Top County Cork hotels
Blarney Castle Cork
30 Reviews We weren't actually going to visit this castle, as we are 'over' queueing and really didn't think we wanted to do the tourist thing. Sooooo glad we did. We were there at 9am when it opened and were...
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Charles' Fort Kinsale
9 Reviews Even though it was raining I enjoyed my visit to the fort and the walk to it from the centre of Kinsale. It is run by the OPW and it is 3 Euro 70 to enter. The best thing about our visit was the free...
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11 Reviews It would be impossible to go to Cobh and not notice St. Colman's Cathedral. The huge church overshadows the small town sitting high on a hilltop overlooking the harbor. We left the Heritage Center and...
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18 Reviews Summer Opening Times Monday-Saturday 9:30-17:30 Sunday 12:30 - 17:00 Winter Opening Times Monday-Saturday 10:00 - 12:45 14:00 - 17:00 (Closed Bank Holidays) Admission Adult €3.00 Under 18...
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Old Head of Kinsale Kinsale
2 Reviews This is one of my favourite places in County Cork, this windswept rocky promontory reaching out into the ocean. There is a lighthouse at the end of it but you can't get to it - the road ends with a...
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The Queenstown Story Cobh
6 Reviews Cobh's Heritage Centre is next door to the railway station at the water's edge. There is a large open cafe/restaurant and a well done Museum about Cobh's emigrants. For 6 Euros you can see and hear...
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Shopping / Streets / Areas Cork
14 Reviews I forgot all about the English Market until we came upon it wandering around and regrettably we had already had lunch. But I did stop and get a few chocolates from the Chocolate Shop which purchases...
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Kinsale Harbour Kinsale
6 Reviews We went sailing with the guys in Sovereign Sailing down at the Trident Hotel Marina. I had never sailed before but they took 4 of us out on a new 34ft sailing yacht. It was Fantastic. They gave us all...
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The Titanic Memorial Cobh
2 Reviews Well, I arrived in Cobh wanting to see things about the Titanic. On April 11th 1912 the luxury liner weighed anchor for the last time at Cobh to pick up Irish emigrants heading for New York. Many of...
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St Ann's Church Cork
12 Reviews The name Shandon comes from the Irish, Sean Dun, and means Old Fort. Shandon was one of 28 settlements in and around ancient Cork. Dont forget to take the earthings at the beginning when you climb the...
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The Scilly Walk Kinsale
2 Reviews This fairytale yellow cottage is about halfway between Summercove and Kinsale and everybody always stops to take photographs. In summer the hollyhocks grow almost to the roof. I often wonder about the...
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Heritage Centre Cobh
4 Reviews If your an American of Irish descent visiting Cobh, you are probably here to see where your family departed from Ireland. I am of Irish descent, but my family immigrated from the port in Dublin. My...
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Cork City Gaol Cork
6 Reviews I've never been there myself (I know I know - one of these days!!) but I've been told that this is worth checking out - especially if it's a 'soft day' (rainy in case you were wondering) in...
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James' Fort Kinsale
4 Reviews James Fort was constructed between 1601 and 1603. It is a pentagonal shaped fort with a covered walkway leading to the fort. This fort was the harbours main defence until the construction of Charles...
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4 Reviews Maritime disasters play an important role in the history of Cobh. Two of the greatest disasters in history have a Cobh connection. Cobh was the last port for the Titantic before its disasterous maiden...
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Kinsale Cork
7 Reviews A lovely day trip to the colorful harbour city of Kinsale is a must do. It is only a 40 minutes bus trip from Cork city (25km). Kinsale is a pleasure for gourmet but not only... a walk around the...
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St Multose Church Kinsale
2 Reviews Dating back to 1190, St Multose Church is the oldest building in Kinsale and has been in continuous use all this time. Its appearance has been considerably changed since then, some of the original...
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Fota Island Cobh
1 Review Fota Island is a 780 acre island that is just outside of the island that Cobh is on in Cork Harbour. There is a golf course and golf club where you can get a light lunch. They also have a great...
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Fitzgeralds Park Cork
4 Reviews About 20 minutes walk west of City centre is Fitzgeralds Park on the banks of the River Lee.This is a pleasent park to relax in and enjoy the beauty.There is also a good play section here for childern...
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Summercove Kinsale
1 Review Leaving Charles Fort via the drawbridge, pause to look at the three plaques in Irish, English and Spanish unveiled in 2001, to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Battle of Kinsale. This spot...
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Hugenot Quarter Cork
6 Reviews The Huguenot Quarter of Cork is the area around French Church Street and Carey's Lane. The Huguenots were French Protestants who fled from religious prosecution in the 17th and the second half of the...
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Town centre Kinsale
2 Reviews The centre of Kinsale is lovely - its winding narrow lanes are pure bliss for the eyes - I have never seen so many colourful houses anywhere, and all of them matching their neighbours. I wonder if...
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Cobh.... Cork
6 Reviews Cobh (formerly know as Queenstown) was the last port of call for the Titanic and is home to the 'Queenstown Story' featuring information both on the Titanic & the thousands of Irish people who...
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Harbour Tour by Boat Kinsale
3 Reviews A great way to see the harbour, also the town and Charles Fort from a different angle. Nice traditional music, interesting commentry, coffee and bar service available. The trip lasts for 55 minutes...
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Blackrock Castle Cork
3 Reviews No mediaeval town could do without a fortified castle and Cork was no different. Cork's Blackrock Castle is located where the River Lee flows into Lough Mahon. Built for defensive purposes, to protect...
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As mentioned in a previous tip, at the end of the tour, the distillery tourguide picks one male and one female to become official tasters. They give you six samples of whiskies (Irish, Scotch and Bourbon) to learn the differences and then one glass of your choice at the end. (They water down the samples a little for tasting purposes, but I still recommend sharing them with your friends-- they pack a punch.)
For a very small fee, you can climb Shandon Tower in St. Anne's Church. About two-thirds of the way up, there is a panel that controls the bells and instruction cards for a few popular songs. Be warned-- you really have to pull pretty hard on the cords to rind the bells. More importantly, don't be on the next floor up when others are playing with the bells; you might get more than temporary tintinitis.
Even if you don't get to see an opera, take a walk past the opera house. It's on a very wide street with a lot of pedestrian activity, the occassional buskers and (on the day we were there) lots of skateboarders doing tricks.
Take a daytrip from the city to just about any town in County Cork or the west of Ireland. We chose Bantry Town at random, as it was the next bus leaving for the west when we arrived at the station. It was quiet, not very touristy, and absolutely beautiful.
If you are over 18, you'll probably want to take the bus out of Cork City and visit the now-defunct distillery. Even if you aren't into whiskey or drinking, the tour is pretty interesting, focusing on the history and process of distilling. If you do like whiskey, raise your hand immediately when your guide asks for volunteers...you won't be disappointed.
I got up to the second to last landing and chickened out....but this is the view from the top of the tower, courtesy of my braver companion. Definitely worth crawling past a large bell and up a rickety-looking ladder to see, if you can still feel your knees at that point.
The three main peninsulas in West Cork is from north to south the Beare Peninsula (of which part is actually still county Kerry), Sheep's Head Peninsula and Mizen Head Peninsula.I haven't been on the latter two but I know they're meant to be very good. So that's some place you might want to consider going.
All over West Cork you will find megalithic artefacts such as this Ogham Stone along the way on the Beara Peninsula. I particularly chose this one because it has an interesting story to it.This being in the remotest countryside of Ireland there would never be a huge number of people around. The dog you see on the picture have copped on to the fact that those people who do come around are probably interested in seeing the stone.So the moment you step out of the car, he starts running around you and leads you all the way to the stone - amazing dog! If you see him, send my regards 'cause I think he's a jewel.
I'm sorry but I can remember very little as to where exactly the Cuas Pier and the cave thereby was. On driving around the Beara peninsula you'll be sure to see the signs to it.It's not all that spectacular but made for a nice stop on our route. After all, the pleasure of driving around a peninsula such as Beara or the Ring of Kerry is in stopping every so often for little things like these.
Eyeries is a beautiful and brightly coloured little Irish countryside town. Every house and building is painted in some bright colour and the town has a real festive feel to it.They also have an anual colour award that goes to the house with the nicest colour. Consequently, people spend a lot of money to repaint their houses regularly.
Fitzgerald's Vienna Woods Hotel Cork
1 Review and 172 Opinions
Blue Haven Hotel Kinsale
1 Review and 164 Opinions Completely refurbished in 2004, each room is individually furnished with exquisite furniture, the...
Ashlee Lodge Blarney
59 Opinions
Reviews and photos of County Cork attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for County Cork sightseeing.
Q: We will be in Ireland for 3.5 days the first of June with our 16 year old twin grandchildren, 1 boy and 1 girl. We will fly into...
A: There’s lots to do in the Cork area whether you decide to hire a car or not. A visit to Fota Island Wildlife Park should be a good day out for all ages ...
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