Cork City Top Attractions

The English Market

The English Market in the heart of Cork City is one of the oldest markets in Cork and a main shopping institution of Corkonians and visitors alike along with the Coal Quay on Cornmarket Street.

The English Market in Cork is an enclosed market area where lots of fresh local produce can be purchased including meat, fish, Cork's favourite tripe and drisheen, fruit and vegetables and many locally produced cheeses.

It is also where you can sit and enjoy a coffee at your leisure and a wonderful chocolate or two.

Cork Public Museum & Fitzgerald's Park

Cork Public Museum located in the peaceful oasis of Fitzgerald's Park has been displaying a wealth of Cork's History and more since 1910. It is well laid out in this new purpose built building and with a cafe also for the family.

Having visited Cork Public Museum take a stroll through the beautiful landscaped gardens, with its many outdoor pieces and sculptures, and enjoy a riverside walk beside the River Lee in Fitzgerald's Park, which has flowers and colour throughout the year.

It is located just minutes from the University College of Cork and Cork City Centre itself.

St. Anne's Church Shandon Bells

St. Anne's Church Shandon in Cork City is where the Shandon Bells are found. It is here if you climb the steeple you will have the opportunity to pick a tune and play it on the bells.

Taking pride of place in Cork City's history, at the very top of St Anne's Church you will see the weather vane which is a golden fish and the steeple also was known as the Four Face Liar due to incorrect times being displayed on all of the four side.

The steeple of St. Anne's Church was built with grey limestone on one side and the others were red limestone, in keeping with the Cork colours of Red and White! Shandon is only a short walk from over the bridge from Cork City.

Cork Butter Museum

Cork Butter Museum Shandon in Cork City is where you will find the history of Cork's Butter Exchange. The Butter Exchange in Cork became the largest butter market in the world from the 1700's onwards, and with cargo ships calling into Cork butter was exchanged for spices, tea, brandy, wine and other foreign commodities.

The English and Dutch favoured lightly salted butter with the West Indies and tropics favouring heavily salted butter. The butter was then duly shipped in timber crates and firkins, find out more of the history of Cork's Butter Exchange.

Cork City Goal

Cork City Goal has been restored as a highly exciting visitor attraction which set out to tell the visitor what life was like there for prisoners in the 19th century.

An exciting Audio Visual presentation is an integral part of the experience, located just a short distance from Fitzgerald's Park, UCC and Cork City Centre.

St. Fin Barre's Cathedral.

St. Fin Barre's Cathedral on Bishop Street a short walk from Cork City Centre is a magnificent Church of Ireland Cathedral. Built in the 1870's this Cathedral in Cork is named after Cork's patron saint, St Fin Barre and the Cathedral is a wonderful example of Gothic Revival style architecture.

Elizabeth Fort, Barrack Street

Elizabeth Fort is steeped in history where in the 1690's it came under attack in the during the siege of Cork. It later housed an army barracks, and a convict depot for transportation. Going on to house an RIC (Police) station, a food depot during the Great Famine and until recently, a Garda station and recently the walls of the fort have been opened to the public on a permanent basis. Group tours are available or you are welcome to walk and explore at your leisure a great Cork City visitor attraction to experience Cork City's history.

Lewis Glucksman Gallery

Cork Lewis Glucksman Gallery located on the wonderful grounds of University College of Cork, near the main college gates, has won many awards for its architectural design itself.

At the Lewis Glucksman Gallery you will find UCC's Art Collection along with many exhibits and pieces on display. The Gallery plays hosts for many events throughout the year such as music concerts, film screenings, lectures, craft fairs and more, also onsite is a cafe to enjoy a cup of coffee with views out over the gardens.

Collins Barracks Cork Military Museum

Collins Barracks Cork Military Museum in Cork City is a strong part of Cork's History being the oldest occupied military Barracks in Cork City. Located in the Old Guard Room in the Barracks and built in the 1800's, the Barracks is a very impressive example of Georgian Architecture built around a large parade square.

The Barracks Museum proudly covers the history of Cork Barracks and its involvement in the Peacekeeping effort, and the Michael Collins era. The Barracks has a wide range of memorabilia, such as uniforms, weapons and historical photographs including the visit by the President Kennedy in the 1960's, the 35th President of the United States of America.

Lifetime Lab, Old Waterworks

The Lifetime Lab located in the Old Waterworks on the Lee Road in Cork is an interactive exhibition for visitors of all ages of the supply of Cork's water supply from this site from the 1760's.

The Lifetime Lab explores this history of Cork water supply, the function of each of the present day buildings which have been restored, ranging from boiler rooms to steam room, with one building now being converted to a School's Resource Centre. The Lifetime Lab located on the Lee Road has stunning views over the River Lee, it is just a short distance from Cork City Centre, Cork Gaol or Fitzgerald's Park and the walking area of the Lee Fields.

The Marina and the Atlantic Pond

The Marina offers a lovely walking or cycling route in this lovely tree lined road, just a 15 minute walk from town it is a hidden gem where you can enjoy a river side walk and maybe watch some local rowers in action with the local rowing club nearby.

Enjoy the view across the river to the houses located in Tivioli. Cross the road and take the path which will take you to the Atlantic Pond, a haven to a number of water loving birds and where you can walk fully around this pond area and take time out and Blackrock Castle is only a 15 minute walk away.

Walk The Marina

Rory Gallagher Tribute

A Unique bronze sculpture in honour of Rory Gallagher

A Bronze sculpture in honour of Rory Gallagher is situated at Rory Gallagher Place off Paul street. It takes the form of a guitar on one side, while the other side is made up of intertwined lyrics from Rory’s Jinx album.

University College Cork (UCC)

University College Cork (UCC) located on College Road, past Washington Street, has seen thousands of students through its gates over the years, established since the 1800's. The UCC is set in beautiful grounds which you can enjoy a stroll around, including the President's Garden and take in a riverside walk also and then enjoy a visit to the Glucksman Gallery and call to the cafe after.

UCC is made up of "The Quad" area, is a magnificent limestone building, in the Gothic design with a Mangan tower clock. Visit the cloistered walkway in UCC where you will see the Stone Corridor consisting of a collection of inscribed Ogham Stones. There is lots to see on and around UCC Campus grounds in Cork City along with the Crawford Observatory and The Honan Chapel and the Great Hall or Aula Maxima, take your time to enjoy the beauty on view..

Pairc Ui Chaoimh Gaa Statium

Corks well known Gaa Stadium Pairc Ui Chaoimh is just a short drive or walk from Cork City centre. An impressive stadium capable of seating 45,000 people, it has hosted some inspiring matches and music events already. Recently re-developed it is an impressive building with state of the art facilities such as flood lit astro pitch, restaurant and bar facilities and conference centre.

Building of Architectural Interest in Cork City

Cork Buildings of Architectural Interest - just a sample:

• UCC, University College Cork
• The Honan Chapel, on UCC grounds,
• Glucksman Gallery, UCC grounds
• Trinity Presbyterian Church off Mac Curtain Street,
• County and City Halls,
• Port of Cork Buildings, Customs House Cork,
• Crawford Art Gallery,
• The Imperial Hotel Cork City,
• Civic Trust House,
• Cork Court House,
• Collins Barricks,
• Beamish & Crawford site,
• Queen Anne house on Emmet Place,
• Cork General Post Office,
• Brown Thomas Cork,
• HMV of Cork (previously the Pavilion Cinema),
• Red Abbey on Mary Street/Douglas Street,
• Elizabeth Fort off Barrack Street.
• St. Peter and Paul's Church, Paul St, Cork,
• St. Vincent's Church, Sunday's Well Road, Cork,
• St Augustine's Church, Washington Street,
• St Marys Church on Pope's Quay,
• St Lukes Church, St Lukes, Cork

Bridges in Cork City

Cork Bridges of Interest

• Patrick's Bridge,
• North Gate Bridge,
• South Gate Bridge,
• Parliament Bridge,
• Brian Boru Bridge,
• Shandon Bridge,
• Gaol Bridge near UCC,
• Christy Ring Bridge,
• Eamon De Valera Bridge,
• Michael Collins Bridge,
• Griffith Bridge,
• Clarke's Bridge,
• Thomas Davis Bridge,
• The Shaky Bridge (or Daly's Bridge) in the Mardyke,
• Mardyke Bridge.

Monuments of Interest in Cork City

• Father Mathew Statue on Patrick Street,
• Cork's National Monument on the Grand Parade,
• Huguenots Burial Ground,
• Old Walls of Cork in Bishop Lucey Park,
• Berwick Fountain on the Grand Parade,
• Several sculptures in Fitzgeralds Park,
• Grand Parade Mooring Post.

Clocks of Interest in Cork City

Check out the Clocks in Cork City. How many can you identify?

Cork Vision Centre

Cork Vision Centre located in the heart of Cork's historic centre, is within walking distance of the city's artistic, commercial and many tourist attractions. It offers visitors an opportunity to appreciate a fine example of conservation in action, and to explore Cork's evolution from the past, through to the present, and onwards to future development.

The Coal Quay on Cornmarket Street

For more details on visitor attraction in the County of Cork please click here Cork County Visitor Attractions