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| Welcome to Cork! |
Cork is the first Irish town I visited. I was 17, and I kept a very good souvenir of this town, particularly because of the kindness and hospitality of its inhabitants. After leaving Galway, I lived and worked in Cork between July 2005 and April 2006, while the town was the European Capital of Culture. Interestingly, the day I decided to compose this page on the town of Cork, the guide "Lonely Planet" named the city as one of its top 10 to visit in 2010 (Irish Times, 07/11/09). In terms of architecture and monuments, I have to say that I don't see it competing with Rome, London or other versions of Paris, but there's a nice feel in the town, the pubs are friendly and the inhabitants are welcoming. Curiously, I have very few photos of the town itself. I have much more of the county or the islands. If you plan to stay a few days in Ireland's "real capital" (as the Cork people like to call it), here's what you could see, do or visit. |
| 1. Walk along Ormond's Quay... [   ]Among the places to visit in Cork, I would recommend the English Market, the quays and its main shopping street, called "Grand Parade". As in every big Irish town, a river flows through Cork city. Here you can see the River Lee in the photo. |
| 2. Study at Cork University... [ ] If you're looking for a place crowded with young people and interesting to see, then Cork University, located by the River Lee, beside Western Road, could be a good option. See photo on the right-hand side. |
| 3. Photograph Parliament Street, Cork... [ ] I always thought there was something special in Parliament Street, and I walked this street many times, trying to take a photo of it, but without getting the expected result. I have tried to combine the horizontal curve of the street mixed with the vertical curve created by the arch of the bridge. Maybe it can’t be captured in 2D! |
| 4. Climb to the top of the Church of Saint Anne, Shandon... [  ] The best panoramic views of Cork can be taken from the Church of Shandon. To do so, you will have to pay around 7/8€ and then climb a lot of stairs. From the top, you'll have the opportunity to ring the Church's bells. Fortunately, hearing protection is provided in case your kids decide to play Mozart! |
| 5. Visit the old city gaol... [ ] The weather was so cold and miserable in March 2006 that I couldn't take any photos on St Patrick's day. To top this, my parents decided to visit me at the same time! Visit Cork City Gaol Heritage Centre (pictured). This was a great idea to remain dry for an afternoon. By the way, if you're asking for directions, don't forget to specify that you are looking for the heritage centre... it would be a pity to find yourself in front of the actual Cork jail. |
6. Walk in the suburb of Cork City... [ ] If you head a few kilometres east from the city centre, you are cross several towns, such as Douglas, Rochestown, and Passage West, places which are known to be pretty posh. On the right-hand side, you can see a photo of Hop Island under the mist, taken from Rochestown. |
| The City of Cork in pictures | ||
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 Photo 2. Cork University. |
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 Photo 3. Parliament Street. |
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 Photo 4. Cork seen from Shandon |
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 Photo 5. Cork City Gaol Heritage Centre. |
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 Photo 6. Hop Island from Rochestown. |
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Legend:
Nice; Worth a visit; Well worth visiting
Please note that this grading system is only based on my interests and personal experience as a French expat in Ireland. Feel free to visit the same locations and share your experience 
.
Free or Not Applicable Entrance fee ≤€5 ; €5<Entrance fee≤€10 ; €10<Entrance fee≤€15 and so on...
These price ranges are indicative only to help you plan your holiday budget and are subject to change. Discounts generally apply for families, groups, children, students and seniors citizens.
While the admission to this site is free, a parking fee may apply.
Heritage Site managed by the Office of Public Works. Most OPW sites are free of charge on the first Wednesday of every month during 2011. A Good tip: the Heritage Card entitles you unlimited admission for one year to all OPW sites (around €21).