Cork

Discover Cork

Know as ‘The Rebel County’, discover Cork’s heart and soul at one of the oldest indoor markets in Europe. Browse contemporary art kept in historic buildings and sip chic cocktails in the Victorian Quarter before acquiring the gift of the gab at nearby Blarney Castle, to spin a yarn of your own. 

Along the southern coast, the Cork border turns from Waterford to Cork at Youghal, a picturesque coastal town with a Clock Tower marking 700 years of rich history. Move on through Midleton to tour the Jameson Distillery, a sample from the stills or buy a bottle of the best Irish Whiskey. At Spy Hill take a picture of the Deck of Cards, the colourful hillside houses with St. Colman’s Cathedral unmistakably, Cobh. Experience the tragic story of the Titanic with intimate details as the last passengers boarded from here in 1912. For more of the best Cork storytelling stop at Blarney Castle. In Cork City visit the English market, one of the oldest and best covered markets in the British Isles.

West Cork, Remote and Rustic – West and South of the River Lee lie sweeping bays and unforgettable landscapes. Atlantic views, mountain vistas and endless photographic pitstops await nature lovers. Travel through Clonakilty to Skibbereen and on to Bantry and beyond in this bountiful area of West Cork. Sub-tropical blooms abound in the sheltered harbour of Glengarriff at Bantry Bay on Garnish Island. Fastnet Lighthouse stands firm against the elements on Ireland’s most south-westerly point. As remote beauty Beara Peninsula connects Cork to Kerry still an undiscovered gem.

Cork City – English Market has traded since 1788, surviving famine, flood, war, fires, and multiple recessions to remain a staple in retail. A haven for foodies, personal and unique over-counter service at stalls guarantees an emotional and inspiring place to source local, independent, and international products.

Blarney Castle – Known for kissing a stone to acquire the gift of the gab, this castle ruin is more than rocks. Explore the battlements and the castle keep. View the sweeping countryside through narrow window gaps or from the top like a king. The grounds are filled with exotic plants from lush fern forests, a Himalayan Walk to a poison garden full of deadly plants.

Michael Collins Centre & Tour – The life and times of Michael Collins are housed close to Clonakilty. Michael Collins was a leading figure in the struggle for Irish Independence. He negotiated the Treaty with Britain, became Minister of Finance, and then took command of the National Army in the Civil War that followed. Join Tim Crowley, co-founder of the Michael Collins Centre to visit the sites associated with Collins: Clonakilty town, St Mary’s Cemetery (Clonakilty), Collins’ birthplace at Woodfield, Sam’s Cross, Lisavaird village and the Béal na Blá ambush site. (Duration: 4 hours)

Skibbereen Heritage Centre – Visit Skibereen, now celebrated for a fantastic Farmer’s Market but with a dark past as one of the worst affected by famine. Dr Dan Donovan reported that “one-third of the entire crop was lost” and the area very quickly descended into chaos as society broke down from as early as 28 October 1845. Skibbereen became infamous for the suffering endured when the Union area lost over a third of its people during the Great Famine. Visit sites with direct links to this tragic time.