Hello!
We will be traveling to Cork for our honeymoon, and would love a few recommendations! We will be in Cork for 3 nights at the end of May. We'd love to get a little bit of history, a lot of pubs, local meals, and enjoy our quick trip. I appreciate any help! We will be driving in from Shannon airport - open to any recommendations of stops along the way. Thank you!!
If you're interested in a prie fixe vegetarian meal, Paradiso is amaziing! We also enjoyed the Butter Museum, the English Market and just some wandering around.
We spent three nights in Cork last May and spent one day on a day trip to Cobh where we took a walking tour (called Titanic Walk), and went to the Titanic Experience and the Queenstown Story. The walk was not really about the Titanic or we would have overdosed. The train trip was short and pleasant.
The second day was spent trying to follow the self-guided walks ( https://www.corkcity.ie/en/things-to-do/parks-outdoors/cork-city-walks/ ) which was made difficult by the many missing way markers. The English Market was interesting, and the Butter Museum was delightful.
All three nights included being at Sin é for great trad sessions beginning at 6:30pm. Get there early for a good seat and don't sit in the corner booth in the back (or you'll get bounced by the musicians). Cork City subsidizes these sessions (http://www.theleesessions.com/index.php) and they move around on a weekly basis.
Depending on your flight times, you might have time to visit Bunratty Castle, the Hunt Museum and/or King John's Castle in Limerick, and Mallow Castle. There's also Blarney Castle and Gardens, although we've never been due to our dislike of crowds of tourists.
I agree with jjgurley re: Cobh day trip. Be sure to see the "playing card" houses. We probably spent half a day in Cobh. You can drive there, but the train follows the coastline more and is very easy and inexpensive. I imagine parking would be a challenge in May.
Blarney is much more than kissing the stone (which I did not do, although I did climb up with my friend). It's a huge place with several different garden areas. And it's on your way.
Goldie's is a "fin-to-gill" seafood restaurant that I quite enjoyed. Lovely atmosphere. Reservations required. Must love fish.
We also had a nice lunch (after our bus ride to Blarney) at the Farmgate Cafe, which is upstairs in the English Market. It's architecturally gorgeous and has very nice food. The English Market itself is a wonderful place to wander around and pick up picnic supplies (although you can't count on getting picnic weather there).
In Cork, you should try Murphy's or Beamish instead of Guinness. These are the local stouts. I referred Beamish's creamier flavor. I had several at Sin é, which was right around the corner from our accommodation. With a car, you'd definitely want to be north of the river, I think. There is a Residence Inn that likely has a parking garage.
In Ireland, you drink Guinness. In County Cork, you drink Murphy's. In Cork City you drink Beamish. That was explained very emphatically to me while listening to the music at Sin é.
We stayed at Gabriel House, which is 5 minutes from the railway station to Cobh. Parking is on a pretty steep private lot in front.
They provide a couple of dogs to pet on the patio, and serve a good breakfast and the rooms are stunning. And I'm a price shopper !
jjgurley--such great beer information. We may be living in Cork starting this year, so good to know what to order at the pub. Any cider recommendations?
