Where would you bring a visitor to Cork?

dory

Hello people.
I have a friend coming from Russia. She'll be in Cork for about 36 hours and I want to know where I should bring her. I think this is the best forum for asking that! I did read the sticky but I'd like people's first hand experiences if possible.

She doesn't drink, likes the outdoors and we don't want to spend too long in the car. She also doesn't like sad things so Titanic museum and possibly Cork Gaol might be out.

I was thinking of starting in Fota, then taking a stroll around Cobh. I'll have to show her around the city itself then. But does anyone have any further ideas? I'm thinking about the evening time too. I'd like to go somewhere that isn't all shut by 7pm. I think maybe small towns will stay open later than the city. Oh, and is there anywhere we could go for a view of the city?
Also, how long would it take to drive to Kinsale (starting from the Kinsale Roundabout)??

Any suggestions would be very welcome. I've never hosted someone here before and I'm quite nervous! Cheers

sunnyside

Kinsale is only around half an hour away.

Evening go for a meal or to see a play at the Opera House or Everyman.

The Lough, Fitzgeralds Park, Shaky bridge, the Glucksman museum at UCC maybe.

Kazbah

Even if she doesn't drink nothing says Ireland like Trad music - try the Sin E, The Spailpin Fanach or The Bodhran. I'm sure there will be music in Kinsale as well. Shandon Steeple for a view I imagine. Could do the Butter Museum up there too. I'd skip Cobh and Fota. A wildlife park could be anywhere and the way things are going it will be raining. I like Blarney Castle but you need good weather too. You have to bring her to the English Market!

sunnyside

Kazbah wrote: »

. You have to bring her to the English Market!

Definitely, why didn't I thnk of that, bring her to the Farmgate upstairs for coffee or lunch.

CianDon

You could take her to a Cork City match at Turners Cross.

Bill-e

Maybe ya could check out Fota wildlife park on the way back from cobh.

C'mere how does one get a Russian girl for 36 hours?
Can you send one my way?

Abelloid

I'd do Fota, Blarney and Kinsale - all easily within an hour of the city.

Judes

I brought a friend to English market and Farmgate for coffee, showing off - sites of the city - when she sat down and said I can't eat here, I'm a vegetarian and my view is dead meat hanging up - I never really thought about that before, but so true.

I would go straight to Cobh for wander, (Skip the Heritage Centre if you don't want to view history of immigration/Titanic) lots of lovely places to eat there now. And Fota isn't like a wildlife park "anywhere" I bring my friends from all over the world there and they are enthralled that is so close to the city and the animals are in such a lovely free environment. You don't get that everywhere else.

There's Fitzgerald's Park in the City with Cork museum. The Crawford Gallery is a lovely place to wander and you could have lunch there too.

The Imperial for coffee, as it's such a quaint old place with those lovely ceilings - infact, more like a Russian Tea Room.

Shandon and the Butter Exchange - OK skip the Cork Gaol.

But you don't have to go far these days to see a lot - infact the Road to Cobh just past Fota - castle ruin, old round tower - so you'll see a "bit of Ireland" everywhere you go.

And the pubs playing Irish Music - you have to show a bit of trad to the visitors.

Have fun!

run_Forrest_run

I would take them to the bus station and buy them a ticket to Kilkenny

dory

Thanks everyone for the suggestions!!
See, I have another restraint in that she's pregnant. So, althought I would love to bring her to a pub for some ceol, chances are she'll be worried of someone drunking jigging into her bump!

I'll have to try out Kinsale so. Too many people suggested it to ignore it!

Funsterdelux

Go to the Butter Museum!

Kazbah

Am I the only one then that thinks Cobh is a kip?

Funsterdelux

Kazbah wrote: »

Am I the only one then that thinks Cobh is a kip?

No you're not the only one. I wasn't impressed with it the first time I visited there.

Gunth

It is a kip. QED.

Judes

Kazbah - I live in Cobh and I love it!

My friends from all over the world stay with me in Cobh and love the place. Every time a cruise ship comes into the harbour, there is an incredible buzz - and we have had several festivals this summer, market stalls etc.

Cobh is a heritage town, it is near Fota, the beaches of East Cork, there are golf courses nearby, rugby, football, GAA - a new community centre. The Haulbowline Theatre Group perform every few months. The Sirius Arts Centre holds regular exhibitions and Gigs. There is a new Art Gallery in Cobh, several harbour-side restaurants/bars. And a third supermarket will be opening shortly. Oh and another new restaurant opened last week.

So I for one would disagree with your comments on Cobh -every day I get home from work, I look at the view from my window and feel happy. I can stroll down the road sit in a harbour-side restaurant and enjoy my dinner whilst watching the ships sail by and totally chill. There are very few suburban areas in Cork where I would feel that.

Abelloid

Kazbah wrote: »

Am I the only one then that thinks Cobh is a kip?

Maybe it is, I really don't know.

...but on a 'kip scale' that covers the city and surrounding towns it probably ranks somewhere in the nicer half.

run_Forrest_run

going to a pub whilst being pregnant isn't as fraught with danger as you make it out to be! It's not as if all of us Irish punters in pubs are bouncing around like Michael Flatley jigging baboons.

dory

run_Forrest_run wrote: »

going to a pub whilst being pregnant isn't as fraught with danger as you make it out to be! It's not as if all of us Irish punters in pubs are bouncing around like Michael Flatley jigging baboons.

Ah I know. Just paranoid I guess. This is no time to be getting on the wrong side of Russia.
And I know Cobh well, I also do not think it is a kip. So I might as well pop along there for some coffee seeing as I'll be in Fota.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Bill-e

The only thing wrong with Cobh is the amount of scobies and teenage mothers. (Only kidding - kndof) When ever I meet a girl from Cobh I often joke about and say "Where's the pram?" However, I was caught out the last day when 2 of the 4 Cobh girls I had been introduced to, actually had unplanned pregnancies whhoooopsie
Oh and the sheer amount of ginger people... what's that all about?

Judes

After your wander around Fota head to The Watersedge Hotel, the bar food is lovely - or you can just go in for coffee/cake - and sit at the waterside out on the balcony. It's gorgeous there, when the sun shines. Also "The Quays" has a waterside beer garden to sit in - and if it rains, part of it is sheltered.

Also, if you're heading east this weekend - there's a Food Festival in Midleton, so should be a lovely carnival atmosphere there.

Enjoy your weekend when the sun shines, Cork can feel continental! J

parsi

Judes wrote: »

After your wander around Fota head to The Watersedge Hotel, the bar food is lovely - or you can just go in for coffee/cake - and sit at the waterside out on the balcony. It's gorgeous there, when the sun shines. Also "The Quays" has a waterside beer garden to sit in - and if it rains, part of it is sheltered.

Also, if you're heading east this weekend - there's a Food Festival in Midleton, so should be a lovely carnival atmosphere there.

Enjoy your weekend when the sun shines, Cork can feel continental! J

I prefer the Quays. The Waterside seems to be picky about using its outdoor space - "ooh you can't go out there, opening the door will cause a draught..."

GwayGal

run_Forrest_run wrote: »

I would take them to the bus station and buy them a ticket to Kilkenny

So would I, lol:D