Cork

:For other uses of Cork, see Cork (disambiguation). Cork City redirects here, for the football club, see Cork City FC

Places of interest

There are two cathedrals in the city:

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• St Mary's Cathedral
• St Finbarre's Cathedral.

The modern Cork Opera House is one of the few such venues in Ireland.

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Cork city in general boasts some fabulous architecture, capable of rivalling that of Dublin or Belfast. The main street, Patrick Street, was remodelled in the years up to 2004. As the main shopping street, it boasts striking buildings along its broad avenue (much of which is given to pedestrian use). Grand Parade, another part of the route, is a tree-lined avenue, home to many offices and financial institutions. The old financial centre, is the South Mall with several banks whose interior derive from the 19th century, and are very deserving of a visit, particularly Allied Irish Banks which was once an exchange. Many of its buildings are in the Georgian style, although the modern County Hall tower is the tallest building in Ireland. Across the river is Ireland's longest building, the Mental Hospital built in Victorian times.

Related Topics:
Dublin - Belfast - 2004 - 19th century - Allied Irish Banks - Georgian style - Victorian

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Cork's most famous building, also accessible to the public, is the church tower of Shandon dominating the North side of the city, with the North and East sides faced in red sandstone, and the West and South sides in the predominant stone of the region, white limestone. The clock tower on the church is known by locals as The Four-faced Liar, as from the base of the building, each clock face appears to show a different time. The bells of Shandon may be rung by members of the public.

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The City Hall, another splendid building of limestone, replaced the previous one destroyed in the burning of Cork in the "troubles" of 1920/21. The cost of this new building was provided by the British Government in the 1930s as a gesture of reconciliation.

Related Topics:
1920 - 21 - 1930s

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Fitzgerald's Park, to the west of the city, is worth a visit — as are the grounds of University College Cork, through which the River Lee flows.

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The English Market, accessible from Grand Parade, Patrick Street, Oliver Plunkett Street and Princes Street, is a covered market for fish, fruit, meat, spices and luxury foods. The origins of the market can be traced back to 1610, but the present building dates from 1786.

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The cross-continent European walking route E8 trail starts at Cork, ending 4700km away in Istanbul, Turkey.

Related Topics:
European walking route E8 - Istanbul - Turkey

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