Short Breaks in Cork, Ireland
Cork is a great place to visit and has ample accommodation from the more basic family owned bed and breakfast to the more luxurious five star Hayfield Manor Hotel which is only a ten minutes stroll into the city centre. Getting direct flights from Newcastle to Cork is easy by simply booking with Jet2 airlines who operate regular flights from Newcastle to Cork.
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and is the principal city of County Cork. The city’s name comes from the Irish word corcach which, means marshy place. The River Lee flows through the city into Lough Mahon, which creates one of the world’s biggest natural harbours. It is no surprise that Cork is a major seaport with quays and docks.
Originally founded by St Finbarr some time in the sixth century its charter was granted in 1185 by King John. Cork became an important trading port with the Scandinavians however this also attracted unwanted visitors such as Vikings and Norsemen who attacked Cork. The city was once fully walled and some of the wall remains today.
The climate in the Cork region is mild, moist and changeable with lots of rain however it does not usually face extreme temperatures and weather. Cork is a foggy city and has an average of around a hundred days of fog a year. Despite the fog Cork is also one of the sunniest cities in Ireland with an average of nearly four hours of sunshine every day.
Whilst visiting Cork for your short break you will find lots of things to do and see. The architecture in Cork is particularly impressive and you can see many of the beautiful buildings if you take a tour bus around the city. The most famous building is probably the Church Tower of Shandon, which dominates the north side of Cork. St Patrick’s Street is a pedestrian friendly route through the main shopping area. Make sure you visit Blarney Castle, Charles Fort and you could even visit the Greyhound Stadium one evening
Shops ranging from market stalls to boutiques offering the latest fashion from famous designer labels. There are lots of different shopping centres and areas including the most popular St Patrick’s Street, which is a pedestrian area. The restaurants range from the usual fast food restaurants as seen anywhere in the world to some of the more specialized ones offering excellent cuisine.
