Bookstore
Available as paperback
and as e-book.
Cork City Attractions
For visitors, Cork's offerings are wonderfully varied. You can fight the crowds at Blarney Castle to find out if kissing a rock can make you loquacious, explore extraordinary collection of works by Irish artists at the Crawford Art Gallery, and climb to the top of the 300-year-old tower at St. Anne's Church to take in the sweeping views and ring the Shandon Bells, all before you begin a tour of the city's excellent restaurants.
16 Results
- Castle
Blarney Castle
Though a runaway favorite for the hotly-contested title of “cheesiest tourist attraction in Ireland,” Blarney Castle is an imposing edifice. Constructed in the late 15th century, it was once much bigger; the massive Though the runaway favorite for the hotly contested title of… - The Performing Arts
Cork Arts Theatre
This not-for-profit theater in Carroll's Quay presents contemporary dramas and musicals in an intimate, 100-seat performance space. Most tickets cost around €10 to €15, and occasionally there are such egalitarian initiatives as "pay what you want" previews. The theater is fully… - Museum
Cork Butter Museum
With a name like that, it’s no surprise that this place has turned up on several “world’s quirkiest museums” lists, but the fun little Cork Butter Museum is more than just a celebration of tasty Irish dairy produce. From 1770 until the 1920s, Cork was the largest exporter of butter… - Historic Site
Cork City Gaol
Like something out of a Victorian novel, this early-19th-century jail is an austere and highly atmospheric building. It opened in 1824 as a women’s prison. Famous inmates included the extraordinary Countess Constance Markievicz (1868–1927). The first woman elected to the British… - Tour
Cork City Tours
Riding around on open-top buses, you can hop on and off to explore the sights of Ireland’s second city. They run all day in a loop from March through October (as frequently as every half-hour in July and August). Tour highlights include the Cork City Gaol, St. Anne’s Church, and… - Museum
Cork Public Museum
This simple, rather endearing civic museum is a good place to get an overview of the city’s history. Displays include a few objects from Cork’s ancient past—including an Iron Age helmet and some of the oldest tools ever discovered in Ireland—but it’s strongest when it comes to the… - Museum
Crawford Art Gallery
One of the best art galleries in Ireland, the Crawford has impressive collections of sculpture and painting. The Irish School is particularly well represented with works from John Butts (1728–65), including his fine 1755 panorama of Cork City, and Dublin-born Harry Clarke… - The Performing Arts
Everyman Palace
This elegant, historic theater 2 minutes from the bus and train station is well known as a showcase for quality new plays, both Irish and international. The Irish National Ballet also performs here regularly. - Landmark
Mutton Lane Mural
This riotously colorful mural along the walls of Mutton Lane, down one side of the Mutton Lane Inn, is intended to represent the essence of Cork. It depicts musicians performing the traditional “Pana Shuffle,” and all of the characters featured are real local people. It is a vivid… - Market
Old English Market
The name of this bustling food market harks back to the days of English rule—it was first granted a charter in 1610 during the reign of King James I. The current market building dates from 1788, although it was redesigned after being gutted by fire in the 1980s. Inside is a… - Religious Site
St. Anne's Church
Cork’s most recognizable landmark, also known as Shandon Church, is famous for its giant pepper-pot steeple and eight melodious bells. Pretty much wherever you stand in the downtown area, you can see the stone tower crowned with a gilt ball and distinctive fish weathervane. The… - Cathedral
St. Fin Barre's Cathedral
With its three soaring spires dominating the Cork skyline, this Church of Ireland cathedral sits on the very spot St. Fin Barre chose in A.D. 600 for his church and school. A much smaller medieval tower was demolished to make way for the current building, which dates from the early… - The Performing Arts
The Firkin Crane Cultural Centre
Named after two Danish words for measurements of butter, the Firkin Crane is set in a quirky Victorian-era rotunda on the North Bank, just downhill from St. Anne’s Church. It’s one of Ireland’s major centers for contemporary dance, hosting touring companies in addition to showcasing… The Lavit Gallery
Operated by the Cork Arts Society, this gallery, in an early-18th-century Georgian house overlooking the River Lee, promotes the area's contemporary arts scene in colorful, interesting fashion. The ground floor holds works by established artists, and the upper floor showcases…- The Performing Arts
Triskel Arts Centre
Refurbished in 2011, this ever-growing arts center presents a variety of entertainment, from drama, poetry readings, and opera to traditional music concerts. There is also a full curriculum of daytime art workshops and gallery talks as well. The in-house restaurant is a stylish place… - Library/University
University College Cork and Glucksman Gallery
Part of Ireland’s national university, with about 7,000 students, this center of learning is housed in a pretty quadrangle of Gothic Revival–style buildings. Colorful gardens and wooded grounds grace the campus. An audio tour of the campus takes in the Crawford Observatory, the Harry…
Cork City Shopping
St. Patrick Street is the main shopping thoroughfare, though many stores are scattered throughout the city on side streets and in lanes. In general, shops are open Monday to Saturday 9:30am to 6pm, unless indicated otherwise. In the summer, many shops remain open until 9:30pm on Thursday and Friday, and some are open on Sunday.
Winthrop Arcade, off Winthrop Street, is the best of a handful of covered shopping arcades in the city. The main full-size shopping mall is Merchant’s Quay Shopping Centre, Merchant’s Quay and St. Patrick Street (www.merchantsquaycork.com; 021/427-5466).
Cork’s best department store is Brown Thomas, 18-21 St. Patrick Street (www.brownthomas.ie; 021/480-5555), its three floors filled with the same kind of upscale items found in the main branch in Dublin. Just next door is the Cork outpost of another popular department store, Debenhams, 12-17 St. Patrick Street (www.debenhams.ie; 021/840-8400), a particularly good bet for clothes and housewares.
7 Results
- Souvenirs
Blarney Woollen Mills
On the grounds of Blarney Castle ★, this is the flagship outlet of an Irish chain that specializes in traditional Irish gear—Aran sweaters, cashmere and other knitwear, tweeds, country clothing, capes, and accessories. They also stock a large range of Irish crafts, such as Waterford… - Fashion
Brocade and Lime
This wonderful vintage-style clothing store sells retro-inspired (but brand-new) fashions, all the work of a talented coterie of Irish designers. They include Orla Kiely, who specializes in swinging ‘60s prints; Alicia Estrada, whose Stop Staring label features clothes that hark back… - Books
Easons
The large and nicely designed Cork branch of this major Irish bookstore chain has titles on just about everything under the sun, from bestsellers to travel guides (you know, just in case you decide to pick up a print copy of this one). It’s directly across from Debenhams department… - Housewares & Furniture
Meadows & Byrne
The Cork branch of this very popular Irish lifestyle chain sells housewares, furniture and various other pieces of attractive crafts, from crystal and kitchenware, to bed and bath products. - Fashion
Monreal
Designer handbags, belts, and other accessories are for sale at this boutique in the Winthrop Arcade. They also have a gorgeous stock of shoes, including some rather cool lace-up Wellington boots—a handy way of staying stylish, whatever the Irish weather throws at you. - Arts & Crafts
Shandon Craft Centre
In the same building as the Cork Butter Museum, this center is where various local craftspeople come to sell their wares. Part of the attraction is never knowing quite what you’re going to find. Occasionally in summer you’ll come across free concerts here. - Bookstores
Vibes and Scribes
This cheery secondhand bookstore stocks titles in a huge array of genres, as well as gifts and crafty knick-knacks. A second branch, also selling stationery and art and craft supplies, is at 3 Bridge St
Cork City Nightlife
Tuneful Pint: Cork's Most Muscial Pubs
Cork has a deserved reputation as home to some of Ireland’s best pubs for live, traditional music. It’s virtually a rite of passage to catch a session while enjoying a pint or two (and it’s stout in these parts, by the way—Murphy’s or Beamish, not Guinness—if you really want to fit in).
You can just follow your ears to find the best places, but to get you started, here are a few of the most respected spots. An Bodhran (the name refers to a type of drum made from goatskin), 42 Oliver Plunkett St. (021/427-4544) has live sessions nightly, as does the cozy An Spailpín Fánach (which means “the Wandering Migrant Worker”), 27 South Main St. (021/427-7949). The succinctly named Sin é (literally, “That’s It”), 8 Coburg St. (021/450-2266) has been one of Cork’s top live-music pubs for decades. It has sessions most nights at 7pm, but those on Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday tend to be particularly good. There’s trad every Thursday night at the atmospheric Long Valley, 10 Winthrop St. (www.thelongvalleybar.com; 021/427-2144)—but if you’ve had your fill of the pennywhistle by this point, come on Monday nights at 9:30 to catch the lively program of spoken-word events; see www.obheal.ie for more details.
For a Laugh
You're likely to have the last laugh every Friday and Saturday night from 9:30pm at City Limits Comedy Club, 2 Coburg St. (021/450-1206 for recorded information, or 021/450-7744 bar; www.thecomedyclub.ie). You can purchase tickets in advance at www.tickets.ie. Ticket prices vary depending on the act.
The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival
Held every year since 1978, this is Ireland’s biggest and most prestigious jazz festival. Big names such as Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, and Stephane Grappelli have played here over the years, with more than 1,000 performers from all over the world taking part annually. It’s held at various citywide venues in late October. Visit www.guinnessjazzfestival.com for details. Tickets go on sale in early September; prices vary and some events are free.
7 Results
- Bars & Pubs
An Spailpin Fánac
One of Cork’s oldest pubs (it opened in 1779), this is a wonderful spot to hang out with a pint and while away an hour or two. It’s also one of the best pubs in the city for live music. - Bars & Pubs
Bowery
One of the most popular nightspots in Cork, the Bowery offers several options. Downstairs are two sophisticated bars, the Bowery and the Berwick Room, which cultivate a decadent vibe with just a hint of the bordello. Upstairs, DJs spin the latest cuts and eclectic sets in the Stage… - The Performing Arts
Cork Opera House
Near the river on Emmet Place, the Cork Opera House is the region’s preeminent venue when it comes to opera and other live concerts (classical, trad, folk, rock, country, and more), plus dance, standup, and more. - Dance Clubs
Havana Browns
This busy nightclub attracts the kind of young party crowd who are drawn to a bit of glamour like moths to a flame. After negotiating your way past the notoriously surly bouncers, relax in one of the three bars or work your moves on the dance floor, with its high tech LED… - Bars & Pubs
John Henchy & Sons
Full of appealing Victorian features, this fantastic pub looks as if it has hardly changed since it first opened in 1884. It’s got a private area (“snug”) that was originally built to allow ladies to visit the pub without fear of impropriety. - Bars & Pubs
The Idle Hour
This is the sort of place you go if you want some good lively craic, loud music, and a young crowd. It’s an extremely popular pub, especially during sports matches, which are shown here on huge TVs. - Bars & Pubs
The Long Valley
A cheerful, gregarious air pervades at this long-standing favorite of the Cork pub scene. The crowd is a good mix of stalwart locals and hip young things. They also have a good program of live music and spoken word.
