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.

Corcadorca Theatre Company

Cork Midsummer Festival

West Cork Chamber Music Festival (2005.06.25 - 07.03)

Kinsale Arts Week (2005.07.16-24)

The Lewis Glucksman Gallery

Photogallery: "The Market"

A guide for new residents of Cork

Cork city centre wireless public internet access system

Recommended Excursions

(West Cork ... more)

Kinsale - 25km (frequent bus service on route 249 from city [journey time 50 mins] and airport [journey time 33-36mins]) - schedules here)

Fota Wildlife Park [journey time 13 mins] and Cobh [journey time 24 mins] (by suburban rail service - schedules here)

Blarney Castle and Grounds (frequent bus service on route 224 from city, journey time 30 mins - schedules here)

Crosshaven (frequent bus on route 222 from city, journey time 40 mins - schedules here)

3 Mbits/sec wireless broadband service in Cork area - see also

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.

Draft development plan for City

Development plans for waterside residential, office, retail and other projects in the Cork Docklands

Public buildings and markets in the city
Whazon - what's on guide for the area

Guide to the arts in Cork

National Microelectronics Research Centre(er) [GPS 6680 7190]
One of the leading information and communications technology research facilities in the EU

Map of Cork

Cork Airport

University College Cork

Cork Institute of Technology

New Business Parks | MBE - Mail Boxes etc

Cork area Weather | Alternative forecast site | Current weather conditions

The Architecture of Cork

Cork Opera House [GPS: 6752 7205]

Everyman Palace Theatre (McCurtain Street)

Cork International Choral Festival

The Rivers and lakes of Cork County

Trees and hedgerows in Cork County

Water quality checks at Cork Blue Flag beaches

Blackrock Castle, Cork

History of Cork
The Munster Literature Centre

Cork suburban rail map and schedules Tel 450 4777

General information on bus services

Airport shuttle bus schedule

Emergency Medical Treatment:

Emergency ambulance Tel 112

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, 7km North of the city

Cork Jazz Festival

Irish Rail, Kent Station, Glanmire Road, Cork Tel 450 4777 [GPS: 6844 7221]
Station parking €4.50 per day for rail users only

Rail Schedules

Traffic Control System: SCOOT

Cork City Council (City Council - Main Office City Hall [GPS 6800 7173])

The River Lee

Road numbering changes

Since the opening of the Lee Tunnel on 31.5.1999, the N25 (E30) will run via the tunnel and along the South Ring Road to connect with the N71 (hitherto the N28). The N28 will run from the Ferryport at Ringaskiddy to the N25.

Car Park locations, hours of operation and charges

Temporary street closures

Port of Cork

Cork County

Daly Bridge, Sunday's Well [GPS: 6569 7165]

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** (new wing due to open early 2002) [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 tempe rance. The stained glass window behind the main altar is a memorial to Daniel O'Connell. [GPS 6763 7153]

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.

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]

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]

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.

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)
Cork Heritage Park* (at Bessboro, Blackrock N28 South Ring Road exit Douglas Well Road Skehard Road Tel 435 8854)

St Patrick's Bridge & Shandon

In the region:

Kinsale*** (25km via N71 (dir. Bandon) and R605 - returning to city via R600 and N28)
Blarney Castle**(7km via N20 and R617 Tel 438 5252 [NGR: 6095 7558])
Cork Harbour and its islands (see below)
Dunkathel House* (9km E via N8)
Royal Gunpowder Mills* (Ballincollig N22 7km W Tel 487 4430)
Jameson Heritage Centre (Irish Whiskey Exhibition at Midleton N25 18km 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) (20km via N25 and R624 (or train to Fota station train info Tel 450 6766)
Cobh** (25km 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 2km 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:***

Golf

Old Head of Kinsale Golf Links**** - one of Ireland's premier golf courses - breathtaking scenery in a cliffside location overlooking the Atlantic Ocean (40km 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+N28 6km SE)
Monkstown** Tel 484 1376 (N27+N28 + R610 10km SE)
Cork Golf Club*** (Little Island) (N25 8km E) Tel 435 3451
Muskerry Golf Club*** Tel 438 5297 (N22+R579 12km 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)
Kino, Tel 427 1571 Washington Street
The Reel, Tel 487 6300 Ballincollig (N22 7km 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 and cost €1.15 each or €11.50 per book of 10. 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 €1.00 - €1.50 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. A park and ride facility is available on Saturdays only from a car park at Victoria Cross (ie on the N22 near the city limits).

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