Information about flights to Cork
Picturesque Cork, located on the River Lee, is a great destination with historic attractions, cultural activities and festivals throughout the year. It also has great restaurants and arguably the best food scene in Ireland, traditional pubs, lashings of Gaelic music and easy access to beautiful scenery.
Arts and culture
Cork was European City of Culture in 2005 and it's not hard to see why. It hosts a wide range of festivals throughout the year. These include film, jazz, folk and chamber music festivals and a literary festival of food and wine. It has an opera house which stages a variety of music, theatre and comedy, an arts centre with an independent cinema and several art galleries. If you're in a mind for a jig or reel, head to Sin E which has been hosting traditional Irish music sessions since the 1970s. Crane Lane Theatre favours jazz and blues and has music seven nights a week. Or catch a classical music concert by the RTE Vanbrugh Quartet, one of many groups of musicians resident in Cork.
Attractions
Cork is a city best enjoyed on foot giving you time to take in architecture that ranges from remnants of medieval walls and gates to the modern day. Climb to the Church of St Anne (Sandon), the city's best known landmark and ring the famous peal of eight bells. Take an atmospheric night tour to the imposing city gaol, a stark reminder of the harshness of the 19th-century penal system. Or, on a lighter note, visit the Franciscan Well Brewery, a microbrewery built on the site of a monastery. And within a short distance of Cork is Blarney Castle with its famous stone, Fota Wildlife Park, 40 acres of grassland which are home to 70 species and Blackrock Castle Observatory This award winning state-of-the-art science display allows you to tour the universe from a 16th-century castle.
Food and Drink
Chances are you'll put on a few pounds while you're in Cork. The city is stuffed with great restaurants and pubs. Try tapas Irish style at Boqueria, a converted pub, such as their spicy Serrano ham, chicken liver pâté and creamy Manchego cheese topped with quince jelly. Or take in views of the river at Electric, a converted Art Deco bank cum restaurant which has a Mediterranean-style fish bar and more than two dozen beers. Or head for Café Paradiso, a vegetarian and vegan eatery that's a knockout. Reservations are essential.
Nightlife
Enjoy the craic at Cork's many pubs and bars, steeped in history and dedicated to enjoyment – pubs like Mutton Lane Inn, the city's most intimate inn. But get there early to grab a seat. Head to Cork Opera House, which offers everything from opera and ballet to puppet shows and stand-up comedy.
And, at the back, the Half Moon Theatre stages contemporary drama, dance and art. Or why not go to the dogs at Curraheen Greyhound Park with ten races a night, a restaurant, a bar and live music?
