What To Do In Cork Ireland For A Day? 【24 Hours】

Cork is a city that many Irish people think of as the real capital of the country. But if you only have one day to spend here, make the most of it by seeing some of the most famous sights and experiencing the lively culture.

Table of Contents

Morning

9am

One of the best things about Cork is the food, so try some of the local dishes. Start your day at the lively Liberty Grill on Washington Street. The all-day brunch menu is inspired by New England and has local ingredients like West Cork free-range eggs, Atlantic crab, and Rosscarbery black pudding.

What To Do In Cork Ireland For A Day? 【24 Hours】 — The food at Liberty Grill is inspired by New England.© David L. Moore – IRE / Alamy Stock Photo

10am

After stopping to look at the neoclassical architecture of the Cork Courthouse next door, walk west on Washington Street along the south channel of the River Lee until you reach the bridge that leads to the University College Cork (UCC) campus’s leafy grounds. Shortly after you cross the river, you’ll see the Glucksman art gallery, which was once voted the best public building in Ireland. If it’s open (it’s closed on Mondays and doesn’t open until 2 p.m. on Sundays), you can stop by and look at the free exhibits.

Then go deeper into the campus until you reach the Main Quadrangle, which is the oldest part of the 175-year-old college. From the square, you can look at the impressive limestone buildings, then go through the main arch under the clock tower to the Stone Corridor. This is where UCC’s collection of Ogham stones, which are carved with Ireland’s oldest form of writing, are always on display.

Afternoon

Noon

Head east toward Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral, a gothic-revival cathedral built on the same spot where the city’s patron saint set up his monastery in the seventh century. You have to pay €6 (£5.40) to go inside, but the money is well spent. The building has more than a thousand sculptures, intricate mosaics, the largest church organ in the Irish Republic, and, oddly enough, a cannonball from the Siege of Cork in 1690.

1pm

After seeing the cathedral, go to Miyazaki on nearby Evergreen Street for lunch. If you get here right when it opens, you might be able to get one of the few stools at this tiny Japanese takeout place, which has become a sensation since it opened in 2015. McKenna’s Guides, a well-known publication, named Chef Takashi Miyazaki chef of the year, and critics from all over the world gave him high marks.

2pm

Two minutes’ walk from Miyazaki is a free star fort from the 17th century. From its walls, Elizabeth Fort is a great place to look down on the city below. It also has a very interesting past. In 1601, after the Battle of Kinsale, which finished off England’s conquest of Gaelic Ireland, a fort was built here. However, when Queen Elizabeth I died just two years later, the people of Cork tore it down. The well-defended building that was put up in its place in 1626 dates back to the time of the Williamite War in Ireland (1688–1691) and the Siege of Cork. It also survived the Irish War of Independence and Civil War in the 19th century.

3pm

Stop by Alchemy, which is just around the corner, to see how people in Cork drink coffee. You could also go back to the river and follow Sullivan’s Quay east until you reach Filter, an espresso and brew bar. Ask for Badger & Dodo beans. They are roasted in Fermoy, County Cork, which is close by.

Once you’ve had enough coffee, cross the river on Parliament Bridge and head north on Princes Street. At the top of Princes Street, you’ll find the entrance to the English Market, which is one of the most popular places in the city. People often say that this public market, which has been around since 1788, is the best food market in the whole country. Spend some time looking around the stalls, talking to the friendly merchants, and maybe buying a souvenir or two.

4pm

When you leave the market, cross the busy shopping area on St. Patrick’s Street and go to the Crawford Art Gallery on Emmet Place. The gallery shows a wide range of art, from pieces made in Ireland and Europe in the 18th century to works made in the present day.

5pm

Have a drink before dinner in the historic market area around Cornmarket Street, which is still called the Coal Quay by the people who live there. Try a cocktail at the Old Town Whiskey Bar at Bodega, which is in a building that was built in 1843 and used to be an indoor market. You can also get pot still Irish whiskey at the Roundy, which is part of the Cork Whiskey Way. If you prefer beer, go to the Rising Sons microbrewery and brew-pub, which has won awards.

Evening

6pm

At Paradiso, a cozy vegetarian restaurant on Lancaster Quay, you can eat dinner early and slowly. Even hard-core meat eaters will love the creative dishes here, like pan-fried tofu with pak choi and a chili glaze or king oyster mushrooms with potato gnocchi.

8pm

Finish the night north of the Lee, where you can see for yourself how famous Cork’s nightlife is. In the historic Shandon neighborhood, you can find both Sin É pub, which is known for its traditional Irish music sessions, and City Limits Comedy Club and Late-Night Venue, which is one of the most popular places in the country to see live comedy. It’s where the famous Irish comedian Tommy Tiernan filmed his DVD Crooked Man, which came out in 2011.

If you prefer drama, the Everyman, a Victorian theater with 650 seats just a short walk away on MacCurtain Street, has seen performances by everyone from Cillian Murphy to Ed Harris. The bar is a great place to relax with a drink before or after a show.

Topic: What To Do In Cork Ireland For A Day? 【24 Hours】

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