AM I QUALIFIED TO TELL YOU ABOUT CORK CITY?
From the years 1996 to 2000, I attended UCC in Cork (the big university there) and have gone back every year for varying amounts of time from weekend break to ‘using up holiday time’ week long holidays. Presuming you have a week or so to spare, ... Read review
Located overlooking the south channel of the River Lee and situated on one of the cities ... more
main gateways Westview Aparthotel combines elegantly appointed apartments most with balconies excellent location with contemporary chic living complete with all the amenities that the discerning traveller expects The property also contains the trendy Cafe de la Paix popular with visitors and locals alikeAll Of the Apartments come with two bedrooms a generous bathroom Dinning area lounge area TV DVD WiFi modem connection phone and a fully equipped self contained kitchen The kitchens contain fully integrated dishwasher washer dryer and fridge built in oven four ring hobs microwave toaster and kettle which will make your stay feel like a real home from home Wether youre on business or pleasure we really have thought of everything with the flexability of a hotel
Information: :Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
Four Star Deluxe Hotel set in Stylish Terraced grounds and combines classic elegance with ... more
contemporary design Overlooking the river Lee minutes drive from the City Centre and convenient to many of Corks main tourist attractions Onsite Leisure Centre including 25m poolChoice of bars and restaurants Free car parking Lively weekend entertainment
Information: :Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
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Advantages: You need never have a boring moment... Disadvantages: I'm not there to show you around
...QUALIFIED TO TELL YOU ABOUT CORK CITY?
From the years 1996 to 2000, I attended UCC in Cork (the big university there) and have gone back every year for varying amounts of time from weekend break to ‘using up holiday time’ week long holidays. Presuming you have a week or so to spare, some cash to spend and are curious to visit the city which will be the European city of Culture in 2005, here is a 'week-filling guide' for that city..... ...
*Fly directly into Cork airport
**Train from Heuston Station Dublin into Kent Street station Cork. Warning - the evening trains (post 4.30) are PACKED beyond seating room and FORGET trying to get on a train from Dublin after 2.00 pm on a Friday. (Train Station is 15 mins walk from City centre)
Trains are wheelchair / buggy friendly.
***Bus from Busaras, Dublin's Central Bus Station to Parnell Place Bus ... more
AM I QUALIFIED TO TELL YOU ABOUT CORK CITY?
From the years 1996 to 2000, I attended UCC in Cork (the big university there) and have gone back every year for varying amounts of time from weekend break to ‘using up holiday time’ week long holidays. Presuming you have a week or so to spare, some cash to spend and are curious to visit the city which will be the European city of Culture in 2005, here is a 'week-filling guide' for that city.....
Each of the days can be taken as a whole or part of the others, if you are only there for a weekend, just look at the weekend section etc.
CURRENCY CONVERSION:
10.00 Euros = 6.77 UK £'s 10.00 Euros = 12.06 US $'s
HOW TO GET THERE...
*Fly directly into Cork airport
**Train from Heuston Station Dublin into Kent Street station Cork. Warning - the evening trains (post 4.30) are PACKED beyond seating room and FORGET trying to get on a train from Dublin after 2.00 pm on a Friday. (Train Station is 15 mins walk from City centre) Trains are wheelchair / buggy friendly.
***Bus from Busaras, Dublin's Central Bus Station to Parnell Place Bus Station Cork (Bus Station is 5 mins walk from City centre)
The long distance buses are not wheelchair friendly as there are four steep steps from the group into the bus and the doorway is too small to allow someone who is severely incapacitated to be carried into the bus. Buggies can be stored in the large roomy boot of the bus.
AIRLINES THAT FLY INTO CORK AIRPORT:
JetMagic, Delta Air Lines, Lufthansa, Aer Arann, Ryanair, Ireland Airways, Aer Arann, BMI Baby, TAP, BA, British European, Manx, Iberia, Air Malta, Aeroflot, Air Wales, Czech Airlines, Air Wales, Air Canada and AUA.
Check the website relevant to your airline for the airport in your country that flies into Cork. If there isn't a convenient one, it may be easier to fly into Dublin and get a bus (Adult monthly return) €33.00 or a train €59.50 (Adult monthly return).
Airport to city: There are 2 options, a taxi (expensive) or the city shuttle which costs €5.50 per person for a monthly return. It runs every half an hour to and from the airport and talks about 25 minutes journey time. The shuttle is wheelchair / buggy friendly.
SMOKING:
Remember as of earlier on this year, smoking is banned in all covered places of employment this includes pubs, restaurants, hotel rooms and museums. So if you want to have a puff, go outside and make sure to dispose of your extinguished butt responsibly or you could be subject to a €500 littering fine.
DAY1 - Monday So you have arrived, tired, dusty, thirsty and all you want is a pint and a munch. Booked nowhere to stay? Silly person! but never mind, I have some recommendations for you;
ACCOMMODATION:
So where to stay. We have 3 options for you....
In need of a bit of LUXERY?: Try: http://www.viennawoodshotel.com/ Rates per night per room: From € 100 or €110 family room (2 children limit per room)
This hotel was originally an 18th Century country house. It is set in 20 acres of mature woodland 15 minutes walk from Cork City centre. There is a warm and friendly atmosphere, as has everywhere in Cork truth be told, excellent food and gorgeous grounds. Your mission for your first day is to enjoy one of their sumptuous roast dinners, wash it down with a few glasses of Murphy’s (the local stout) and stroll around the grounds to familiarise yourself with your surroundings.
For those with small children, there are cots and a reliable baby-sitting service provided as long as you have a mobile phone with you than you can be contacted on.
The entrances and passages are buggy and wheelchair friendly, however there are no disabled bathroom aids installed in any of the rooms.
Would you rather go ‘NICE’ than luxury? Try: http://www.achillhouse.com/ Rates per night per room: From €60 - €110 with a Children's discount of 20% and further discounts for extended stays.
Cots for small people can be provided on request.
This is one of the luxury B&B’s that are in such abundance on the Western Road area of Cork (5 mins walk UCC and 5 mins walk city centre). I recommend this one because of the amazing breakfasts they produce, their homemade brown bread is the stuff of fantasies. There is even the option of a Jacuzzi bath in the more expensive rooms.
The entrances and passages are buggy and wheelchair friendly, but there is only one bathroom with bathing aids installed so make sure to book early and let this owner know this is what you require.
VEGGIE CAFE For your first night in this part of the city, go and have a meal in the amazing vegetarian Café Paradiso (also on the Western Road) and have a stroll around the leafy expansive grounds of UCC. You could even drop in for a pint in one of the two college bars as long as there are no private or college functions taking place.
Only the new college bar (the one that looks like a spaceship) is wheelchair / buggy friendly as it has lifts and disabled WC's. There is no nappy changing in any of toilets on campus.
On a BUDGET? Then I recommend http://www.kinlayhouse.ie/ Prices per night: from €13 for a bed in the dorm (per person) to €30.00 for a private room (Per room).
This hostel, unlike so many of the others located around the noisy city centre allows you a quite nights sleep after the five minutes it will take you to walk home from the main social drag of the city.
If I have to go to Cork in high season, I always stay there as it is clean, tidy and if I can drag myself out of bed before 9.30, there is buckets of fresh orange juice, lashings of hot coffee, toast and croissants. They don’t provide towels but the beds are comfortable.
It is not a small child friendly hostel, the rooms are simply too tiny for cots but there 2 / 4 bed dorms are more than suitable for small persons used to sleeping in single beds.
The entrance to the hostel is wheelchair and buggy friendly but the space around the beds is too small for comfortable manoeuvre around the rooms.
If this is where you are staying for your first night in Cork, I recommend you take a walk around the Shandon Church with its fabulous bells to be explored. It is more than worth the 120-foot climb to the top for the views and if you are there for the tri-hour you may be allowed to pull on a rope or two.
DAY 2: Tuesday Right, day two. You’re well rested and ready for action. So I propose a bit of walking.
BREAKFAST CAFF If you are doing budget accommodation and woke up too late for breakfast, may I recommend the greasy spoon called Tony’s on 69 North Main Street.
It has a lovely mixture of students, clerks, business people, construction workers and secretaries as clientele. Word to the wise, don’t go for the construction worker’s breakfast unless you are a construction worker, it is wrong to leave that much food behind you on a plate. This café does the best fried mushrooms I have ever had. Veggies don’t suffer as there is a full breakfast for them that is even bigger than the carnivore options with hash browns, fried bread, tomatoes, eggs, mushrooms, chips and would sir like freshly made brown bread with that?
Everyone is very friendly about scooching up to make more room for buggies and wheelchairs.
CITY GAOL Our tour today takes us to the city gaol, the tour there provides the tourist with a good history of the city through the guided tour. There are also the gardens that surround the gaol which have a number of peaceful walks past beautiful duck ponds and mature trees. It is about 2km from the city centre so wear comfy shoes.
The entrance is buggy and wheelchair friendly as are the grounds. There is full nappy changing and disabled toilet facilities.
BISTO LUNCH For lunch, walk back into the city and settle yourself in the huge airy open space of the Bodega bar / restaurant in the Cornmarket. This is one of Cork's most attractive bars and it attracts the pink, grey, stallholder, tourist and local pounds.
If you are interested in bringing home a painting as a souvenir, the work of local artists is displayed for sale on the walls. You can even play chess on the tables in front of you should you be so inclined. The lunch is a chapatti, pasta, soup, sandwich and chips mix. All fresh ingredients and all very tasty.
The entrance is buggy and wheelchair friendly as is the ground floor of this huge space. There is full nappy changing and disabled toilet facilities.
ITALIAN DINNER For dinner, head towards Scoozis, no.’s 2-5 Winthrop Street. They do a full Italian style menu and a small selection of house wines. All food is cooked to order and as fresh as can be. You can view their evening bill of fare at: http://www.scoozis.com/html/evening_menu.htm. There is no beer licence. Child-friendly with a wee person’s menu and high chairs.
Unfortunately there is no room for buggies or wheelchairs. Instead, try hopping down to the Long Valley at no.10 on the same street for plenty of room and an excellent bar food menu.
LIVE MUSIC If you intend going out in the evening, I recommend heading towards No.1 Union Quay to the Lobby. There is usually a jazz session on a Tuesday night with a reasonable cover charge of about €5 but check out: http://www.lobby.ie/ for a full list of bands playing while you are in the city.
Unfortunately there is no wheelchair access into the upstairs of the Lobby where the live music is played but you do have the option of going next door to Charlie's bar, all on the same level, good music and excellent beer.
TAXIS If at the end of the night you are not inclined to walk home, as in all cities, DO NOT accept any lifts from cars purporting to be minicabs but phone a reputable TAXI firm such as Shandon Cabs on +353 21 502255, Sun cabs on +353 21 292929 or ABC Taxis on :+353 21 961961.
DAY 3: Wednesday SHOPPING Ok, I can appreciate that you may be tired and footsore today so I propose an easy day for you. How about a small bit of shopping and a bit of lunch? Now don’t scream, the shopping district in Cork is a fairly small one so it is not an eight mile trek the way London or New York can be.
The main Street; Patrick Street, contains shops like Marks and Spencers, Dunnes Stores (cheap clothes store, good place to go if baggage handling lose your suitcases) Monsoon, Roches Stores (mid-market department store) Brown Thomas (high-end ‘labels’ department store) Wandering around the shops through the lanes surrounding Paul Street, which all go under the romantic name of the Huguenot Quarter, brings you to a far more eclectic mix of Cork designers and bohemian clothes shops for anyone looking to top up their supply of little black dresses and tie-dyed dungarees.
For good nappy changing and disabled facilities, the Merchants Quay shopping centre at the bottom of Patrick's Street is the place to go.
INDULGENT LUNCH While you are in the area, go to the Gingerbread House on Paul Street, order a large roasted on-site coffee, a freshly made sandwich from the huge selection available (the side salad and dollop of tasty Ballymaloe relish come as standard) and a huge slice of any cake from the range on display. Remember, you are holidaying not dieting! Take the whole lot up the wooden stairs and sit at one of the thick set chairs and tables beside the balcony, from here you can look downwards at the masses swarming in for their sustenance or watch the shoppers pass by on the lanes outside.
For homesick Americans, this is THE place to go for a fix of a pile of pancakes and lashings of maple syrup
Regrettably there is no wheelchair / buggy access to the upstairs of the Gingerbread house (where the toilets are) but there is plenty of room downstairs except during the really busy periods. There are full toilet facilities across the road in Tescos.
FANCY DIN-DINS Continuing on our restful theme, we are bringing you to Greene’s restaurant at Issac’s hotel located on MacCurtin Street for dinner. There is a full flash menu with duck, beef, chicken and lots of words on the menu like “confit”, “Chavîgnol” and “parcel”. Ignore all that because behind all the fancy words is food that can make your senses doubt themselves because it will be among the best to ever assail them. Any fish dish is done better than fish you have had anywhere else and was probably caught off the coast that morning. Do not think you will be able to manage 3 courses, you won’t! The portions are huge, in fact I would say skip the starters altogether unless you are fainting with hunger. See: http://www.isaacs.ie/greenes/dinner.htm for the full evening menu.
Issacs has full wheelchair / buggy access as well as disabled and nappy changing WC's.
CINEMA Not in the mood for bed? Try the Gate Multiplex on North Gate Bridge and see if there is something on you fancy watching. Full listings are available from: http://www.corkcinemas.com/
The cinema has full disabled access, wide lifts and suitable WC's.
DAY 4: Thursday DAY-TRIP We are leaving the city today and going on a trip. There are 3 places all within an hours journey from the bus station in Parnell Street that I recommend. You choose which one suits your personality best:
Kinsale A fishing town busting with gourmet restaurants, cobbled streets, a colourful mixture of shops reflecting the centuries of Europeans who came in through the port and settled there. Also a number of small museums and gift shops. Good for: Foodies, art-beavers, history-beavers and sight-see-ers. Bad for: People who hate tourist traps
Ballycotton A small fishing town as wild and untamed as Kinsale is touristy. It is located on the southern coast of Ireland and is a sleepy spot with whitewashed houses, a few shops, a pub (which only opens in the evening) and a post office. It is also the village that played host to the abandoned 1995 film “Divine Rapture” starring the late Marlon Brando and Johnny Depp. Filming was abandoned after 300 days when finances ran dry. Bring a picnic and watch the fishing boats go in and out. Note: There is only one bus to and from Ballycotton daily so keep an eye on the times unless you are driving. Good for: Anglers, people wanting to get away from it all and birdwatchers. Bad for: Party animals and theme park junkies
Midleton A merchant town, whose high street is straight out of the last century. While you are there do a tour and tasting session in Jameson’s distillery. Then later on, call into the Meeting Place pub. You may be fortunate to happen upon one of the amazing live acts (rock bands mostly) who play there on a regular basis. For fans of Rory Gallagher, this place is a Mecca as there is a room of memorabilia and a bar dedicated to the great musician. Don Baker, Christy Moore and Mick Hanley are but a few of the famous artists who have played here. If you see the owner, Tony Moore, tell him the ex-girlfriend of the OTHER Tony Moore sent you there!
Sort out your own lunch and dinner today, I’m exhausted.
DAY 5: Friday SHANDON CHURCH More walking today. To Shandon Church (follow the sound of the bells) in the North of the city. It is only about 15 minutes walk from the city centre but it is uphill so bring out the comfy walking shoes again. The 8 bells in the tower were made by Rudal of Gloucester and weigh over 6 tonnes. The clocks were made by Mangans of Cork, and are affectionately known as the four-faced liar, since the east and west facings tell slightly different times. The panoramic view over the city is well worth the climb.
THE BUTTER EXCHANGE Once you get your breath back, cross the lane from the church and you will be in front of the Cork Butter Exchange. It was open for business as a trading post for butter between 1770 and 1924. In the nineteenth century it exported 500,000 casks of butter and brought in revenue of £1.5 million. Today it houses the Shandon Craft Centre. Thirteen craftspeople work there exercising their trade. It is a great place to go if you want to stock up on Blarney Irish Crystal, hand painted tableware, ceramics, jewellery, and textiles or just a mooch to watch the makers at work.
PUB LUNCH For lunch, there are a number of small pubs around the lanes surrounding the church, choose one and enjoy. It is going to be a standard pub fare menu of sausages and mash / quiche and chips / lasagne and salad. Wash it all down with several applications of whatever brew takes your fancy.
GOURMET DINNER Come the evening, we have another gourmet treat in store, the Four liars bistro on Shandon. This is a very popular bistro with an award-winning chef so try to get in for about 5.30 rather than 7.00. As you enjoy dinner, you can watch people heading out for the evening through the cobbled streets of old Cork. You will also be in time for the early dinner special, such as the four course meal for two at just €30. If you are sitting at the big window over looking Dominic Street, look across the road at the villa-type townhouses, I used to live at no. 7. I had a very good social life living there. Chef's specialities in the ‘Liars include chicken stuffed with crab, and feta oregano and cognac baked in puff pastry with a Bordelaise sauce.
EVENING IN THE PUB Evening entertainment. Come out of the restaurant, cock you ears and head off in the direction of the pub with the open door playing the music that you like the sound of. The small pubs in this area of the city are cheaper to buy drink in than the trendy bars of the city centre, there will be few if any tourists in this area at night but the locals are all friendly. Last time we went out there, my friend dropped his wallet with €50 in it somewhere between out hotel and the Shandon pubs. The next day, the wallet (a lovely leather one), all his cards and the cash intact were handed into the local police station.
FANCY A MORE GAY EVENING OUT? There are a few more venues in Cork that cater to gay men and women then there were when I was in college and my housemate came out to me in tears. He was only crying because the though of socialising in the only gay (and very dingy) bar in Cork at the time was a very depressing one. Today, he would have more choice with:
LOAFERS Tel. +353 21 431 1612 (bar only, no food in the evenings) , Douglas St Opens from 5pm most days. Thursdays, women only in back bar
OTHER PLACE Tel. (00 353 21) 317678 Nightclub. 7/8 Augustine St Opening times Fri/Sat 11-late Mixed disco/bar . Enormous fun!!
TABOO 3 Faulkners Lane. Cork Gay bar
THE BODEGA Coalquay Cork Gay friendly bar
DAY 6: Saturday BREWERY TOUR Aren’t you tired yet? Don’t you fancy staying in bed until noon? Gah! You’re SOOO demanding! Right, we are going on a tour of the Beamish Brewery. Well you are, I’m going to snooze outside in the sunshine until you are finished. The tours start at 10.30am from June to September except on Tuesdays and Thursdays when they start at 12.00pm. Consult http://www.beamish.ie/default_html.htm for more details about the company and its products.
VEGGIE LUNCH Now for a nice healthy lunch, following the river Lee, stroll down to The Quay Co-op Cafe on 24 Sullivan’s Quay. This is the 1st vegetarian restaurant in Cork and the one with the widest selection of dishes for people with special foods needs. Each day the menu contains vegan, gluten-free and meat-free choices. Sample lunches include: spiced lentil burger, spinach, mushroom and corn pizza, and cashew nut and vegetable paella. Look out for the daily special as these can be the best value at under €5 a dish. It is a lovely place to sit overlooking the river once you have made your self-service selection. Avoid the filter coffee though, it is as thick, harsh and as gritty as the Lee waters themselves.
FARMERS MARKET After lunch, I recommend you can take a leisurely stroll through The English Market which will be bursting with fresh products in time for the weekend shoppers. The covered market has entrances on Princes Street, Patrick Street and the Grand Parade. As well as local fish, honey, cheese, fruit, meat and vegetables, there are exotic olive, beer, soap and perfume stalls. Even if you buy nothing, it is worth the stroll for the atmosphere and smells alone.
There has been a market on this site since the time of James 1st in 1610, but the present building dates from 1786.
COFFEE BERAK If you find yourself in need of libation, nip upstairs to the Farmgate Café for a coffee and if you have room, a large slice of the best bread and butter pudding in the country. The café is on a balcony that overlooks the market so you can sit quietly and watch all the hustle and bustle going on downstairs.
Gourmet GOURMET Dinner For dinner, we get to really treat ourselves at The Ivory Tower at 35 Prince's Street. This is the best restaurant in Cork without a doubt. Here is the number, ring it as soon in advance as you can for reservations: +353 21 4274665. They are only open Wednesdays to Sundays from 6.30 to late but every mouthful here is a joy. It is also really the only Irish-style restaurant in Cork. For all the gourmet galloping that goes on, there is a very relaxed atmosphere and no-one with think anything of it if you pass on the Blackened swordfish with banana ketchup in favour of the more standard seafood, game, smoked shrimp, sushi and vegetarian dishes. All this effort is not cheap, expect to pay for a fixed 5-course dinner €50 and about €35 for the main courses.
ONE FOR THE ROAD... If you fancy a last pint before bed just to oil the walk home, try the Hi-B at 108 Oliver Plunkett Street. It is on the 1st floor over Minihan’s Chemist not far from the main Post Office. Upon walking in this pub feels like your Aunt’s house with an open fireplace and various books and ornaments scattered over the shelves. There is no TV and no jukebox. People simply sit at the bar and chat away with each other. Warning: Brian (the tame owner) is a complete charmer until you show signs of a mobile phone or getting loud, then he has been known to throw people out. Wednesday nights feature a live pianist.
DAY 7: Sunday SPANISH DINNER I am going to leave the morning and the afternoon up to you (my fingers hurt) but come the evening, you can take a stroll out to Probys Bistro located on Probys Quay, Crosses Green Cork. The menu is Mediterranean with a strong leaning towards Spain. All dishes are made from local seafood, vegetables, prime steak, lamb and poultry. It is all lovely, tasty and abundant but it is the sangria that is something special, not too sweet, not too sour and very mor-ish. Just be gentle with it and it promises not to make you feel brave enough to attempt to straddle the statues of the demons that live high in the eaves of St. Finbarr’s Cathedral located just across the road.
ST. FINBARR’S CATHEDRAL St. Finbarr's Cathedral was designed by Victorian architect William Burges and completed in 1879, it is one of the most prominent Cork landmarks and a striking piece of architecture.
At 7.00pm every Sunday, evensong takes place and all are welcome to worship. Even if you are not inclined towards Christian Churches services, this one is something special, due in part to the acoustics of the building and the sheer numbers of people who come to sing their hearts out.
DAY 8: Monday Time to go home. Hopefully it will be raining so you won’t have too many regrets about leaving. So it is off to Parnell St. bus station to get the shuttle for the airport. I hope you kept the return portion of the ticket somewhere safe.
USEFUL RELATED URL’s:
*City Guide: http://www.cork-guide.ie/
**Local City guide for local people: www.PeoplesRepublicOfCork.com
***Cork city Gaol http://www.cork-guide.ie/citygaol.htm
Advantages: Attractive and compact city, eclectic and diverse yet still traditional, lots to do Disadvantages: Eating out not cheap; some may find it too hilly
Cork is a city I had long fancied visiting without really knowing why and I was lucky enough to visit for a weekend break last December. Booking the flights and the accommodation was the only preparation we did so when we arrived in the city we had little idea of what we wanted to do and see.
Arriving late Friday afternoon and departing again Sunday lunchtime did not leave us with a great deal of time but we managed to cram in plenty of activity ... ...a pair of comfortable shoes; Cork has excellent public transport but in the city you may as well walk: although the centre is compact, there are a few hills.
It takes a little while to get your bearings in Cork; the city started life as an island in the swampy River Lee and today the river flows in two channels through the centre of the city. As a result you find that you are constantly crossing bridges and some of the main streets are even built ...
fizzytom 25.07.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Cork City (Ireland)
Advantages: Everything! Disadvantages: It's too hard to leave!
...place! I've only been to Cork city centre a few times as when we go every year we stay in Youghal, a small seaside resort on the east coast of Cork county. Cork is the second biggest city in Southern Ireland, only behind the country's capital Dublin. There are 127, 253 people in Cork city and 283,116 in the county. The shopping is great, there is some really great scenery and the nightlife is brilliant! What more could you want? I think this is the ... ...in an English market in Cork which sells local and exotic food. This is a good place to visit if you're around the city. Mahon point is a mall in Cork city, it has plenty of good shops, cafes, a cinema and bars. Aswell as food shops, there are jewellers, chemists, charity shops, the usual naff souvenir shops, beauty salons, sports shops, entertainment and music shops e.g hmv and virgin megastores. There are also a couple of tattoo parlours. Not that ...
sarahl2002 30.03.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Cork City (Ireland)
Advantages: Quieter, and cheaper than Dublin. Some good restaurants to be found Disadvantages: Very little tourism in winter time, fewer 'sights' open, smaller than Dublin
...that people have said that Cork is a somewhat similar place to Dublin, being Eire's second city and all that.. so after a particularly enjoyable trip to Dublin in November, myself and the other half decided that we would take ourselves off to Cork as a treat and to see what it had to offer people like us (in our 20's and who found Dublin a little expensive).
We arrived early on a Saturday morning, into the tiny Cork Airport (which we later learned ... ...only spent about 48hrs in Cork in total, so we obviously couldn't get to see and do everything. I'd actually recommend the city as a good base for exploring the beautiful surrounding villages in Southern Ireland - of course there's Blarney (and the castle with the infamous Blarney Stone), Midleton (for the Jameson factory - Irish whiskey production), but really, I think you'd need to hire a car to get out and about. To be honest, the two days we ...
indiegirl 31.01.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Cork City (Ireland)
Advantages: Plenty to see and do, cheap accomodation Disadvantages: Rather touristy, not suited to people wanting to 'get away from it all'
...thought as we arrived in Cork was “Oh my god, we’re back in Dublin!” Having slept most of the stretch from Cahir to Cork we were worried for a minute that we’d hopped on the wrong bus – the river running through the town centre complete with periodic bridges, the ‘Centra Quick Stop’ on every second corner and the slightly crumbly stone houses did seem almost uncannily familiar.
But no – we were in ... ...in the Republic of Ireland, Cork is quite a buzzing place, full of old buildings, churches, shopping centres, pubs and, of course, tourists.
On arrival, we hefted our backpacks and began to follow my hastily scribbled directions for the ‘Sheila’s of Cork’ hostel. Only about 10 minutes walk from the bus stop (depending on quality of directions and size of backpack), it was a bit of a struggle up a hill but still quite convenient ...
gennymutant 11.06.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Cork City (Ireland)
Advantages: Good restaurants, tea and coffee in the room Disadvantages: Everything apart of the advantages
...are found all around Europe. Cork city itself is smaller than one would think looking at maps. The main streets are Patrick and Grand Parade with a few smaller ones where there are restaurants and pubs serving mainly Italian, Chinese and Indian cuisines. There is not much to do in Cork city except eating out and have some pints at the pubs. We recommend the Isaacs Restaurant and the pub Scotts, both keeping a standard which is slightly higher than ... ...was quite a lot near Cork because of the Jazz festival.
Cormac McCarthy, king of munster, built the fortress to protect the area from the attacks of the invading Cromwellians. The castle area itself is beautiful with small rivers running through and some lovely old trees. The gardens are a delight. We took some nice photos. One has to be careful climbing up the stairs of the castle and when you reach the top the Blarney stone is hardly visible and ...
Cityexplorer 03.11.2005 (16.07.2006)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Cork City (Ireland)
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> London Stansted to:
DOMESTIC UK: Newquay, Blackpool, Prestwick (Glasgow), City Of Derry
IRELAND: Dublin, Cork, Knock, Shannon, Kerry.
FRANCE: St. Etienne, Tours, Nîmes, Limoges, Poitiers, Rodez, Carcassone, Dinard, La Rochelle, Biarritz, Pau (Pyrenees), Begerac, Perpignan, Montpellier,
GERMANY: Niederhein (Düsseldorf), Lübeck (Hamburg), Baden-Baden (Karlsruhe), Hahn (Frankfurt), Erfurt (Weimar), Altenburg, Friedrichshafen, Berlin Schonefeld*, Altenburg (Leipzig).
ITALY: Brescia (Verona), Bergamo (Milan), Bari, Pescara*, Brindisi*, Palermo (Sicily), Alghero ...
evesham1988la 30.07.2004 (16.08.2004)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Ryanair - RYR
Advantages: Low fares! Extensive range of routes and destinations. Good Punctuality Disadvantages: Can be uncomfortable on longer flights. Extra charges expensive if you don't play by their rules.
*Manchester (now just one route)
*Leeds-Bradford
*Edinburgh
*Glasgow-Prestwick (roughly about 40 miles from Glasgow)
*Aberdeen (one route)
*Newcastle (only a few destinations)
*Durham Tees Valley (summer only, only a few destinations)
*Doncaster-Sheffield (summer only, only a few destinations)
*Newquay (summer only, only a few destinations)
*Belfast-City (George Best airport)
*Derry/Londonderry
Republic of Ireland
*Dublin (largest Irish hub, headquarters)
*Shannon
*Cork
*Kerry
*Knock Ireland West
Check with the airline on www.ryanair.com for route and destination information relevant to you. It is also worth noting that Ryanair also have many hubs outside of the UK of which there are 36 in total. The biggest of these are probably Barcelona (Girona), Brussels (Charleroi), Frankfurt (Hahn), Düsseldorf (Weeze), Milan ...
olster99 22.10.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Ryanair - RYR
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