Cork
Ireland'S Second City, Built On Islands In The River Lee, With The English Market (1788), The Shandon Bells And St Fin Barre'S Cathedral · Cork, Cork
Cork is the Republic's second city and its self-styled rebel capital, built on marshy islands where the River Lee splits into two channels before running out to one of the largest natural harbours in the world. Its Irish name, Corcaigh, means marsh, and the flat island centre is a web of Georgian and Victorian streets, quays and bridges between St Patrick's Street and the South Mall, with steep hills climbing away on both sides. People come for food first: the covered English Market, trading since 1788, is the best food hall in the country. Then come the Shandon bells, which visitors ring themselves from the tower of St Anne's, the triple-spired St Fin Barre's Cathedral, the free Crawford Art Gallery, the old city gaol, a busy pub scene with its own stouts, and the Jazz Festival in October. Cork is also the natural base for Cobh, Kinsale, Blarney and Midleton. The honest caveats: little of the medieval town survives, it rains often, the northern hills are steep, and drivers meet one-way streets and costly parking.
Cork city centre on the island between the two channels of the River Lee, from the English Market and St Patrick's Street to Shandon and St Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork, Cork, Ireland
A city open all year. Shops open roughly 09:00-18:00, later on Thursdays and from about noon on Sundays. The English Market trades roughly 08:00-18:00 Monday to Saturday and is closed on Sundays and bank holidays (confirm). Shandon tower, St Fin Barre's Cathedral and the City Gaol open daily in summer with shorter winter hours and limits during Sunday services (confirm). Trains from Dublin Heuston take about 2.5 hours to Kent Station; Cork Airport is about 8 km south with buses to the centre. Book hotels months ahead for the Jazz Festival on the October bank holiday weekend.