Cork City
View from St Patrick's Hill
Note: All GPS (Global Positioning System) location
references on this page
use the Irish National Grid Reference system
(10 m resolution). The city is in Zone W.
City centre route and parking
map
Photogallery: "The
Market" A traditional food market dating from 1788
which is still thriving
Download your free guide to the city and county
(pdf download - updated 03.05.2005)
The Lewis Glucksman Gallery
The Fenton Gallery
Cork city centre wireless public internet access system
A city built on seven hills
Corcadorca Theatre Company
Cork Midsummer Festival
Kinsale Arts Week
Recommended Excursions
Kinsale - 25kms (frequent bus service on route 249 from city [journey time 50
mins] and airport [journey time 33-36 mins]) -
schedules here)
Fota Island [journey time 13 mins] and Cobh [journey time 24 mins] (by
suburban rail service -
schedules here)
(West Cork ... more)
(Fota Wildlife Park)
(Fota Arboretum)
Coach bus day tours from Cork City
(These tours operate in the Summer only and unfortunately the state
owned tour operator refuses to provide advance information to facilitate
planning).
BANTRY HARBOUR & INCHIGEELA more
info...
RING OF KERRY more
info...
BUNRATTY CASTLE & CLIFFS OF MOHER more
info...
OPEN TOP TOUR OF CORK CITY & BLARNEY more
info...
[Advance reservation is recommended as seat availability is limited]
A guide for
new
residents
3 Mbits/sec wireless broadband
service in Cork area
Blarney Castle and Grounds (frequent bus service on route 224 from city,
journey time 30 mins - schedules here)
Blarney Castle Photogallery
Crosshaven (frequent bus on route 222 from city, journey time 40 mins -
schedules here)
Newspaper
archive
at Cork City Library with content dating back to 1763
Mobile phone networks
There are three mobile phone networks serving the Cork area -
Vodafone,
O2 and
Meteor. The regulatory authorities say that Vodafone and O2 have
over 90% of the market between them. Tariffs seem to be designed
to confuse and inhibit comparison shopping. In general the
networks are overloaded and call quality is disappointing by European
standards - even in city centre locations where there is generally
little difficulty finding locations for cellsites.
Details of roaming agreements can be found here.
Detailed street
map of Cork
Map + Street Plan
Art Events in
Cork
Travel Planning tip
Make your airline reservation for travel to Cork as early in advance as
possible as there is currently a shortage of seats from many destinations,
particularly for travel to/from the city around the weekend - ie Thursday
thru Monday inclusive.
Whazon - what's on guide
for the area
Guide to the arts
in Cork
Tyndall Institute -
National
Microelectronics Research Centre(er)
[GPS 6680
7190]
One of the leading information and communications technology
research facilities in the EU
Trees and hedgerows in Cork County
Forest Parks and woods in the Cork area
Mercy Hospital [GPS: 6685 7193] Directions:
City centre location - follow north channel of River Lee along its south
bank in a westerly direction until you reach the facility. Tel
427 1971
University Hospital Directions: South west city location - Exit N25
south ring road at Sarsfield Road gyratory [GPS waypoint 6521 6947]
turning left at Wilton gyratory [direction N71 Bandon] and next right at
the traffic lights. [Main entrance GPS 6488 7002 - Emergency Room GPS 6505
7021] Tel 454 6400
Blarney Castle, 7kms North of the city
Traffic Control System: SCOOT
Cork City
Council (City Council - Main Office City Hall [GPS 6800 7173])
View from Fitzgerald Park on the River Lee, with the Daly Bridge in the
background, (which leads to Sunday's Well and the old Gaol [GPS: 6569 7165]
Fitzgerald Park 2005.02.02
Tourist Sights, Things to do and Practical
Information
All phone numbers below are in the 021 NDC (area) code - [+353
21]
In the locality:
Shandon Bells & St.
Anne's Church ** (Tel 450 5906 N20 1.5km N)
The North Mall with St Anne's Shandon in the middle
distance
While St Anne's Shandon dates from 1722 (replacing
an older church which was destroyed in the siege of 1690), the famous bell
tower was not erected until 1750. The tower crown consists of
a gilt ball and a salmon some 4m long. The church and tower
are open to visitors. [GPS 6725 7239]
Limited car
parking around church - best reached on foot. Nearest multi-story
car park ICP Carrol's Quay (follow N20 route) [GPS 6750 7220]
Cork Gaol**$ and Radio Museum Experience*$ [GPS: 6570
7192] (Sunday's Well - Tel 430 5022 - Lang:
En/Fr/De/It/Ie/Jp/Es).
The Fitzgerald
Park** (8 hectares) was the site of the Cork International Exhibition
of 1902/03. Situated beside the River Lee and overlooked by Sunday's
Well it houses the
Cork City
Museum** [GPS
6603 7161]. The park was opened in 1720 and is accessed via the
Mardyke. Adjacent to the park is the Sunday's Well Boating and
Tennis Club, the Cork Cricket Club, and the University College Cork
Athletic Grounds. [GPS: Main Entrance 6606 7161 - West gate 6575
7161]
On foot: Take a walk from the Mardyke
(which runs parallel to N22 Western Road) via Fitzgerald Park and City
Museum over the Daly foot bridge ("shaky bridge") turning right into
Sunday's Well Road [GPS waypoint 6564 7172] via Cork Gaol [GPS 6570
7192] and St
Vincent's Church** (view from car park # 2***) [GPS: 6022 7199] along
riverside back into downtown area. Allow 60 mins + time to visit
sites.
St Fin Barre's
Cathedral (1766)***
Situated on a hill and named after the city's patron saint, this early
French Gothic cathedral is one of the finest buildings in the
city. It has three spires - a central spire some
75m in height and twin spires on either side 55m high. The
main doorway has a carving depicting the five wise and five foolish
virgins meeting the bridegroom. This Anglican cathedral is richly
decorated with carvings inside. Opening hours 10-12.45 and 14-17.00
(-17.30 Summertime) [GPS: 6693 7163]
Fr. Matthew Memorial
Church** - (Fr. Matthew Quay) opened in 1832 has a fine
portico which was added fifty years later. The church is named
after the apostle of temperance. The stained glass window
behind the main altar is a memorial to Daniel O'Connell. [GPS 6763
7153]
The Lewis Glucksman Gallery***
- (at UCC, Western Road 1.4km W on N22 Tel 490 1844
info@glucksman.org) Ireland's
newest art space, a short walk from the city centre along the South
channel of the River Lee. Opening hours 10-17.00 Tu-Sa (-21.00 Th) 12-17
Su. Café Glucksman closes at 16.00.
[GPS: 6637 7154]
Crawford Art
Gallery** (Tel 427 3377) and Café (Emmet Place) - Dating from
1724, the gallery has a good collection of the work of modern Irish
artists as well as old masters.
University College Cork** -
(Western Road - Tel 490 3000 N22 1,5km W) the original university
buildings are in Tudor Gothic style in a quadrangle, surrounded by
extensive grounds. [GPS Main Entrance 6637 7154 - Main Campus 6615
7130]
Franciscan Church** (Liberty
Street) - dating from 1229, the current church was opened in 1953,
superseding a chapel which dates from penal times. This Byzantine
Style church has one of the largest areas of mosaic of any church in
Europe. [GPS: 6712 7184]
The Courthouse* (Washington Street)
- opened in 1896, it provided accommodation for the Circuit Court and the
High Court. Eight elegant Corinthian columns create an elegant
portico. The building was designed by W H Hill, and replaces
an earlier building which was burned in 1891. [GPS: 6712
7178] (currently being renovated)
St Mary's Dominican Church (1838)* (Pope's
Quay) [GPS: 6735 7216]
This (Dominican) church's portico
with it's 20m high Ionic columns overlooks the North Channel of the River
Lee. St Mary's has one of the finest high alters in the
city. Much of the internal plaster work was done by Italian
craftsmen.
Cork City Hall (1936)* [GPS: 6800
7173]
The City Hall comprises the Municipal Offices and a
public assembly hall with a capacity of 1,300 people. The imposing
building which overlooks the South channel of the River Lee is designed on
classical lines in harmony with the other large public buildings in the
vicinity. The limestone for the facades came from nearby Little
Island. The visitors book, providing details of people given
the freedom of the city is open for inspection.
Other buildings and sights:
Blackrock Castle and The Marina*
Grand Parade
Market** [GPS 6744 7181]
Triskell Arts Centre* (Off South Main
Street)
St Patrick's Bridge & Shandon
In the
region:
Kinsale*** (25kms via N71 (dir. Bandon) and R605 -
returning to city via R600 and N28)
Blarney Castle**(7kms via N20 and
R617 Tel 438 5252 [NGR: 6095 7558])
Cork Harbour and its islands (see
below)
Dunkathel House* (9kms E via N8)
Royal Gunpowder Mills*
(Ballincollig N22 7kms W Tel 487 4430)
Jameson Heritage Centre (Irish Whiskey Exhibition at
Midleton N25 18kms E Tel 461 3594)
Cork Harbour
Cork Harbour is one of the finest natural harbours
in the world. Its islands and tranquil river estuaries
are well worth exploring by boat, car or even suburban
rail. The mild winter climate in the area permits
subtropical vegetation to grow outdoors.
Selected sights and
scenic drives in the harbour area:
Fota Island** Fota House**
Wildlife Park** and Arboretum*
(Tel 481 2728) (20kms via N25 and R624 (or train to Fota station train
info Tel 450 6766)
Cobh** (25kms via N25 and R624 or Train to Cobh station)
(The Queenstown Story**)
Cobh Cathedral**
(suburban
rail map and schedules)
Crosshaven** - home of the oldest yacht club in the world
East Ferry** - Aghada (follow R630 off N25 near Midleton + minor road to
via East Ferry) and Roches Point (where the harbour meets the sea)
Rochestown - Passage West - Monkstown ** (R610) - a short inexpensive
harbour car ferry service operates between the R610 and the Great Island
The Owenboy River, one of the many tranquil river
estuaries that flow into Cork Harbour. [R612 2kms W of
Crosshaven - December 2001]
Sailing - Cork & Kinsale Harbour Areas:
Cork Harbour tides
RCYC (Royal Cork Yacht
Club) Crosshaven Tel 483 1023
KYC Kinsale Tel 477 3433
Cobh Yacht Club Tel 481 1237
Baltimore
Castlepark Marina (Kinsale) Tel 477 4959
Crosshaven Boatyard Tel 483 1161
East Ferry Marina (Cobh) Tel 481 1342
Salve Marine (Crosshaven) Tel 483 1145
Kinsale Outdoor Education Centre Tel 477 2896
Crosshaven - Royal Cork Yacht Club
Explore West Cork and Kerry:***
Suggested coastal route from Cork city covering "must see" scenery and
sights: N71 Cork to Innishannon (accessed via N25 South Ring) (31 kms) -
R605 to Kinsale*** (14kms) - R600 coastal route to Clonakilty** (36kms) -
N71 to Rosscarbery (16kms) - R597 to Glandore** (8kms) - rejoining the N71
at Leap (4kms) - to Skibbereen* (8kms) - to Schull*** (via N71 and R592)
(28kms) [see peninsula / Mizen Head**] - from Schull to R591 via Mount
Gabriel (9kms) - to Durrus** (5kms) - [see peninsula** via Ahakista,
Kilcrohane and Goat's path drive] - Durrus > Bantry** via R591 (7kms) - to
Glengarriff** via N71 (17kms) - [see Beara Peninsula**] - to Kenmare** via
N71 (40kms) - to Killarney* (lakes***) via N71 Killarney National Park***
(34kms) returning to Cork via N22 (87kms). Also: Ring of Kerry** (N70
Kenmare via Waterville to Tralee).
Cork Harbour Cruises (Penrose Quay > Cobh) Tel 427 7085
Taxi Tel 427 2222 (Cards: VS/MC/AX/DC)
Holiday home rental:
Douglas Village Holiday Homes*** Tel 489 1885
Glenville Court Apartments*** Tel 427 2932
Lovetts Town Homes*** Tel 429 1779
The Old Stableyard**** (Carrigaline) Tel 437 8641
Riverside Mews*** Tel 430 0355
University Campus accommodation:
University College Cork
[GPS 6596 7141]
Golf
Cork city area Golf Clubs
Old Head of Kinsale Golf
Links**** - one of Ireland's premier golf courses - breathtaking scenery
in a cliffside location overlooking the Atlantic Ocean (40kms SW by N27 +
R600 + R604) Tel 477 8444 Greens Dept 477 8500 Fax 477 8022
Fota Island Golf
Club**** (N25 + R624 16km E) Tel 488 3710
Douglas** Tel 489 1086 (N27+N25 6km SE
exit Douglas)
Harbour Point***
Little Island (9km E via N25 exit Little Island) Tel 435 3094
Monkstown** Tel 484 1376 (N27+N25 + R610 10kms SE)
Cork Golf Club*** (Little Island) (N25
9km E exit Little Island) Tel 435 3451
Muskerry Golf Club*** Tel 438 5297 (N22+R579 12kms NW)
Cinemas
The Gate, Tel 427 9595 North
Main Street [GPS 6704 7213]
Capital Cineplex, Tel 427 8777 Grand Parade [GPS 6732 7181]
Cinema World, Tel 489 5959 Douglas
(N25 Exit Douglas)
Omniplex, Mahon Point (N25 Exit Mahon) Tel 435 8711
Kino, Tel 427 1571 Washington Street
The Reel, Tel 487 6300 Ballincollig (N22 7kms W)
Car Parking
There are 2,200 street parking spaces controlled by a disk parking
system. Disks are valid for parking for periods of 1,2 or 4
hours per disk depending on the parking zone used. The time
allowed is displayed on the information plate adjacent to the parking space.
Disks are sold in convenience stores. Holes are punched representing the time parking commenced
and the disk is displayed from inside the car on the kerb side. There
are 8 multi-story above ground cark parks serving the city centre area.
Parking charges range from just over €1.00 - €2.00 per hour. While the Grand
Parade car park has overnight rates, it is closed to access between
00.00 and 08.00 and all day Sunday.
Park & Ride
A park and ride facility is available for EUR 5 per day including a
frequent bus shuttle to/from the city centre.
From the N25 follow the signs for the N27 (city centre direction at
Kinsale Road gyratory) which leads to the P+R facility.
|
