelling International chain - discounts for members. Rooms start at ?15.
  • Camping

  • '''Blarney Camping Ground''' is in Blarney, around 10 minutes from Cork by car, and is a godsend when all the hostels are booked out for the night. Price start around ?10 per night for a large family tent site, complete with shower, laundry, kitchen and TV room.
  • Mid range

  • '''Jury's Inn'''. Tel: ''+353 21'' 4943000. This is a 3 star hotel, part of the Jurys Doyle group. Rooms from about ?90. On Andersen Quay, close to the bus station. Each of the 133 rooms is equipped with high speed internet and satellite TV. There is also a bar and restaurant on site.
  • '''Metropole Hotel'''. Tel: ''+353 21'' 4643700. This is also part of a group, Gresham Hotels. Rooms from about ?110. This hotel is on MacCurtain Street, on the north side of the city centre. The hotel is comprised of 112 rooms, each equipped with complimentary wi fi internet access, room service, and laundry service.
  • '''Imperial Hotel'''. Tel: ''+353 21'' 4274040. This hotel, on South Mall right in the city centre, can have decent weekend deals, but is edging towards the more expensive end. Each room includes room service and nightly turndown service.
  • '''Travelodge''', part of the UK Travelodge chain, is a mid-priced hotel located near the Kinsale Road roundabout, on the road to the Airport. [http://www.travelodge.co.uk/find_a_hotel/hotel/hotel_id/226/CorkAirport].
  • Splurge

  • '''Maryborough Hotel'''. Tel: ''+353 21'' 4365555. Nestled in the leafy suburbs of Cork, the Maryborough Hotel and Spa combines the charm and grandeur of a country residence with the luxury of an internationally acclaimed hotel.
  • '''Hayfield Manor'''. Perrott Avenue, College Road. Tel: ''+ 353 21'' 4845900. [http://www.hayfieldmanor.ie/] Possibly Corks grandest hotel. Hidden away at the top of a cul-de-sac on Perrot Avenue, off College Road, this 5 star hotel is an expensive and luxurious hotel. Backpackers normally work here, rather than spend the night. The Hayfield Manor has a variety of rooms to best suit your needs.
  • '''Kingsley House Hotel'''. Victoria Cross, Tel: ''+353 21'' 4800555. Slightly outside of town, near Cork County Hall, (third tallest building in Ireland), on Carraigrohane Straight this hotel is new and currently being expanded. Has a reputation of being a lovely, top-end hotel.
  • '''The Clarion Hotel'''. Lapps Quay, Tel: ''+353 21'' 4224900. Brand new, boasting a nice riverside promenade, this hotel is proving very popular. Easily accessible, within close walking distance of the city centre. Each room is equipped with air conditioning, power showers, and Egyptian cotton sheets.
  • '''The Montenotte Hotel'''. Tel: ''+353 21'' 4530050. [http://www.themontenottehotel.com] The Montenotte Hotel is a luxurious 4 star hotel with self catering accommodation apartments overlooking Cork City. This is an excellent choice for short-term leasers.
  • Stay safe

    Cork is a safer city than Dublin. During the night caution should be taken, as in any situation involving large numbers of people and alcohol. Like in Britain, late night street fights are much more common in Ireland than in Western Europe and Asia. This is due to a combination of 3 factors.

    #In Ireland, the pubs are at the centre of the dating game. As with all games there are winners and losers. Losers tend to be frustrated. #At 2AM all nightclubs have to close due to Irish law. This results in a late night "rush-hour." #The effect of large quantities of alcohol on people's inhibitions.

    Local people can usually spot a troublemaker quickly, but if you are from "out of town" it's better to play it safe. When people come out from the pubs and clubs, stay away from any over-exuberant people, the majority of these are just having a good time but there is a minority who may look to start a fight. If they call to you, ignore them and move away from them quickly: if you're not there you can_ft be hit.

    As in most cities, if your safety feels compromised, approach any of the many police or doormen in the city centre, who will provide assistance.

    Get out

  • '''Blarney Castle''', Blarney. This is a famous and picturesque castle nestled within the comfortable settings of Blarney village. Known for its beautiful gardens and historic value, this sight attracts visitors throughout the year. Prices of admission vary but generally remain under ?10, with discounts available for students. Grounds close at 5PM daily (excluding winter).
  • '''Cobh''', Formerly known as Queenstown. This was the port for Cork in the age of the great ocean liners, and still sees the occasional cruise ship. It can be reached by a suburban train - timetable [http://www.irishrail.ie/your_journey/timetables.asp?]. Cobh also boasts an interesting heritage centre. Check opening hours before traveling. More information and images of Cobh [http://homepage.eircom.net/~dodonovan/]
  • '''Fota Wildlife Park and Arboretum''' [http://www.fotawildlife.ie/], set on an island in Cork harbour and reached by road or the Cobh suburban train.
  • '''Midleton''' Home of the Jameson Distillery.
  • '''Cahir''', Co. Tipperary. Has Cahir Castle
  • '''Cape Clear''' Island off county Cork, officially designated Gealtacht or Irish-speaking area.
  • '''West Cork''' Beautiful rolling hills and green countryside, the Ireland from the postcards. Many picturesque towns to stop and eat or sleep, like Clonakilty, Skibereen and Bandon.
  • '''Killarney''', Co. Kerry. Home of the Killarney Lakes, Killarney Castle and Killarney Wildlife Park, another great spot to enjoy the countryside and small-town life in Ireland.