Great food market located in the centre of Cork city. Open as a market from 1788 and still thriving. When the British Queen visited Ireland in 2011, the English market was one of the places on her itinerary.
Quite a range here from exotic fruits, vegetables, artisan breads, handmade chocolates, fish and meat. Additionally there are numerous cafes in which you can take a pit stop.

www.corkenglishmarket.ie/
Princes Street, Cork, Co. Cork, Ireland
+353 86 175 6296
Google map: bit.ly/Akggt0

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Peaceful and stunning if you are interested in stone circles but feel nothing at over commercialised sites come here, aligned for winter solstice, you will really feel a connection with people from the past.

www.megalithicireland.com/Drombeg.htm
Google map: bit.ly/riUCkM

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Masters of Tradition is six days of pure, traditional Irish music, performed in the library of the magnificent Bantry House, west of Cork. Performances are intimate, relatively informal and are delivered by some of the finest musicians from across the world. Loose yourself in the music or gaze out of the windows into the beautiful formal gardens (which you are free to explore during the interval).

Event website: bit.ly/bkjxsE

www.bantryhouse.com/
+ 353 (0)27 50047
An der N71, Bantry, Ireland
Google map: bit.ly/kZ0b2X

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Perhaps the best food I've ever eaten, and in an environment that tells you why: expert and insightful people in a cyclical farming, learning and catering environment - led by legendary Darina Allen and her daughter-in-law Rachel. I went there as a musician when the drawing room was the venue - now Rory Allen has converted the Grain Store into a world class venue for the great and good of the Irish music scene. Who could ask for anything more?

www.ballymaloe.ie
Ballymaloe House, Shanagarry, Co. Cork, Ireland
+353 (0)21 4652 531
Google map; bit.ly/frYDd4

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Only one hour (on your favourite budget airline) from London, Liverpool, Manchester or Cardiff, Cork City is a great place to go for a pub walk with pubs and bars conveniently spaced about 50 metres apart in any direction and a hearty Irish pub welcome to be had at them all. Start off with a pint of Purgatory at the Francsican Well, a micro brewery on North Mall facing the river Lee and with a spacious beer garden for all those that like to drink their beer in the sun or smoke a cig. Wander over North Gate Bridge and along North Main Street to South Main Street & the Spailpin Fanach for some traditional Irish music at this busy old fashioned pub opposite the mock Tudor splendour of the Beamish factory in the middle of town.
Pop around the corner for a 22 Ounce steak at Soho whilst watching the rugby on their myriad screens then across the road by the English market and along Oliver Plunkett Street with around 30 traditional old Irish pubs to choose from on a 400 metre pedestrianised strip through the heart of Cork’s shopping district, you are spoilt for choice and the intrepid pub-walker will never discover what it is like to work up a thirst
Then finish up, inevitably, (if you are still able to walk) at the Crane Lane around midnight to catch the start of some late night bohemian jazz or burlesque, through until 2 and where the craic is always 90.
And with the compactness of Cork City you’re almost never more than a five quid cab fare from home, or hotel if you don’t feel up to the walk back.

www.franciscanwellbrewery.com/
www.ratepubs.com/pub/4/general.htm
www.soho.ie/directions.php
www.cranelanetheatre.com/

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So much less the tourist-clogged path of its neighbouring tour, the Ring of Kerry, the trip from Cork City to Dingle in Kerry, by the south coast road (N25) across the toes of Ireland is an opportunity to dip into unpolished, but majestical Ireland.

Bypassing the standard stops such as Kinsale, pitch up for the night in towns such as Clonakilty (home of Jimi Hendrix's bass player Noel Redding - his guitars hang in De Barra's pub), Rosscarbery (a gem of a town hidden by a causeway and a bypass many years ago) and head past Skibbereen to Cape Clear islands for a day trip.

Along the way gather random information off locals to such places as the most bizarre and hidden archaeological museum in the world near Union Hall, or simply point the car towards to coast and get a little lost.

Continue at your own pace along sheep strewn roads to the Dingle peninsula stopping short for a night or two in tiny Annascaul. There, you can revel in the cosiest bars in the world. Take in the story of the local explorer legend Tom Crean in the South Pole Inn too. Dingle itself then, a gem of Atlantic perfection like a well deserved pint at the end of a journey.

South West of Cork City, right there by the Atlantic ocean.

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I just spent a week back in my old town Cork. Stayed here and could not believe the value. Got a room for just €69 a night. For a 4-star hotel with a leisure centre and good location I was more than pleased. Will be back.

www.themontenottehotel.com/

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