The 5 Best Neighborhoods in Cork Ireland

Cork is a small city, so you can easily spend a day exploring a few of its coolest neighborhoods. They naturally blend together, but each has enough of its own history and charm to attract tourists on its own.

The area around Victoria Square

The newly named “Victorian Quarter,” which is north of the River Lee and close to Cork’s business district, is centered on MacCurtain Street. With events like the new Soul in the City Festival, which brings together soul music and food in the so-called “heart and soul of the city,” the city has put money into promoting this area’s historic architecture and high number of independent, multicultural businesses.

This is also a great place to shop, especially for old things. Mother Jones Flea Market, named after Mary Harris Jones, who was born in Shandon and spoke out for workers’ rights in the early 20th century, is a great place to spend a few hours on the weekend. In a well-organized indoor maze of stalls, the market has something for everyone who likes old things.

During the week, shoppers can take a break at the photogenic Tara’s Tea Room for afternoon tea served on mismatched china. Harley’s Coffee House serves roasted in Fermoy Badger & Dodo boutique coffee for a stronger caffeine fix, as well as great lunch food and pastries.

Even in the evening, there are plenty of places to eat and drink. In early 2017, award-winning chef Bryan McCarthy opened Cask, a new hotspot that serves small plates and craft cocktails in a lofty space that used to be an antique shop. Greene’s Restaurant at Hotel Isaacs, McCarthy’s other business on this street, is much more established and has a strong local following. This romantic spot is tucked away down a small lane and has its own waterfall.

Gallagher’s gastro-pub has a wide range of live music to go with your meal, and the food is also very good. Named after Cork’s own Rory Gallagher, who used to live on MacCurtain Street and bought his Stratocaster at Crowleys Music, their acts almost every night include jazz, folk, blues, and soul music. The world-famous Guinness Cork Jazz Festival is held every October at the Everyman Theatre, which is also on MacCurtain Street. The Everyman Theatre brings in the best in music and theater and is where the best shows are shown. If you have time, go to a show and enjoy the Victorian elegance.

Shandon

Shandon is the key to some of Cork’s most interesting history. In Irish, sean dn means “the old fort.” In this area, there was a fort settlement as early as the 1170s. Shandon Castle, which was built around 1183, was once the center of government for the whole province of Munster, but it was destroyed in 1690 during the Siege of Cork. But many old buildings still stand as proof of how important this area was to the city’s cultural and business life.

The bells at St. Anne’s Cathedral were first rung in 1752. The song “The Bells of Shandon” is about them. Visitors can try to ring the six-ton bells themselves, and the tower offers the best view of the city as a whole.

Annie Moore’s childhood home is on Rowland’s Lane, which is just a two-minute walk away. It’s worth going to see. Moore, who was 17 years old at the time, was the first person to go through the new immigration center on Ellis Island on January 1, 1892. Even though all that marks her house is a small plaque, it is a moving reminder of the well-trodden path of Irish-American migration. Down the hill on Pope’s Quay, the classical front of St. Mary’s Church is another lasting sign of its time. It was built in the 1830s, when the Catholic Emancipation was happening.

Shandon is also a great place to visit if you like to eat. The Butter Museum is a reminder of the booming butter trade in the area in the 1800s. The museum shows how important butter was to the Irish economy and how it grew and shrank over time.

The Quarter of Huguenots

The Huguenot Quarter is south of Shandon and across the River Lee. It is near French Church Street, Carey’s Lane, and Paul Street. French Protestants made up the Huguenots. After being persecuted by King Louis XIV, some of them moved to Ireland. The church they built here has been torn down for a long time, but a Huguenot cemetery from the 1800s still stands on Carey’s Lane.

Some of the best places to eat and drink in the city are now in the narrow streets of this cool neighborhood. Duke’s Coffee Company is known for having great coffee, snacks, and breakfasts. Those with a sweet tooth won’t want to miss O’Connaill’s Chocolate & Coffee Shop on French Church Street, which has artisan chocolate.

Ami James, who is known for his role in the TV show Miami Ink, opened the Love Hate Social Club tattoo shop on French Church Street as an extension of his US-based brand. At the opening, he made many fans’ dreams come true by finishing their tattoos. People on the street can watch people getting tattoos through a specially made gallery window.

Paul Street is a T-shaped part of the Huguenot Quarter. To the west, it leads to the historic market area of the Coal Quay, also known as Cornmarket Street. If you’re in this area, which is known for its long history of street trading, go to the farmer’s market at the Coal Quay Plaza on a Saturday morning. Paul Street ends at Emmet Place, which is home to the Cork Opera House and Crawford Art Gallery, two of Cork’s biggest cultural attractions.

The area around Oliver Plunkett Street

Oliver Plunkett Street won the 2016 Great Street Award from London’s Academy of Urbanism. It has both expensive shops and places where you can get good deals. At its north-east end, you’ll find some of the city’s nicest independent shops, like the Olori boutique and the family-run Shoe Suite, which is a great place to find trendy designer shoes from brands like Bugatti and Van Dal.

Oliver Plunkett Street runs down the middle of the city, and the streets that branch off of it are also a mix of different things. Arthur Mayne’s Pharmacy and Wine Garden is nearby on Pembroke Street. It is a 120-year-old pharmacy that still has most of its original fixtures and even some of its original stock. The bar is an old glass apothecary counter, and the walls are lined with built-in glass cases full of potions that have been used up.

One of the entrances to the famous English Market, which dates back to 1788, is on Prince’s Street. It’s a great place to spend a few hours browsing and stocking up on gifts, or having lunch in the mezzanine restaurant. It has a huge number of both traditional and trendy high-quality producers.

Near Grand Parade

Explorers who head west from Grand Parade into the city’s medieval heart will find a mix of creative and historical things, as well as some of the best food in the city. The National Monument, which was unveiled on St. Patrick’s Day in 1906 as a reminder of rebellions that happened before the country became independent, is the most interesting part of the parade itself. Bishop Lucey Park, a popular city park, and Triskell Christchurch, a former church that is now a movie theater, live music venue, and creative arts hub, are to the west.

Northwest of here is Washington Street, which is quickly becoming the new foodie hub of the city. Chef Rachel Allen, who used to work at the famous Ballymaloe House, just opened her first business on her own there. With fresh vegetables from Ballymaloe’s kitchen garden and the daily catch from Ballycotton, much of Ballymaloe’s careful attention to where food comes from has been brought to the city center, though in a less traditional way. After dinner, float over to the Piano Bar next door and order one of their “experience” cocktails, which are accompanied by live piano music.

Topic: The 5 Best Neighborhoods in Cork Ireland

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By: Travel Pixy