Cork

[greenrook]

My wife and I are going to Cork next Saturday for a week. Anyone know any 'not-to-be-missed' sights, good pubs and eateries etc? All we've got on our list so far is Blarney Castle and we'd like to get off the tourist beaten track for some of the time. Thanks in advance

[smurfchops]

Part One: I wrote this for a friend and am copying it here: Get a car at the airport, around six car hire booths to choose from, should cost around �120 a week maximum. Fota Wildlife Park near Middleton on the way to Cobh. Cobh is the Titanic's last port of call before it sank, there is a great museum there inside the old railway station at Queenstown. The restaurant/bar next door is another good place to eat. Keep to the coast (don't bother going into Cork, its just a large town, not very pretty). Best place to finish is Kinsale. Go across the bridge away from town and turn left towards the Yacht Club and there is a lovely beach around the back. Go to the pub further the hill behind Kwiksave called The Spaniards which has live Irish Music, but don't eat in the Blue Haven... Have lunch or evening meal in the Trident, at the bar in the hotel to the left of Actons. Best daytime restaurant in town is Fishy Fishy. Not the Spinnaker or the Vintage.

[smurfchops]

Part One: I wrote this for a friend and am copying it here: Get a car at the airport, around six car hire booths to choose from, should cost around �120 a week maximum. Fota Wildlife Park near Middleton on the way to Cobh. Cobh is the Titanic's last port of call before it sank, there is a great museum there inside the old railway station at Queenstown. The restaurant/bar next door is another good place to eat. Keep to the coast (don't bother going into Cork, its just a large town, not very pretty). Best place to finish is Kinsale. Go across the bridge away from town and turn left towards the Yacht Club and there is a lovely beach around the back. Go to the pub further the hill behind Kwiksave called The Spaniards which has live Irish Music, but don't eat in the Blue Haven... Have lunch or evening meal in the Trident, at the bar in the hotel to the left of Actons. Best daytime restaurant in town is Fishy Fishy. Not the Spinnaker or the Vintage.

[smurfchops]

Sorry Part Two: . It's worth staying a couple of nights and then going on past the abbey ruins at Timoleague to Skibbereen, there's a lovely lake to drive around called Loch Aine if you have time. Then keep going on the coastal road to Schull. If you want to stay the night, another nice old Guest House is Grove House, a lovely old manor house. Not much at Schull, but Grove House is a good place to stay if you don't want to drive any further. Sometimes you see seals in the bay. Up to Bantry (get some mussels there and visit Bantry House). Around the ring of Kerry, lots of lakes and mountains, stop at Sneem, that's really pretty. Try to get to Dingle. And if you do you must go out on the boat to see Funghi the dolphin who swims between the boats, he's lovely. And you must stay at The Lighthouse (not really a lighthouse, but a really nice clean place, lots of pine). The number is 066 9151829, speak to Mary Murphy. If you think you are going there, you must book as far in advance as possible.

[smurfchops]

Part Three:

[smurfchops]

What is wrong with me today? Part Three:Also if you get there, have a drink at Dick Mack's, anyone will tell you where it is. Its a cobblers by day and a pub by night, so quaint you won't believe. And watch the prices there, Dingle is quite expensive to eat -- find a pub again. Also go to Inch Strand (near Dingle) its the most beautiful 4-mile stretch of empty beach, you can drive down to it, it's lovely. Ryan's Daughter was made there. You can head back inland towards Rosslare, stopping at Blarney if you have time and kissing the Blarney Stone at the castle. Enjoy, the people are great, so is the food, lucky you.

[smurfchops]

Got there in the end !!

[greenrook]

many thanks smurfchops, great answer(s) Well, we weren't going to hire a car but in the light of what you've said, the missis thinks it would be a good idea. Cheers

[smurfchops]

You will probably be given a map with the car, just stick to the south and west and just ask ask ask if you want to go anywhere - the first time we went, we flew to Cork, got a car, found the first B&B and just asked the locals where to go on the next day, they showed us on the map and we travelled 800 miles in seven days and got back to where we started! Like England was 30 years ago.

[greenrook]

Thanks again buddy, we're looking forward to it more than ever. My grandfather on my Mum's side was born in Cork but I only discovered that bit of family history about 3 years ago. So I suppose the Cork visit will have some added significance for me

[smurfchops]

Try to plan your route before you go, if you are going to the places I would recommend. Dont stay in Cork the first night, drive out towards the Ring of Kerry somewhere and dont forget to ask the locals ! Always eat in a bar in a pub, not the restaurant, as I said - Southern Ireland is a beautiful place. But keep your fingers crossed for good weather !

[greenrook]

Thanks again Smurfchops, we're really looking forward to visiting the land of our ancestors!

[smurfchops]

How was your holiday in Ireland?

[greenrook]

Hello smurfchops, thanks for asking, we had a great time. Turned out our temporary Cork digs were very cosy and homey, and 5 minutes walk from the 'bus station and the railway station as well, so we finished up staying in Cork and going hither and yon every day by 'bus or train. So we did the whole tourist thing - Kinsale, Blarney, Timoleague and Clonakilty, Skibbereen, Cobh etc., and will go farther afield next time we go

[smurfchops]

The Irish Tourist Board are very good for brochures etc before you go and let you know what attractions are on, where and when. You will find them on :

http://www.discoverireland.com/gb/

[greenrook]

Yes, we've had brochures from them before. What really galvanized us into finally going to Ireland was our small local airfield (Newquay) starting flights to Dublin, and later, to Cork.

[Annamore18]

Hello, I live in Cork and there are many great places to go here. If you are staying in the city there are some great restaurants like Jacques, Isaacs, Greens, The restaurant in the Imperial Hotel, Luigi Malones. If you go to West Cork be sure to book a table in Annies in Ballydehob, also Blairs Cove near Durrus (you need to starve all day) there is a buffet for starters and desserts I would suggest a very light main course such as their wonderful Hake.

Hope you have a good trip. We Cork folk can be very sociable with a little encouragement (especially West Cork Folk)

[greenrook]

Well, we actually arrived home from Cork last Saturday, but thanks for your input anyway, we'll be going again and I'm saving all the info. We may well stay with the same people again, since we've become friendly with them, and use Cork city as a base for exploration. We stayed quite near McCurtain Street, so we were handy for Greene's (had my birthday dinner there) and also Isaacs. We ate in the Gresham Metropole over the road too, they were very good.
We also ate well at Clancy's on Princes Street, and a new place, just opened called Soho, near Bishop Lucy Park. We had a memorable chowder in O'Keeffe's Bar in Clonakilty, and nice little pub meals all over the place. Sounds as if we're a couple of right gannets, doesn't it?!

[greenrook]

And yes, we did find the local people very warm and sociable