Cork is the most southerly and by far
the largest county in Ireland at nearly 7500 square kilometres in
area. It is nicknamed the Rebel County after many Corkmen defied
national rule in various historic British and Irish civil disputes.
The city of Cork is the capital of the province of Munster and the
Republic’s second biggest city. It stands upon the River Lee at the
point where the river branches into two adjacent wide channels.
Recent and ongoing redevelopment of old quayside buildings now gives
the city centre a clean and cosmopolitan feel. The city was the
European capital of culture in 2005 and many cultural initiatives
(such as the magnificent Opera House) still thrive today.
Holiday Homes in Cork
The region is served by a newly expanded and modernised airport
located just minutes from the city centre by car. This city is home
to a major university, UCC, and the Cork School of Music, so it has
a lively student population. The most westerly areas of the county,
known logically as West Cork, still retain a tangible remoteness and
attract many tourists seeking out rural tranquillity or rugged
coastlines. Other famous attractions are the Blarney Stone, and Cobh
harbour which was the Titanic’s last port of call on its ill-fated
voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. The more modern Cork harbour
claims to be the world’s second largest natural harbour (after
Sydney in Australia).
Bantry House And Gardens
Bantry House and Gardens is a private estate owned by Mr and Mrs
Shelswell – White and their family, who live in the house. The house
has a collection of art treasures which were mainly collected by the
present owner’s ancestor. The gardens have been partly restored, and
have spectacular views over Bantry Bay. The French Armada Exhibition
(planned invasion 1796) is housed in the grounds and is also open to
the public. The tearoom and loggia serve tasty, homemade snacks and
light lunches. Restoration of the house is ongoing. The West Cork
Chamber Music Festival is staged and broadcast from the house.
Concerts are also held monthly in the library.
Holiday Homes, Cork, Ireland
Cobh - The Queenstown Story
Housed in the restored Victorian Cobh Railway station, this is a
dramatic exhibition of the origins, history and legacy of Cobh.
Retrace the steps of the 2.5 million adults and children who
emigrated from Ireland via Cobh on coffin ships, early steamers and
finally on the great ocean liners. Explore the conditions on board
the early emigrant vessels, including the dreaded coffin ship.
Experience life on board a convict ship leaving Cobh for Australia
in 1801. Discover Cobh's special connections with the ill fated
Titanic which sank on her maiden voyage - Cobh was her last port of
call. Relive the horror of World War I and the sinking of the
Lusitania off Cork Harbour with the loss of 1,198 lives. Learn about
Annie Moore and her two brothers who left Cobh for a new life in
America and how she was the first emigrant ever to be processed in
Ellis Island. The Queenstown Story is a member of Heritage Island,
while Cobh is a Heritage Town of Ireland.
Cork City Gaol & Radio Museum Experience
Two of Cork's attractions are housed in this building. Step back in
time to see what 19th/early 20th century life was like in Cork -
inside and outside prison walls. Amazingly lifelike figures,
furnished cells, sound effects and fascinating exhibitions allow the
visitor to experience day to day life for prisoners and gaoler.
Situated in the unlikely setting of the former Governor's House the
"Radio Museum Experience" deals not alone with the early days of
Irish & international radio broadcasting but with the impact of its
invention on all our lives.
Mizen Head Signal Station Visitor Centre
Mizen Head Visitor Centre, at Ireland's most south westerly point is
an authentic experience. Walk down the cliff path with its 99 steps,
across the arched bridge out to the Irish Lights signal station with
its spectacular views of the south and west coasts and take a tour
round the displays in the former keepers quarters. At the centre
there are displays on the theme of safety at sea with a state of the
art navigational aids simulator, a 25 ft cutaway model of the
Fastnet Rock lighthouse and an automatic weather station.
County
Cork Holiday Cottages
Eat
Cork has a good reputation for food. Beef, Lamb, Bacon and poultry
are raised to a very high standard. The dairy produce is as good as
any in the world. The sea is full of fish and shellfish. These
products are served up in both traditional and innovative ways
throughout the county, and are complemented by dozens of ethnic
restaurants cooking food from all over the world. There are over 500
restaurants in the yellow pages and many are world class. Some
examples are:
* The Ambassador, Cook St, Cork - One of the finest Chinese
restaurants around.
* Cafe Paradiso, Lancaster Quay, Cork - One of the best vegetarian
restaurants anywhere.
* Quay Coop, Sullivan's Quay, Cork - Top quality vegetarian
wholefoods, especially good lunches.
* Wylam, Victoria Cross, Cork - Excellent Chinese food.
* Gingerbread House, Paul St, Cork - Large daytime cafe with large
selection of cakes.
* Bully's, Paul St, Cork - Possibly the best pizza in Cork.
* Bracken Cafe, Paul St, Cork - Nicest scones in the city.
* Jim Edwards, Short Quay, Kinsale - Quality, reasonably-priced
restaurant.
* Fishy Fishy Cafe, Guardwell, Kinsale - Top class fish dishes.
* Ballymaloe House, Shanagarry, Midleton - Top-quality, wholesome
Irish food (as seen on TV, regularly).
Old Midleton Distillery
Irish Whiskey is world renowned and it's history can be traced on
guided tours through any of our Irish Whiskey Visitors Centres - The
Irish Whiskey Corner in Dublin, Bushmills Distillery Co. Antrim and
The Jameson Heritage Centre here in Midleton Co. Cork, 12 miles east
of Cork City on the main Cork Waterford Road. The Jameson tour
commences with an informative audio-visual presentation. Guests,
accompanied by a tour guide then follow the Old Distillery Trail
through the various historic and architecturally unique buildings -
Mills, Malting Houses, Corn Stores, Stillhouses, old Offices and
atmospheric Warehouses. The visitor can encounter superbly restored
machinery and dramatic recreations of many of the steps in whiskey
production. Visitors can see the largest Pot Still in the work with
a capacity of 32,000 gallons and the Old Waterwheel manufactured in
1825 to provide motive power prior to the days of electricity, and
still turning today. Each visit culminates in the Jameson Bar with
the Irish Whiskey tasting session when you may have the opportunity
of becoming a qualified Irish Whiskey Taster with a presentation
diploma! Then relax in the Centre's elegant restaurant specialising
in country farmhouse fare or perhaps browse through the equally
elegant gift and craft shop.
Holiday Homes
Ireland
Fota Wildlife Park
Fota Wildlife Park, just 10 miles from Cork on the Cobh road, is
among the most modern wildlife parks in Europe. Established in 1983
with the primary aim of conservation Fota has more than 70 species
of exotic wildlife in open natural surroundings with no obvious
barriers. Giraffes, zebras, ostrich and antelope roam together in 40
acres of grassland, much as they would in the African savannah,
monkeys swing through trees on lake islands, while kangaroos, macaws
and lemurs have complete freedom of the Park. Only the cheetahs have
a conventional fence. A great many of the species at Fota are under
serious threat in the wild. Only c. 10,000 cheetahs remain in their
natural habitat and Fota Wildlife Park is the world's leading
breeder of this endangered species. Also being bred at Fota is the
Scimitar horned Oryx brought to the brink of extinction but being
re-introduced in its native North Africa; the Lion tailed Macaque of
which only c. 800 remain in a tiny patch of Indian forest; and many
other species for which wildlife parks such as Fota are their only
chance of survival. The White tailed Sea Eagle became extinct in
Ireland in the early 1900's but is now being re-introduced to the
wild in Kerry. This magnificent bird of prey is held for breeding at
Fota, where they can be seen by visitors. Just beside the Wildlife
Park is the internationally renowned Fota Arboretum, which has a
beautiful collection of trees and shrubs, from all over the world,
including China, Japan, Australia and the Himalayas. Fota Wildlife
Park is open every day of the year except on Christmas Day & St.
Stephens Day. Amenities include coffee shop, tour train, picnic
benches and comprehensive information/identification panels on all
major species.
Charles Fort
This was constructed in the late 17th century on the site of an
earlier coastal fortification. Charles Fort is a classic example of
a star-shaped fort and has five bastions. The two seaward bastions,
the Devil's and the Charles' were for defending the harbour and both
are casemated - that is, they have gun embrasures inside as well as
on top of the walls. The North, Flagstaff and the Cockpit, are the
three landward bastions and all three had a brick sentry box at
their outermost point, two of these still survive. William Robinson,
architect of the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham, Dublin, is credited
with designing the Fort. Across the estuary is James Fort, an
earlier structure, which was designed by Paul Ivy in 1602. In 1690
after the 'Battle of the Boyne' the Williamite forces arrived at
Kinsale and attacked both forts. Guided tours available. Restricted
access for people with disabilities due to uneven terrain.
Michael Collins Centre
Tim and Dolores Crowley have been interpreting the life of Michael
Collins since 1997, when they organized the first Michael Collins
Tours, taking visitors to the important sites in West Cork
associated with the famous patriot. Elizabeth Slyne Crowley,
grandmother of Tim Crowley was a cousin of Michael Collins and her
husband Tim Crowley was on active service during the 1916 rebellion.
The Crowleys opened a Heritage center on their farm in 2000 and
Michael Collins slide shows were held two evenings a week during the
summer months. In 2002 the Heritage center was named the Michael
Collins Centre and the photograph and militaria exhibition was set
up in the cottage theatre. In 2003, outside the center the ambush
trail was laid out, a one hundred meter section of road designed to
look like a War of Independence /Civil War ambush site. The Michael
Collins Centre Clonakilty is the only facility in Ireland, at which
visitors can receive a comprehensive presentation, by expert guides,
on the life and times of Michael Collins
History
In the 19th century, Cork was a centre for the Fenians and for the
constitutional nationalism of the Irish Parliamentary Party. The
county was a hotbed of guerrilla activity during the Irish War of
Independence (1919-1921). Three Cork Brigades of the Irish
Republican Army operated in the county and another in the city.
Prominent actions included the Kilmichael Ambush in November 1920
and the Crossbarry Ambush in March 1921. The activity of IRA flying
columns, such as the one under Tom Barry in west Cork, was recently
popularised in the Ken Loach film The Wind That Shakes The Barley.
The centre of Cork city was razed to the ground by the British Black
and Tans, in December 1920 as were many other towns and villages
around the county. During the Irish Civil War (1922-23), most of the
IRA units in Cork sided against the Anglo-Irish Treaty. From July to
August 1922 they held the city and county as part of the so called
Munster Republic. However, Cork was taken by troops of the Irish
Free State in August 1922 in the Irish Free State offensive, that
included both overland and seaborne attacks. For the remainder of
the war, the county saw sporadic guerrilla fighting until the
Anti-Treaty side called a ceasefire and dumped their arms in May
1923. Michael Collins, a key figure in the War of Independence, was
born near Clonakilty and assassinated during the civil war in Béal
na Bláth, both in West Cork.
Towns and villages
Outside of Cork city lie the attractive main towns of Kinsale,
Bandon, Clonakilty, Midleton, Youghal, Ringaskiddy, Carrigaline,
Mitchelstown, Fermoy and Mallow. However newcomers to this county
could also visit Whitegate, Aghada, Ballycotton, Cloyne, Ballineen/Enniskean,
Ballingeary, Ballyclogh, Ballydehob, Ballydesmond, Ballyhooly,
Ballymakeery, Baltimore, Banteer, Bantry, Boherboy, Bridebridge,
Buttevant, Carrigtwohill, Castlelyons, Castlemartyr, Castletownbere,
Castletownroche, Castletownshend, Church Bay, Coachford, Conna,
Courtmacsherry, Crookstown, Crosshaven, Doneraile, Drimoleague,
Dromina, Drommahane, Dunmanway, Durrus, Farran, Glanworth,
Inchigeelagh, Innishannon, Kanturk, Kildorrery, Killavullen,
Killeagh, Kilworth, Knocknagree, Leap, Liscarroll, Macroom, Milford,
Millstreet, Model Village - Dripsey, Newmarket, Passage West,
Rathcormac, Charleville, Ross Carbery, Schull, Shanagarry,
Skibbereen, Timoleague, Unionhall or Watergrasshill.
Home
Cork Holiday Homes