Best and Worst Towns in County Cork

staker · 23-03-2011 11:19pm

Can you say why JP?

Willlow · 24-03-2011 2:19pm

Buttavent is getting bad doing. Anyone remember the soap Soupy Norman that was set there, will all the high rise buildings in the opening shots?

JP Liz V1 · 24-03-2011 2:49pm

staker wrote: »

Can you say why JP?

http://www.corkman.ie/premium/news/arsenal-of-weapons-found-in-charleville-2592942.html

Clareboy · 24-03-2011 5:00pm

As a frequent visitor to Co. Cork, I have to say that it has some of the most attractive towns and villages in Ireland. Towns such as Cobh, Kinsale, Clonakilty, Bantry and Glengarriff have an almost continental atmosphere. I love Ross Carbury, Baltimore, Skull, and so many other idyllic towns and villages in Cork. You have a county to be proud of!

Cork Boy · 15-05-2011 10:26pm

My take on Bandon...

In the 90's Bandon was dog rough when a certain same 20 or so locals were in their early 20's or late teens... bandon people know who I'm talking about.

To this day Bandon still has it's fair share of undesirables just like any other town but they seem to have quitened down big time now for some reason. Also, as a previous poster pointed out, at least half the fights I've seen always involve people from neighbouring villages such as Kilbrittan, Crossbarry,
and Newcestown. Same goes for Clon which like Bandon has a fair share of skobes but at least half the fights involve the above parishes.

As a daytime down it has come on leaps and bounds since the Celtic Tiger. Both quays got a massive facelift though the minor quay has been undone with albeit highwalls for flood defence. Needs must. Also, the one way traffic system has been a major help, and there is never a shortage of parking. The shops are pretty decent for the most part, especially the two butchers!

Location wise it's near perfect being so close to cork city and west cork, the beaches only being a half hour drive away.

Overall as a town to settle down in it's not the best but far from the worst. I'd probably give it 7 out of 10.

To those who get bad vibes in pubs, you should try other pubs, the ratio of skobe pubs to non skobe pubs is about 50/50. With regards the nightclub, it's the only nightclub and latebar in a huge radius so unfortunately yes, it is a dive full of scum. The 80's room is actually pretty decent though!

rockyb23 · 16-05-2011 1:40pm

just moved to bandon a while back (originally from Wicklow), my gf is from west Cork and always said the name of the town with a shudder due its rep.

Have to say it seems like a grand town daytime-wise anyway, nice walking, decent shopping, decent food, handy for city/beach/rest of west Cork... rent is reasonable, amenities are pretty good.

Don't go out at night as we have a smallie so no idea what the pubs are like (tend to go out in city when I do have a visa) but interesting to read above post too...

We'd all love to live in Clon but the commute is a bitch...

Balmed Out · 17-05-2011 10:04pm

bandon isnt the worst.

I moved to clon a few years ago and commute was tough to get used to but dont mind now. Bandon is a grand spot during the day, wouldnt have as many good restraunts / pubs etc as clon though and it is far rougher at night. Think most people who go out for any other reason then get hammered go to clon or to cork.

V480 · 25-05-2011 4:21pm

Passage West :mad:

DaithiOGormain · 15-10-2011 10:52pm

Co. Cork is absolute heaven compared to where I'm from, Co. Antrim. I have spent a fair bit of time in Cork, and I absolutely love Clonakilty, Leap, Unionhall/Keelbeg, Innishannon, Castletownshend, Schull, Rosscarbery, Castletownbere, Cobh, Glandore and Kinsale. Skibbereen is nice enough. I don't really like Drinagh, Drimoleague, Dunmanway, Bandon, Bantry, Mallow, Midleton, Macroom, Carrigaline or Ballincollig. Cork city is really good compared to Belfast in terms of the atmosphere and people, but there isn't as much shopping. (Merchant's Quay or Mahon Point shopping centres don't in any way compare to Victoria Square, Junction One or The Outlet) I have spent most of my Cork time in Leap, and it is absolutely gorgeous and so rural compared to my urban/suburban loyalist paramilitary stricken town(Carrickfergus). I also have stayed with relatives in Innishannon and Cork city.

V480 · 16-10-2011 12:00am

DaithiOGormain wrote: »

Co. Cork is absolute heaven compared to where I'm from, Co. Antrim. I have spent a fair bit of time in Cork, and I absolutely love Clonakilty, Leap, Unionhall/Keelbeg, Innishannon, Castletownshend, Schull, Rosscarbery, Castletownbere, Cobh, Glandore and Kinsale. Skibbereen is nice enough. I don't really like Drinagh, Drimoleague, Dunmanway, Bandon, Bantry, Mallow, Midleton, Macroom, Carrigaline or Ballincollig. Cork city is really good compared to Belfast in terms of the atmosphere and people, but there isn't as much shopping. (Merchant's Quay or Mahon Point shopping centres don't in any way compare to Victoria Square, Junction One or The Outlet) I have spent most of my Cork time in Leap, and it is absolutely gorgeous and so rural compared to my urban/suburban loyalist paramilitary stricken town(Carrickfergus). I also have stayed with relatives in Innishannon and Cork city.

It's funny you say that because I was talking to a friend of mine who visited Belfast recently and he said that Belfast people were far friendlier than in Dublin or even Cork and that it was generally a much nicer city.

I always hated Cork city growing up here but having had the mispleasure of living in Carlow town and parts of Wexford/Wicklow recently I certainly appreciate the place alot more since I moved back.

partyguinness · 16-10-2011 12:38pm

DaithiOGormain wrote: »

Co. Cork is absolute heaven compared to where I'm from, Co. Antrim. I have spent a fair bit of time in Cork, and I absolutely love Clonakilty, Leap, Unionhall/Keelbeg, Innishannon, Castletownshend, Schull, Rosscarbery, Castletownbere, Cobh, Glandore and Kinsale. Skibbereen is nice enough. I don't really like Drinagh, Drimoleague, Dunmanway, Bandon, Bantry, Mallow, Midleton, Macroom, Carrigaline or Ballincollig. Cork city is really good compared to Belfast in terms of the atmosphere and people, but there isn't as much shopping. (Merchant's Quay or Mahon Point shopping centres don't in any way compare to Victoria Square, Junction One or The Outlet) I have spent most of my Cork time in Leap, and it is absolutely gorgeous and so rural compared to my urban/suburban loyalist paramilitary stricken town(Carrickfergus). I also have stayed with relatives in Innishannon and Cork city.

I agree with all that except for Cobh which I think looks very grotty and run down which is a shame.

I grew up in Cork, went to college there, worked and lived there and now live abroad. While Corkcity is not very pretty and a lot of city centre areas need to be redeveloped, I have to say compared to other places there is a good buzz around and would love to move back.

Living in the UK for awhile, bloody hell it's grim over here. Gotham city...just an urban wasteland.

Every place looks the exact same with the exact same shops and exact same coffee houses everywhere. I fear that Irish towns are turning the same way

Tauriel · 16-10-2011 7:40pm

Carrigaline is the worst imo

smackbunnybaby · 17-10-2011 11:30am

mustang shelly wrote: »

Carrigaline is the worst imo

How so?

Tauriel · 17-10-2011 6:49pm

smackbunnybaby wrote: »

How so?

Just hate everything about it. Hopefully one day I'll get the hell outta Carrigaline and never come back

Straight Talker · 18-10-2011 1:07pm

DaithiOGormain wrote: »

Co. Cork is absolute heaven compared to where I'm from, Co. Antrim. I have spent a fair bit of time in Cork, and I absolutely love Clonakilty, Leap, Unionhall/Keelbeg, Innishannon, Castletownshend, Schull, Rosscarbery, Castletownbere, Cobh, Glandore and Kinsale. Skibbereen is nice enough. I don't really like Drinagh, Drimoleague, Dunmanway, Bandon, Bantry, Mallow, Midleton, Macroom, Carrigaline or Ballincollig. Cork city is really good compared to Belfast in terms of the atmosphere and people, but there isn't as much shopping. (Merchant's Quay or Mahon Point shopping centres don't in any way compare to Victoria Square, Junction One or The Outlet) I have spent most of my Cork time in Leap, and it is absolutely gorgeous and so rural compared to my urban/suburban loyalist paramilitary stricken town(Carrickfergus). I also have stayed with relatives in Innishannon and Cork city.

Yeah the shopping could be improved but Cork is a city with so much heart and character compared to Dublin and Belfast.For some reason i just think that Belfast has a very weird vibe to it.

Straight Talker · 18-10-2011 1:09pm

V480 wrote: »

It's funny you say that because I was talking to a friend of mine who visited Belfast recently and he said that Belfast people were far friendlier than in Dublin or even Cork and that it was generally a much nicer city.

I always hated Cork city growing up here but having had the mispleasure of living in Carlow town and parts of Wexford/Wicklow recently I certainly appreciate the place alot more since I moved back.

Nah Cork is irelands nicest and most scenic city.

partyguinness · 18-10-2011 8:53pm

Straight Talker wrote: »

Yeah the shopping could be improved but Cork is a city with so much heart and character compared to Dublin and Belfast.For some reason i just think that Belfast has a very weird vibe to it.

I hear you on the weird vibe...I have felt the same...bit of a twlight zone feel to the place.

I think it stems from the culture clash....one minute it feels like Ireland and the next you are sharply reminded that UK influence is all around. It sits across two cultures....it's a cross between a tradtional Irish town/city and a dirty charmless industrial UK city like Glasgow or Birmingham.

RoyMcC · 18-10-2011 10:14pm

partyguinness wrote: »

a dirty charmless industrial UK city like Glasgow or Birmingham.

Oi, Birmingham's a great city - culture, sport, shopping and the rest. Many Irish, including my Cork-born parents, have settled there over the years and are proud to be part of the Brummie community.

Anyway, off-topic. At least Dunmanway's being left alone in all this :pac:

who the fug · 18-10-2011 10:51pm

RoyMcC wrote: »

Oi, Birmingham's a great city - culture, sport, shopping and the rest. Many Irish, including my Cork-born parents, have settled there over the years and are proud to be part of the Brummie community.

Anyway, off-topic. At least Dunmanway's bDeing left alone in all this :pac:

Dunmanway / Birmingham

never meet anyone who admitted coming from either place, so they do have that in common

Keith in cork · 20-10-2011 3:16pm

My word what a thread of shame.

Firstly, since this thread began in 2008, my views have changed massively.

My favourite towns would be,

Over-all. Ballincollig. Fantastic buzz about the place, plenty of selection no matter what it is you want and just seems to have a friendlier vibe of late.

Summer, kinsale. Again wicked buzz both daytime and night-time during the summer. But unless your eating or drinking theres very little to do after your first walk through the town to see the sights and your first trip out to the fort etc. The one constant though, for me, is the little "private" beach behind the dock bar. Its nie @ 12/3 am for a sit down, chat or alone to relax and think.

I was never a big fan of clon. Sure when you go out for beers its great but other than that its dull and boring.

Dumanway on the sunniest day of the year just always feels dull, glum and makes me depressed. I dont like the atmosphere there, either day or night.

Skibbereen is a great town IMO. You just get an electric feeling when your in the town due to the hustle and bustle by day or the relaxed feel at night.

Bantry, by day is a town of nothing for me. I'm impartial to all things bantry. At dusk, it just feels dirty and trampish.

Mallow is a rough town for me But not a patch on cobh for scummers. My god that place is full of filth. Some great sights, but its just a dirty town. I've lived happily in some undesireable areas of cork, dublin, galway and limerick, but i watch everything when i'm in cobh. Even walking around on a saturday is just volitile for one reason or another.

Charleville and buttevant. While theres some new stuff, and they try it just seems like time forgot these guys.

I personally think bandon is a fine town. For the latter 90's and early 2000's by night it was a kip. Now, like most towns it has its good pubs, its dull quite pubs and its bloody rough gaffs. The town by day is busy yet peaceful if that makes sense. Theres enough of shops/businesses to get you by on anything you would want but if it was clothes shopping or electronics i'd be off to mahon point / city/ a harvey normans etc.

As for scum population, it has subsided somewhat. I know this as for the early 00's i hung out in those circles. Now i don't and i notice 90% of the folk i rolled with and those i'd have known to be a bit rough, all grew up and grew out of it.Saying that, there is and will always be a minority.

As for "where would i choose to live"? I'll stick with bandon. No matter where you go you'll just find the same. The same "ah theres nothing here", some amount of rough people, same lack of pubs, same boring old hometown. No matter where you go, people frequent the places they prefer. Thats why we all have our own "local" pub / shops etc and you just stop noticing the bad stuff as i think, as bad as the outside views it, its actually nothing unusual for ireland in the current era.

I can bet safely, if we all sat in a room chatting, and not internet hiding behind a screen where our views are written in a more pronounced way, the stories we'd tell of our own towns would all match up. For example, people incl myself say kinsale is the favourite town. But i can vouch for the fact that there are some very nasty and troublesome folk in kinsale, much like bandon, much like clon, skibb, bantry, ballincollig.
I bet we all have our main pub, our sometimes pub and our rarely pub. We also have our NEVER NEVER EVER pub. We all have our shops we visit and then complain that there nothing in the town. But if i came to your town, was stuck for an item you'd be able to tell me exactly the shop to get said item. Problem and difference being is i'd be able to get the item, but have no choice i.e they'd have one type and one only where-as the city would have 10 choices be it brand/colour/style/price.

At the end of the day, Home is where you make it and if your any good you'll make the best of any situation.

partyguinness · 20-10-2011 7:11pm

RoyMcC wrote: »

Oi, Birmingham's a great city - culture, sport, shopping and the rest. Many Irish, including my Cork-born parents, have settled there over the years and are proud to be part of the Brummie community.

Anyway, off-topic. At least Dunmanway's being left alone in all this :pac:

Been living in Brum for the past 18 months...most of the Irish (not many left) I have met are middle aged up to old aged with a fair sprinkling of Travellers amongest them....we will just have to disagree on that one...:)

But yeah Dunmanway is grim.

who the fug · 20-10-2011 7:33pm

partyguinness wrote: »

Been living in Brum for the past 18 months...e...:)

But yeah Dunmanway is grim.

Still better than that over priced dump Kinsale

RoyMcC · 21-10-2011 8:21am

who the fug wrote: »

Still better than that over priced dump Kinsale

Why a dump?

What is overpriced?

Genuinely interested as my impressions of Kinsale have always been favourable.

Keith in cork · 21-10-2011 5:49pm

RoyMcC wrote: »

Why a dump?

What is overpriced?

Genuinely interested as my impressions of Kinsale have always been favourable.

Kinsale has an over-inflated price bracket, be it dining, rent, house prices etc etc etc.

who the fug · 21-10-2011 10:20pm

RoyMcC wrote: »

Why a dump?

What is overpriced?

Genuinely interested as my impressions of Kinsale have always been favourable.

tourist trap D4 dump, always has always will be, any town that stands by whilst the old head is made into a gollf course :mad:

RoyMcC · 21-10-2011 11:02pm

who the fug wrote: »

tourist trap D4 dump, always has always will be, any town that stands by whilst the old head is made into a gollf course :mad:

But you can't just dismiss James Fort, Charles Fort, the incredibly historic church & cemetery, The Spaniard for a drink and a bite, the whole harbour ambience. Sure, it's got its share of tat for tourists but you've gotta look beyond that.

Agree about the Old Head :mad: but I'm not sure you can blame the town for that.

Keith in cork · 22-10-2011 1:06am

RoyMcC wrote: »

But you can't just dismiss James Fort, Charles Fort, the incredibly historic church & cemetery, The Spaniard for a drink and a bite, the whole harbour ambience. Sure, it's got its share of tat for tourists but you've gotta look beyond that.

Agree about the Old Head :mad: but I'm not sure you can blame the town for that.

I'll agree here. Sure its very tourism focused but its a real gem.

On the Old head issue, I'd like to know what your issue with it is, because as far as i'm concerned Its probably stood to kinsale in the region of millions of added revenue for the town over the years. This and the fact it is an employer to 5 direct friends of mine at this moment. Prob 20 in the past 10yrs And we're not from the town. I'd hate to guesstimate the employment it has served for the local community down through the years because i'd fall well short i bet.

The knock on effect of the golf club is, the people it brings in locally, the tourism, the jobs but then further more to this is the revenue it creates for other business' in the town either directly or indirectly, the money they pay out to say veg suppliers, meat suppliers etc etc etc for the club restaurant. The list goes on. For me its a hell of alot more positive than your giving it credit for.

I assume your issue is with the now lack of access to a sight, which is located in a town you dispise in anycase so would rarely visit?

RoyMcC · 22-10-2011 9:45am

Fair comment on the Old Head, Keith. It's an aspect not usually considered. It's the intractibility of the owners in not allowing limited access to what is a renown and historic beauty spot that annoys many.

Keith in cork · 22-10-2011 11:32am

RoyMcC wrote: »

Fair comment on the Old Head, Keith. It's an aspect not usually considered. It's the intractibility of the owners in not allowing limited access to what is a renown and historic beauty spot that annoys many.

I'd imagine there'd be a bit more movement on the issue if people didn't act like lemmings when they got up there and chucking themselves over the edge.

Jack53 · 02-06-2018 1:38am

Keith in cork wrote: »

My word what a thread of shame.

Firstly, since this thread began in 2008, my views have changed massively.

My favourite towns would be,

Over-all. Ballincollig. Fantastic buzz about the place, plenty of selection no matter what it is you want and just seems to have a friendlier vibe of late.

Summer, kinsale. Again wicked buzz both daytime and night-time during the summer. But unless your eating or drinking theres very little to do after your first walk through the town to see the sights and your first trip out to the fort etc. The one constant though, for me, is the little "private" beach behind the dock bar. Its nie @ 12/3 am for a sit down, chat or alone to relax and think.

I was never a big fan of clon. Sure when you go out for beers its great but other than that its dull and boring.

Dumanway on the sunniest day of the year just always feels dull, glum and makes me depressed. I dont like the atmosphere there, either day or night.

Skibbereen is a great town IMO. You just get an electric feeling when your in the town due to the hustle and bustle by day or the relaxed feel at night.

Bantry, by day is a town of nothing for me. I'm impartial to all things bantry. At dusk, it just feels dirty and trampish.

Mallow is a rough town for me But not a patch on cobh for scummers. My god that place is full of filth. Some great sights, but its just a dirty town. I've lived happily in some undesireable areas of cork, dublin, galway and limerick, but i watch everything when i'm in cobh. Even walking around on a saturday is just volitile for one reason or another.

Charleville and buttevant. While theres some new stuff, and they try it just seems like time forgot these guys.

I personally think bandon is a fine town. For the latter 90's and early 2000's by night it was a kip. Now, like most towns it has its good pubs, its dull quite pubs and its bloody rough gaffs. The town by day is busy yet peaceful if that makes sense. Theres enough of shops/businesses to get you by on anything you would want but if it was clothes shopping or electronics i'd be off to mahon point / city/ a harvey normans etc.

As for scum population, it has subsided somewhat. I know this as for the early 00's i hung out in those circles. Now i don't and i notice 90% of the folk i rolled with and those i'd have known to be a bit rough, all grew up and grew out of it.Saying that, there is and will always be a minority.

As for "where would i choose to live"? I'll stick with bandon. No matter where you go you'll just find the same. The same "ah theres nothing here", some amount of rough people, same lack of pubs, same boring old hometown. No matter where you go, people frequent the places they prefer. Thats why we all have our own "local" pub / shops etc and you just stop noticing the bad stuff as i think, as bad as the outside views it, its actually nothing unusual for ireland in the current era.

I can bet safely, if we all sat in a room chatting, and not internet hiding behind a screen where our views are written in a more pronounced way, the stories we'd tell of our own towns would all match up. For example, people incl myself say kinsale is the favourite town. But i can vouch for the fact that there are some very nasty and troublesome folk in kinsale, much like bandon, much like clon, skibb, bantry, ballincollig.
I bet we all have our main pub, our sometimes pub and our rarely pub. We also have our NEVER NEVER EVER pub. We all have our shops we visit and then complain that there nothing in the town. But if i came to your town, was stuck for an item you'd be able to tell me exactly the shop to get said item. Problem and difference being is i'd be able to get the item, but have no choice i.e they'd have one type and one only where-as the city would have 10 choices be it brand/colour/style/price.

At the end of the day, Home is where you make it and if your any good you'll make the best of any situation.

What abou ballydehob ? Resurrecting an old thread . What’s the opinions in 2018

Roger Hassenforder · 02-06-2018 9:44am

Ballydehob and Schull are similar enough off season, Schull might shade it socially/culturally. I like them both. Schull gets a more "nautical" crowd in summer.

whisky_galore · 05-06-2018 11:00am

Youghal - should be better with a seafront and historic associations and buildings but isn't.

Mallow, Dunmanway - both dull and gloomy with little to offer the visitor.

Cobh - great history and buildings, but a proportion of the population needs to be liquidated.

Drimoleague - closed pubs/shops, dereliction.

Millstreet - got the Eurovision in 1993 and hasn't stopped blowing about it since.

Macroom - choked with traffic at the best of times.

Dakota Dan · 05-06-2018 11:05am

whisky_galore wrote: »

Youghal - should be better with a seafront and historic associations and buildings but isn't.

Mallow, Dunmanway - both dull and gloomy with little to offer the visitor.

Cobh - great history and buildings, but a proportion of the population needs to be liquidated.

Drimoleague - closed pubs/shops, dereliction.

Millstreet - got the Eurovision in 1993 and hasn't stopped blowing about it since.

Macroom - choked with traffic at the best of times.

There's plenty to do in Mallow unless you expect the locals to show you the minute you arrive.

Jack53 · 05-06-2018 11:18am

whisky_galore wrote: »

Youghal - should be better with a seafront and historic associations and buildings but isn't.

Mallow, Dunmanway - both dull and gloomy with little to offer the visitor.

Cobh - great history and buildings, but a proportion of the population needs to be liquidated.

Drimoleague - closed pubs/shops, dereliction.

Millstreet - got the Eurovision in 1993 and hasn't stopped blowing about it since.

Macroom - choked with traffic at the best of times.

what about ballydehob, skib, or blarney? or around that area

whisky_galore · 05-06-2018 11:26am

Jack53 wrote: »

what about ballydehob, skib, or blarney? or around that area

Ballydehob I like, some locals commented that may have overtaken Schull by now.

Skibb - nice town, has a good vibe about it, thought their museum was a tad overpriced for what it was though.

Blarney - One trick tourist town, castle and gardens are nice but castle is way overrated (and expensive)

whisky_galore · 05-06-2018 11:28am

Dakota Dan wrote: »

There's plenty to do in Mallow unless you expect the locals to show you the minute you arrive.

tbf I wouldn't want to approach some of the locals. For anything.

Dakota Dan · 05-06-2018 11:39am

whisky_galore wrote: »

tbf I wouldn't want to approach some of the locals. For anything.

So tell us where's this heavenly town that you live in?

whisky_galore · 05-06-2018 12:15pm

Dakota Dan wrote: »

So tell us where's this heavenly town that you live in?

Not from a town.

So tell us all the many things Mallow has to offer?

Roger Hassenforder · 05-06-2018 8:33pm

whisky_galore wrote: »

Not from a town.

So tell us all the many things Mallow has to offer?

Alberts
Chasers (with the mannequins...)

The Crowman · 06-06-2018 7:44pm

Drawing Dead wrote: »

best - glengarriff

worst - drimoleague

Repped on Drimoleague. Its just a mini Dunmanway

Roger Hassenforder · 06-06-2018 8:43pm

The Crowman wrote: »

Repped on Drimoleague. Its just a mini Dunmanway

Dunmanway is depressing.
Its a marshy bog with a mean main street and misshapen square.

Drimoleague can be senic in certain light.

Thread is hillarious. Just read the whole lot.

Im going to nail my colours to the mast.
Worst town/village in Cork: Mogeely.

Nicest town/village: Eyeries or Castletownsend. Honourable mention to Glanworth and their epic little bridge.

partyguinness · 12-06-2018 10:29pm

I moved away from Cork county 10 years ago having grown up there but this is my lasting impression which may well be out of date:

Dunmanway-grim grim grim
Bandon- had a dog rough reputation in the 90s and the Guards were a notorious bunch of bastards
Cobh- rough as ****
Kinsale- nice
Mallow- rough
Clonakility- great nightlife
Bantry- grim
Youghal- grim
Maroom- rough reputation in the 90s but seems to have lost that as the scumbags moved away or killed themselves
Carrigaline- just a big housing estate tagged on to the City
Ballincollig- same as Carrigaline

To be fair, I have actually found that Irish towns have improved immensely since the crash in 2008 on my trips back.

booksale · 17-06-2018 10:08pm

I am also reading threads about towns in county Cork.

Anyone can comment about Mitchelstown? Thinking to get a property there as property price is very reasonable. We have small kids. Is it a nice town to raise young children? Is it a welcoming town for non Irish people?

We are also considering macroom and mallow. But it seems to me that Mitchelstown is more attractive for its scenes in the surroundings. Well all I read is that it’s offering good food, good cycling trails, scenes, Mitchelstowncave, music festival and commutable distance to cork city, limerick city etc.

Would love to hear recent opinions about these three towns : mitchelstown, macroom and mallow, esp mitchelstown.

Roger Hassenforder · 17-06-2018 10:42pm

booksale wrote: »

I am also reading threads about towns in county Cork.

Anyone can comment about Mitchelstown? Thinking to get a property there as property price is very reasonable. We have small kids. Is it a nice town to raise young children? Is it a welcoming town for non Irish people?

We are also considering macroom and mallow. But it seems to me that Mitchelstown is more attractive for its scenes in the surroundings. Well all I read is that it’s offering good food, good cycling trails, scenes, Mitchelstowncave, music festival and commutable distance to cork city, limerick city etc.

Would love to hear recent opinions about these three towns : mitchelstown, macroom and mallow, esp mitchelstown.

Dont know any of them very well, but of the three, I'd go Macroom. Theres something a bit more cosmopolitan about it, and thats saying something. (Id prefer Mallow to Mitchelstown).
Mitchelstown would be more "pastoral", less "bucolic".

Its (Macroom) about to be bypassed as well, so could make for pleasant living, and even closer to Cork. Not too far from Ballincollig either. In summer you could commute by bike if bikes are your thing, with Killarney 30min the other way.

.red. · 18-06-2018 7:47am

Roger Hassenforder wrote: »

Dont know any of them very well, but of the three, I'd go Macroom. Theres something a bit more cosmopolitan about it, and thats saying something. (Id prefer Mallow to Mitchelstown).
Mitchelstown would be more "pastoral", less "bucolic".

Its (Macroom) about to be bypassed as well, so could make for pleasant living, and even closer to Cork. Not too far from Ballincollig either. In summer you could commute by bike if bikes are your thing, with Killarney 30min the other way.

Macroom is very close to me but I don't use it a lot. It's got everything you need but is a horrible bottleneck, and can be at any time of the day.
It's about to be bypassed, but this is happening almost 20 years, it's due to start in 2020 and take 3 years but I've a feeling it'll be closer to 2030 before the road opens, if it ever even gets started.
For commuting to the city I'd avoid it unless the house is on the city side.
Lovely town with good facilities but the traffic really does keep people away.

Danger781 · 19-07-2020 10:01am

Stumbled across this thread as we're trying to decide where we want to live and wanted to resurrect this thread and see 2020 opinions!

A lot of hate towards Dunmanway in this thread. I personally think Dunmanway is OK as far as country towns go. We're out there frequently enough visiting family and never got a bad vibe from the place. That being said I've never been drinking there either.

Bandon had a lot of mixed reviews. Some were quite positive about the shopping experience there but I've never seen anything to warrant that positivity. Every time I drive through there I just see abandoned buildings, empty storefronts, and a drab grey color scheme throughout the town. I think it looks like a town that the rest of the county forgot about, like it's still stuck in the recession. Were those positive comments back when Heaton's used to be there?

Saw a lot of negativity towards Mallow as well. Only stopped there a handful of times myself and always thought it was a bit of an odd town. Couldn't see myself living there.

I also really don't like Carrigaline. I've only been there a couple of times and thought it has absolutely no redeeming qualities. Strange vibe about the place as well. We went to look at a house there and both couldn't wait to leave and vowed to not return!

--

Nicest towns for me have to be Ballincollig, Kinsale and Clonakilty. Ballincollig has so much greenery and a welcoming vibe as you drive in from the city side. Clonakilty seems like a bit of a hipster town without being pretentious. There's not many nicer towns than Kinsale on a nice summer day.

Quite like Douglas as well for amenities and quality of living. Everything on your doorstep. It's a bit too busy / built-up though.

Kinda like Innishannon too. I know there's not much there and traffic will be a bitch, but it just seems like a nice little village to live.

Jack53 · 19-07-2020 12:55pm

Seemingly from all the newspapers they are reporting that there is a huge interest in West cork at the moment. People that are working from home don’t want to be stuck in small places in cities.
I recently bought a place in Skibbereen - lovely town.
But, I hope I’m not stepping on anyone’s toes when I say this but my next car I will try and get a c reg car. I find that I am never waved out of a junction, am expected to reverse on a narrow road. All because I’ve a d reg. It’s not in my head ,when I take my husband c reg it’s a whole different experience. I never mentioned it to him previously but he said the same other day out of the blue. Do Cork people not like the blow-ins ?

partyguinness · 20-07-2020 9:35am

Danger781 wrote: »

Stumbled across this thread as we're trying to decide where we want to live and wanted to resurrect this thread and see 2020 opinions!

A lot of hate towards Dunmanway in this thread. I personally think Dunmanway is OK as far as country towns go. We're out there frequently enough visiting family and never got a bad vibe from the place. That being said I've never been drinking there either.

Bandon had a lot of mixed reviews. Some were quite positive about the shopping experience there but I've never seen anything to warrant that positivity. Every time I drive through there I just see abandoned buildings, empty storefronts, and a drab grey color scheme throughout the town. I think it looks like a town that the rest of the county forgot about, like it's still stuck in the recession. Were those positive comments back when Heaton's used to be there?

Saw a lot of negativity towards Mallow as well. Only stopped there a handful of times myself and always thought it was a bit of an odd town. Couldn't see myself living there.

I also really don't like Carrigaline. I've only been there a couple of times and thought it has absolutely no redeeming qualities. Strange vibe about the place as well. We went to look at a house there and both couldn't wait to leave and vowed to not return!

--

Nicest towns for me have to be Ballincollig, Kinsale and Clonakilty. Ballincollig has so much greenery and a welcoming vibe as you drive in from the city side. Clonakilty seems like a bit of a hipster town without being pretentious. There's not many nicer towns than Kinsale on a nice summer day.

Quite like Douglas as well for amenities and quality of living. Everything on your doorstep. It's a bit too busy / built-up though.

Kinda like Innishannon too. I know there's not much there and traffic will be a bitch, but it just seems like a nice little village to live.

I know in the mid 90s Bandon and Dunmanway had a rubbish reputation. Bandon being by far the worse and generally a 'no go' area at the weekends with fights and drugs. The Guards from Bandon are notorious ****.

Problem with the likes of Ballincollig and Carrigaline is that you get a spill over of scumbags from the City who relocate there and bring all the crap with them.

Can't go wrong with Clonakility or Kinsale.

partyguinness · 20-07-2020 9:37am

.red. wrote: »

Macroom is very close to me but I don't use it a lot. It's got everything you need but is a horrible bottleneck, and can be at any time of the day.
It's about to be bypassed, but this is happening almost 20 years, it's due to start in 2020 and take 3 years but I've a feeling it'll be closer to 2030 before the road opens, if it ever even gets started.
For commuting to the city I'd avoid it unless the house is on the city side.
Lovely town with good facilities but the traffic really does keep people away.

I actually drove through Macroom recently for the first time in years and TBH I was shocked at how grubby and dilapidated it looked.

Balmed Out · 20-07-2020 8:55pm

Jack53 wrote: »

Seemingly from all the newspapers they are reporting that there is a huge interest in West cork at the moment. People that are working from home don’t want to be stuck in small places in cities.
I recently bought a place in Skibbereen - lovely town.
But, I hope I’m not stepping on anyone’s toes when I say this but my next car I will try and get a c reg car. I find that I am never waved out of a junction, am expected to reverse on a narrow road. All because I’ve a d reg. It’s not in my head ,when I take my husband c reg it’s a whole different experience. I never mentioned it to him previously but he said the same other day out of the blue. Do Cork people not like the blow-ins ?

Live in Clonakilty, have driven C, D and G reg cars and never noticed anything like that, could it be the model of car?, perhaps people have preconceptions of audi drivers etc.

Best and Worst Towns in County Cork

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