Schmap Cork The City

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Cork - The City
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Cork Home

There are many landmarks in Cork and one of the most notable is a good place to start our tour; St Ann's Church in Shandon. This church is famous for its bells and the salmon-shaped weathervane. Climb the tower, and you can ring the bells yourself. The view from the top is well worth the 120-foot ascent. Across the lane inside the Cork Butter Exchange, is the Shandon Craft Centre. This is the home of thirteen craftspeople working under one roof. Browse through the centre admiring the Blarney Irish Crystal, hand painted tableware, ceramics, jewellery, and textiles. The Cork Butter Exchange was opened between 1770 and 1924. In the nineteenth century it was exporting 500,000 casks of butter, and making £1.5 million annually.

Now begins the main walking part of the tour. Walk down Church Street, on to Shandon Street, and turn left down the hill. Take the right immediately before the bridge to the North Mall. Sunday's Well Road veers right; there is a marvellous view of the city from the top of the hill. Continue along this road until it begins to descend. There will be a footpath to the left, this will bring you across Daly Bridge, or "The Shaky Bridge" as it is known locally due to the fact that it is suspended and therefore slightly flexible!

Here the River Lee looks its best, as the established gardens flanking the river add a lot of greenery. Fitzgerald's Park, which is across the bridge on the left, also adds a touch of greenery. A stroll through this beautiful park will bring you to Cork Public Museum which is sited in the old house on the park grounds. Set out down the Mardyke Walk toward town. Take a right so that you pass in front of the university's front gates. Two minutes walk will bring you to Cafe Paradiso on Lancaster Quay where you can take a break and enjoy some fine vegetarian food.

When you're ready, cross the road from the cafe, and take the road to Sharman and Crawford Street, turn right, and continue around the corner. The cathedral in front of you is St Finn Barres. On this site, St. Finbar founded his monastic school in 650AD, and the cathedral itself was built in 1870.

Turn left out of the main gate, and left on to Dean Street, which brings you onto Barrack Street. On your left you will see The Gateway Bar, the oldest pub in Cork, and some of the remains of the old city walls in Elizabeth's Fort. Continue down Barrack Street, turn right, then left over the footbridge. On your left is the South Mall. Note that the steps leading up to various offices have arches underneath them. These date back to the time when the South Mall was a part of the river, the arches were for tying up boats, and the steps lead up to the houses where the merchants once lived.

Take Prince's Street through to Patrick's Street. Next choose one of the pedestrianised streets and head for Paul Street. Turn right and walk towards the large red bricked building, it is the Crawford Art Gallery. Next take a stroll down to the Cork Vision Centre on North Main Street; here is a 1:1,500 scale model of the city so you can look back at the route you've taken during the day.

The Triskel Arts Centre is hidden away on a lane between South Main Street and Grand Parade. It houses athe excellent Yumi Yuki Club where there are special film deals. You get some sushi and sake and into a movie, the perfect end to the perfect day!

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Cafe Paradiso

Exquisite food in a relaxed surroundings

16 Lancaster Quay
Western Road
Cork
Ireland
+353 (0)21 427 7939
http://www.paradisorooms.com/d...

Quite simply one of the best restaurants in Cork; even the most ardent of carnivores will be pleased. Among the many delectable dishes, you'll find gingered sweet potato spring rolls with sesame cabbage and a creamy coconut sauce, vegetable tempura with a sweet chili sauce, wild rice and parsnip fritters with mushrooms in cider and thyme and leek-smoked mash. The menu changes with the season. This is an extremely popular eatery, with a young, well-trained and dedicated staff serving beautifully prepared food in a friendly atmosphere.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: David Bettoney

Cork Public Museum

Local history in a pastoral setting Mardyke
Cork
Ireland
+353 21 427 0679 This 18 acre site with Georgian house was presented to the Cork Corporation in 1907 by the Cork International Exhibition Association. The site became Fitzgerald Park, a lovely garden in an unspoilt part of the city. The building, known as the Shrubberies, was first turned into a museum in 1909. It became the location for the Municipal offices after the burning of the city hall by the Black and Tans, and re-opened as the present museum in 1945. The collections cover local history and date back to the Mesolithic period, with particular emphasis placed on civic regalia and the trades and crafts of the 19th and 20th centuries. Other collections include Cork silver and glass and delicate Youghal lace.

Admission is free.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Kate Barry
Photo: Nina Sieverding

Crawford Art Gallery

Fine collection of Irish artworks Emmet Place
Cork
Ireland
+353 21 427 3377
http://www.crawfordartgallery.com One of the most important buildings in the city centre, this gallery is host to a good collection of Irish artists, both contemporary and historical, including James Barry, Nathanial Grogan, Walter Osborne, Jack B. Yeats, Tony O'Malley, and Louis le Brocquy. Some of Cork's present-day working artists are also represented, including Vivienne Roche, Maud Cotter and James Scanlon. A new wing has just been added for the purpose of exhibiting modern contemporary art from Ireland and abroad. After browsing through the exhibits, be sure to check out the Crawford Gallery Cafe where you can enjoy some fine food in pleasant surrounds.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Sonya Moore
Photo: Jack Percy
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Photo: Darren Bird

Elizabeth Fort

Monastic site Barrack Street
Cork
Ireland
+353 21 427 3251 Built in the 16th century on the site of a monastic settlement, Elizabeth Fort was destroyed in 1603 by citizens of Cork in an act of defiance against King James I. What remains today is the outer wall of the fort, ordered to be rebuilt by Lord Mountjoy. Since 1690 it has been used as a prison and a barracks, and is now a police station. It was used by the Black and Tans in 1920 and later by Republicans during the civil war who burned it down. The exceptional view afforded from this site accounts for its strategic importance, and for this alone it is worth visiting. After a visit you can imbibe at the Gateway Bar, which once counted the Dukes of Wellington and Marlborough among its patrons.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: wytten
Photo: wytten

St Finbarre's Cathedral

Dedicated to Cork's patron saint Dean Street
Cork, Co.Cork
Ireland
+353 21 496 3387
http://cathedral.cork.anglican... Situated in a quiet part of town, south of the Lee, St Finbarre's Cathedral is dedicated to the founder and patron saint of the city. Designed by Willliam Burges, building was completed in 1878. It's an exuberant triple-spired edifice built in Gothic Revival style, and decorated with stone tracery. Inside, the painted and gilded apse ceiling depicts Christ surrounded by angels. The stained glass windows below tell the story of Christ's life.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Brandon Wellcome
Photo: Ben Outram
Photo: Joe Lennon
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Photo: Joe Lennon
Photo: John Wallace
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Photo: Ben Outram
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Photo: Sarah Lansing
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Photo: Dan McClanahan

Triskel Arts Centre

Modern centre of the arts Tobin Street
Cork
Ireland
+353 21 427 2022
http://www.triskelart.com/ Offering a comprehensive programme of drama, film, visual art, literature and education to the public, the Triskel is the spiritual home of modern art in Cork city. Each month, the centre presents a varied schedule of events, featuring artists and performers from both home and abroad. The centre is housed in a three-storey restored townhouse and comprises an auditorium, a gallery and a workshop. Upstairs, the Yumi-Yuki Club is open six days a week and offers an excellent sushi menu throughout the day.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Aine Scannell
Photo: SiMPa-tica

Other Schmapplets in this city related to "Cork - The City"
Cork - Top Attractions
Cork - Top Events
Cork - Top Hotels
Cork - Top Restaurants
Cork - Top Nightlife
Cork - A Trip to Cobh
Other nearby cities:
Killarney (72 miles)
Galway (157 miles)
Dublin (212 miles)
Belfast (345 miles)
Plymouth (346 miles)
Cardiff (366 miles)
Liverpool (405 miles)
Bristol (408 miles)
Bath (427 miles)
Birmingham (453 miles)

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