Things to see in Cork

The covered English Market is one of Cork's greatest assets, with a wonderful, lively atmosphere and an array of meat outlets, fruit and vegetable shops, fishmongers, Italian and French cheese stalls, fresh bread stands and much more. Traders have gathered here to sell their wares since 1788 and it’s still popular with locals and visiting tourists who can spend hours searching for that special souvenir among the clothes, crockery, art and novelty gifts.

The gaol (“open 360 days a year”) is a Gothic, and deceptively romantic, Georgian building designed by Sir Thomas Deane (also responsible for the magnificently decorative Imperial Hotel in South Mall). The audio tour gives a chilling representation of harsh prison life, which kept prisoners isolated and silent. Young children were whipped twice weekly and there was scant regard for pregnant women caught stealing rags for clothing. Public executions were performed here and heads displayed outside to instil fear in the public. Opened in 1824, in later years the gaol housed Republican prisoners including writer Frank O’Connor. It finally closed in 1923. There is also an interesting radio museum attached.

The port of Cobh (pronounced ‘Cove’), gateway to Cork city, was the final point of call for the doomed Titanic, which went on from here and sunk during her maiden voyage in 1912. A permanent exhibition, located in the original offices of the Titanic’s shipping company, The White Star Line, allows visitors to retrace the footsteps of the 123 passengers who boarded the Titanic here on its fateful journey to America. Afterwards you can stroll in peaceful reflection along the riverside walk in the park that contains Cork Museum.

Built in 1722 on a hill above the city, this church has a spectacular bell tower and distinctive Italianate architecture. It is said that a true Cork citizen must be born within the sound of Shandon Bells from St Anne’s Church. Visitors can scale the stairs inside the steeple walls to a parapet that has 360-degree views of the city. Moreover, it is possible to play the church’s eight bells with the assistance of sheet tune cards. Its clock tower is known as ‘the four-faced liar’ because each face shows a different time when high winds interfere with the wooden clock hands.

This deconsecrated church, now popular as a gay wedding venue, is also an innovative arts centre. A real community success, there are concerts in the church and gigs in the onsite café, plus film screenings, theatre productions and a number of art exhibitions.

Don’t miss the café, Gulp’d, with a brilliant menu of good coffee, cakes and light lunches, owned by music entrepreneur Jimmy Horgan. His cooler-than-cool record store, Plug’d, can be found upstairs.