Cork Ireland

Located in the Southwest of Ireland, Cork is second largest city in the Republic of Ireland, after Dublin. It is a fun and vibrant area, named the European Capital of Culture in 2005. It has an active artistic community, with many galleries, wonderfully unique shops, and a large number of music venues, offering everything from traditional Irish music to the most avant-garde. It's a great place to stop either on your way to or from Blarney Castle.

For golfers, Cork Golf Club offers a wonderful opportunity to play a course that has played host to the Irish Open, Irish Professional Championships, Irish Close Championships, and the National Finals. It is located at Little Island, as is another enticing course, Harbour Pointe Golf Club. Also close by are the Bantry Bay Golf Club and the Bandon Golf Club, among many more.

For history buffs, Cork offers much. It was established in the 6th century as monastic settlement by St. Finbarr, and originally built on several islands. It soon became a wealthy center for learning, making it attractive to Norsemen and Vikings, who came to plunder. With the deepest natural harbor in Ireland, it was extremely valuable for trade and commerce. In the mid-1600s, Catholic and Protestants were battling as the turmoil over the crown in England intensified. In 1690, the Siege of Cork effectively destroyed the fort at Cork. Unfortunately, with that much war going on, little of the medieval city remains. The best surviving architecture is from the 19th century, with St. Finbarr's Cathedral, built in 1879, a stunning example.

For those interested in Ireland's nationalistic struggles, the Cork Public Museum offers an impressive display. Cork was one of the central sites for fighting in the Irish War of Independence. Cork City Gaol also offers a look at the lifestyles of 19th century Cork. It now houses a display of life-sized figures, sound effects, and an image presentation of the differing social histories and contrasting lifestyles of the time (and perhaps the reason some of the people there turned to crime).

Cork is also the site of a few Heritage Site of Ireland visitor opportunities. Barryscourt Castle, dating from the 15th and 16th century, has a fine exhibition showcasing the history of the Castle and of the Barry family, who held the castle from the 12th to the 17th centuries. Desmond Castle, or French Prison, was built as a custom house circa 1500 and now houses the International Museum of Wine. And Charles Fort, at Summer Cove, Kinsale, is a classic example of a 17th century star-shaped fort.

As you can see, a Cork offers a great deal to add to any vacation to Ireland.