Cork Short Breaks

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.

Thanks to St. Finbarr who founded the City way back in the sixth century and then got recognition as a city in 1185 when it received its charter by King John. Due to its natural harbour Cork became a major trading port particularly with its trade with Scandinavian merchants. However not all of the visitors to Cork came looking for trade and Cork was regularly attacked by the Vikings and Norsemen.

Weather in Cork is generally mild all year with no excessive extremes in Winter or in Summer. The climate is generally mild, moist and can be changeable. Cork has a lot of foggy days and despite this is still the sunniest city in Ireland with an average of almost four hours of sunshine in the summer months.

Attractions to see in Cork include Blarney Castle and Charles Fort or even a visit to the Greyhound Stadium. Should you wish to explore the surrounding countryside and beautiful coastline then it would be a good idea to hire a car. One of the more famous buildings in Cork is the Church Tower of Shandon, which is in the northern part of the city. There are some great historic walks you can do in and around the city as well as some interesting ones a short drive away.

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.