Experience the wonders of Cork this year with a revitalising getaway. A county full of colour and contrasts, it’s the perfect destination for a break for all the family.
Make the most of your spring break with a shopping trip in Cork City or escape the hustle and bustle of urban life with a weekend break in North Cork. With activities to suit all ages, it’s the perfect family destination.
From literary festivals to Munster rugby matches, there’s something in Cork for everyone. So don’t miss out – experience the many delights this amazing county has to offer.
Things to do in County Cork
- Cork’s Great Game of Golf
- Cycling Through Cork
Ireland has more miles of road per square mile than any other country in the world. As Ireland’s largest county, Cork has great potential for the cyclingenthusiast. Most of the roads are minor, and on quite a few you are as likely to meet a slow-moving tractor or a motor car. Also, even in the most mountainous areas, the roads do not rise very high above sea level, so cyclists have few hills to climb. What more could a cyclist want? Irish weather is excellent for an active holiday. It is rarely too hot in summer, or too cold in winter, to cycle. It does rain quite often, but apart from a few mid-winter days, the sun usually appears for at least a little while each day. When it does, the countryside is transformed, and the streams turn to silver.
Nevertheless, don’t forget to bring good raingear! The scenery is wonderfully varied. There are mountains – though they are not high by Alpine standards (anything over 400m is a mountain in Ireland). There are rich farmlands, and a dramatic coastline thousands of miles in length. There are castles by the thousand, Iron Age forts, prehistoric burial sites, cathedrals and churches, fine country houses and parks. There are woods to walk and picnic in, mountains to climb, many beaches (warmed by the Gulf Stream), lakes and rivers to fish. The countryside is full of pleasant, relaxed towns and villages, and most important, there are Ireland’s welcoming people, always glad of a chat, especially in the pub in the evening. The pub is also the place to hear the best Irish traditional music, especially in the West. The cyclist can find solitude and great beauty by following the minor roads, which are often ignored by the motorist, to discover hidden beauty spots, secluded beaches and secret ruins.
- Water Sports & Activities
Situated in the southwest of Ireland, Cork County sits on the Atlantic Ocean, making it the ideal spot for the water sports entusiast. From discovering the depths of the sea, sailing off into the sunset, or relaxing on the beach, Cork County has a water adventure for people of all ages.
Click on the water activity below that entices you to find out more information!
Sailing & Yacht Charters, Cork Ireland
Marinas & Moorings, Cork Ireland
Kayaking & Canoeing, Cork Ireland
- Retail Shopping in Cork
The retail trade in Cork City is developing quickly with a mix of both modern, state of the art shopping centres and family owned local shops providing unique and often hand-made crafts. Department Stores can cater for all budgets, with expensive boutiques for one end of the market with many high street stores also available.
Shopping centers can be found in many of Cork’s suburbs, including Blackpool, Ballincollig, Douglas, Wilton and Mahon. Others are available in the city centre, with plans and excavation work on-going for the development of three more large malls (The Cornmarket Centre on Cornmarket Street – Opening Autumn 2007; Academy Street proposal and the Grand Parade scheme planned for the site of the former Capitol Cineplex, the first multiplex outside of Dublin in Ireland), expanding the capacity of the city centre, to rival that of the suburbs.
Cork’s main shopping street is St. Patrick’s Street and is the most expensive street in the country per sq. metre after Dublin’s Grafton Street. Other shopping areas in the city centre include Oliver Plunkett St. and Grand Parade. Cork is also home to some of the country’s leading department stores with the foundations of shops such as Dunnes Stores and Roches Stores being laid in Cork City, the latter having sold its core business in 2006 to UK store chain Debenhams.
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