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County Cork

County Cork (Irish: Contae Chorcaí), in Southwest Ireland is the largest county in the Republic of Ireland and also the location of the country's second largest city. This means that its inhabitants have a reasonable sense of their status. It also has a very long coastline and many items of interest for the visitor.

13km

51.9667-8.5833

Kinsale

town in County Cork, Ireland

14km

51.7075-8.5305556

Killarney

town in County Kerry, Ireland

116km

52.05-9.5167

Waterford

city in the Republic of Ireland

152km

52.2583-7.119
Sights (33)

Cork Opera House

Cork Opera House is a theatre and opera house in Cork in the Republic of Ireland.

288m

51.9003-8.4726

Church of St Anne, Shandon

The tower and bells are symbols of the city, and overlook it from the north. Visitors are allowed to ring the bells. This church is in a conservation area.

732m

51.9032-8.4762

Elizabeth Fort

Offers a good view over the city. However, it is not easily seen from the city. From Southgate Bridge, go up Barrack Street and turn right. The Elizabeth Fort Market Festival takes place on Sundays inside the historic fort walls and features Irish-made crafts, gourmet food, and entertainment. There is a police station within the fort.

823m

51.894497-8.477617

Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral

This is just a few minutes away from the Elizabeth fort and much easier to find. A fine 19th-century Gothic Revival building. Visible from the back is a golden angel high upon a tower.

1.1km

51.8944-8.4806

University College Cork

constituent university of the National University of Ireland

2.5km

51.893-8.493

Fitzgerald's Park

2.9km

51.89583333-8.49611111

Blarney Castle

11km

51.9289-8.5708

Charles Fort (Ireland)

This is a 17th century star shaped fort, which is very well preserved and has seen very little military action. 45 minute tours depart every hour, last entry 45 min before closing. Open mid Mar-Oct daily 10:00-18:00, rest of year 10:00-17:00.

14km

51.6965-8.499

James's Fort

This is an older fort on the other side of the river and in much poorer condition.

14km

51.69964-8.510284

Desmond Castle

Built c. 1500 by the Earl of Desmond as a custom house, this is a well-preserved tower house. The Castle is known locally as the French Prison following a fire in which 54 French prisoners died in 1747. The building was later used as an ancillary workhouse during the Famine. Admission €2.90, covered by Heritage Card, open Apr-Oct daily 10:00-18:00, last entry 17:15, tours given on request, closed Nov-mid Apr.

14km

51.7075-8.5306

Cork Racecourse

A mixed course (flat and jumps), originally named Mallow (given its location), and is close to where an early steeplechase was conjectured to have been run in 1752.

28km

52.131888-8.685991

St John's Cathedral (Limerick)

Limerick

54km

52.6625-8.61666667

Rock of Cashel

castle in County Tipperary, Ireland

77km

52.52-7.89

County Clare

county in Ireland

86km

52.83333333-9

Eyre Square

public park in Galway, Ireland

113km

53.2745-9.049

Spanish Arch

arch in Galway city, Ireland

113km

53.2699-9.05387

Town Hall Theatre (Galway)

theatre in Galway, Ireland

113km

53.276177-9.053985

Muckross Abbey

Beautiful ruin of a Franciscan friary that was founded in 1448. The ruin is completely open (except when certain sections undergo restoration work) and you can wander through the rooms independently.

114km

52.0261-9.4956

Muckross House

This area of the park also boasts the "Muckross Traditional Farms", a perfect outing for the kids. A ring walk (not very long, approx 2 hours from start to finish, including stops), leads you past several 'traditional farmhouses'. These farmhouses demonstrate 'the way we were'. During the summer, there are often litters of kittens and puppies, which the children will be delighted with as you watch the demonstrations of soda bread and butter making, a sample of which will be given to you if you behave!

114km

52.01777778-9.50166667

Torc Waterfall

A beautiful waterfall in the Killarney National Park. Covered in tours of local attractions.

115km

52.005024-9.5066471

Fitzgerald Stadium

115km

52.06638889-9.50805556

Ross Castle

118km

52.041-9.531

Innisfallen Island

island

120km

52.04583333-9.55361111

Killarney National Park

national park in Kerry, Ireland

121km

51.99333333-9.55722222

Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark

Disambiguation page providing links to topics that could be referred to by the same search term

129km

52.9721612-9.4285324

O'Brien's Tower

You can climb O'Brien's Tower for the highest vantage point on the cliffs. O'Brien's Tower is a round stone tower at the approximate midpoint of the cliffs. It was built by Sir Cornellius O'Brien, a descendant of Ireland's High King Brian Boru, in 1835, as an observation tower for the hundreds of tourists that frequented the cliffs even at that date. From the watchtower, one can view the Aran Islands and Galway Bay, the Maum Turk Mountains and the Twelve Bens to the north in Connemara, and Loop Head to the south.

129km

52.97301111-9.43053611

Moher Tower

A square stone ruin which appears to be the remains of a watchtower placed to monitor the coastline for invading fleets during Napoleon's reign in Europe.

131km

52.948212-9.467861

Kells Priory

One of Ireland's best intact priories. The priory, surrounded by its old walls, was built in 1193. You are free to wander throughout the whole complex. There is a Round Tower and High Cross nearby in Kilree. There is a parking lot above the priory, but the more beautiful way to enter is by parking near Mullin's Mills and walk along the river. It is well worth a visit.

140km

52.53833333-7.26694444

County Kilkenny

county in Ireland

143km

52.58333333-7.25

St Mary's Cathedral, Kilkenny

cathedral

144km

52.6525-7.25694444

Rothe House

A unique Tudor merchant's house built between 1594 and 1610. On a burgage plot, it comprises three houses, three cobble-stoned courtyards and a half-acre restored Tudor garden behind the house. Rothe House contains Kilkenny Archeological Society's history museum and archive library.

144km

52.654709-7.254954

Butler House, Kilkenny

This stunning chateau-like building is one of the residences of the Butler family, who ruled Kilkenny for many years. It has a lovely small suburban garden. During Arts week in August it is used a venue for exhibitions.

144km

52.64876-7.250895

Dunmore Cave

The show cave is incredibly well developed and is a wonder to walk around. Guided tours only.

147km

52.73388889-7.24666667
Nature

we will see

Cork

Ireland
Someday we will visit Cork or begin to dream about going there! However, for now its not on our radar. Let us know in the comments if you think that should change!

Cork

Cork is on the banks of the River Lee in the south of Ireland. With a city population of 119,230 in 2011, it is the second largest city in the Republic, and the third largest in all of Ireland.

The Cork School of Music and the Crawford College of Art and Design provide a throughput of new blood, as do the active theatre components of several courses at University College Cork (UCC). Important elements in the cultural life of the city are: Corcadorca Theatre Company, of which Cillian Murphy was a troupe member prior to Hollywood fame; the Institute for Choreography and Dance, a national contemporary dance resource; the Triskel Arts Centre (capacity c.90), which includes the Triskel Christchurch independent cinema; dance venue the Firkin Crane (capacity c.240); the Cork Academy of Dramatic Art (CADA) and Graffiti Theatre Company; and the Cork Jazz Festival, Cork Film Festival and Live at the Marquee events. The Everyman Palace Theatre (capacity c.650) and the Granary Theatre (capacity c.150) both host plays throughout the year.

Cork was originally a monastic settlement, reputedly founded by Saint Finbarr in the 6th century. Cork achieved an urban character at some point between 915 and 922 when Norseman (Viking) settlers founded a trading port. It has been proposed that, like Dublin, Cork was an important trading centre in the global Scandinavian trade network. The ecclesiastical settlement continued alongside the Viking longphort, with the two developing a type of symbiotic relationship; the Norsemen providing otherwise unobtainable trade goods for the monastery, and perhaps also military aid.

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Climate

Average temperatures

Jan

8.2°C3
Precipitation: 131.4 mm

Feb

8.3°C3.1
Precipitation: 97.8 mm

Mar

9.9°C4
Precipitation: 97.6 mm

Apr

11.8°C4.9
Precipitation: 76.5 mm

May

14.4°C7.4
Precipitation: 82.3 mm

Jun

17°C10
Precipitation: 80.9 mm

Jul

18.7°C11.8
Precipitation: 78.8 mm

Aug

18.5°C11.8
Precipitation: 96.8 mm

Sep

16.5°C10.2
Precipitation: 94.6 mm

Oct

13.2°C7.7
Precipitation: 138.2 mm

Nov

10.3°C5.2
Precipitation: 120 mm

Dec

8.5°C3.7
Precipitation: 133.1 mm