Cork

A vast indoor market that was established on Grand Parade in 1610: at that time the avenue was a canal and was only filled in the 19C. Ships used to moor at the entrance to unload their... — Michelin Guide

Cork's best artisans and purveyors gather here to sell products like soda bread, organic greens and seafood. — Travel + Leisure

The name of this bustling food market harks back to the days of English rule. — Frommer's

The English Market is Ireland's most famous covered food market, and is heaven for anyone who loves food. — Afar Magazine

The English Market is a true gem, no matter what you name it. — Lonely Planet

Though a runaway favorite for the title of “cheesiest tourist attraction in Ireland,” Blarney Castle is still an impressive building. — Frommer's

I was fully prepared to write of Blarney Castle as a tourist trap. You've gotta kiss the Blarney Stone, blah, blah, blah. But we arrived late in the day, after all the tour buses had... — Afar Magazine

The castle contains the famed Blarney Stone; kissing the stone, it's said, endows the kisser with the fabled "gift of the gab". — Fodor's

Join the queue to get into this 15th-century castle, one of Ireland's most inexplicably popular tourist attractions. — Lonely Planet

At the castle's heart is its huge keep, a fine example of a fortified dwelling. — Michelin Guide

Founded by W. H. Crawford, the gallery exhibits a representative collection of works by Irish artists from the 19C and 20C, including works by well-known 19C artists such as Sir William... — Michelin Guide

Cork's public gallery houses a small but excellent permanent collection. — Lonely Planet

One of the best art galleries in Ireland, the Crawford has impressive collections of sculpture and painting. — Frommer's

Ireland's leading provincial art gallery. An imaginative expansion has added gallery space for visiting exhibitions and adventurous shows. — Fodor's

From the pier opposite the Eccles Hotel. — Lonely Planet

John Annan Bryce, purchased this rocky isle, and, with the help of famed English architect... transformed it into a botanical Disneyland. — Fodor's

This little island is a beautiful and tranquil place. It used to be little more than a barren outcrop. — Frommer's

Part of Ireland’s national university, with about 7,000 students. — Frommer's

The main quadrangle is a fine example of 19th-century university architecture in the Tudor-Gothic style, reminiscent of many Oxford and Cambridge colleges. — Fodor's

University College Cork (UCC), was founded by charter in 1845, as were two other colleges in Galway and Belfast and it now belongs to the National University. A walking tour, starting... — Michelin Guide

An attention-grabbing mixture of French Gothic and medieval whimsy. — Lonely Planet

The interior is highly ornamented with unique mosaic work. — Frommer's

This compact, three-spire Gothic cathedral, which was completed in 1879, belongs to the Church of Ireland and houses a 3,000-pipe organ. — Fodor's

One of Cork’s most iconic sights is the trio of elegant spires topping St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral, which can be seen from all over the city. Built in the 19th century for the Anglican... — Afar Magazine

This Anglican cathedral was designed by William Burges and built of limestone in exuberant French Gothic style in 1865. It has three spires with the central one rising up to 73 m. The... — Michelin Guide

Your reward for climbing the 120-foot-tall tower is the chance to ring the bells out over Cork. — Fodor's

Cork’s most recognizable landmark, also known as Shandon Church, is famous for its giant pepper pot steeple and eight melodious bells. — Frommer's

The tower of the Anglican church of St Anne's Shandon contains Cork's most famous attraction, a peel of eight bells installed in 1752, on which visitors can play the local «anthem». The... — Michelin Guide

Shandon is dominated by the 1722 St Anne’s Church , aka the ‘Four-Faced Liar’. — Lonely Planet

This simple rather endearing civic museum is a good place to get an overview of the city’s history. — Frommer's

Recounts Cork’s history from the Stone Age right up to local football legend Roy Keane. — Lonely Planet

A Georgian mansion that houses a well-planned exhibit about Cork's history since ancient times. — Fodor's

The exhibitions, which are attractively displayed in a house in Fitzgerald Park, display life in the Cork region, from as early as prehistoric times. The collection of maces and other... — Michelin Guide

If you're a fan of history and/or photography, be sure to spend time at Charles Fort in County Cork. This National Monument of Ireland is the bastion on the water's edge near Kinsale, and... — Afar Magazine

One of Europe's best-preserved star-shaped artillery forts, this vast 17th-century fortification would be worth a visit for its spectacular views alone. — Lonely Planet

The British built Charles Fort on the east side of the Bandon River estuary in the late 17th century, after their defeat of the Spanish and Irish forces. — Fodor's

Like something straight out of a Victorian novel, this early 19th-century jail is an austere, impressive, and highly atmospheric building. — Frommer's

This castle-like building contains an austere, 19th-century prison. — Fodor's

The local prison, designed by Thomas Deane, was built in 1825 and closed down in 1923. Since 1878 only women were imprisoned here, except during the Civil War. Visitors can find out about... — Michelin Guide

This imposing former prison is well worth a visit, if only to get a sense of how crap life was for prisoners a century ago. — Lonely Planet

An important breeding center for cheetahs and wallabies. — Fodor's

If only all zoos were like the Fota Wildlife Park. — Frommer's

A huge outdoor zoo, where animals roam without a cage or fence. — Lonely Planet

Travel to this visitor center, set in a lighthouse... and you'll wind up reaching the Irish mainland's most southerly point. — Fodor's

Cross a suspension bridge... the sea view is spectacular, and it’s worth a trip regardless of the weather. — Frommer's

Ireland's most southwesterly point is dominated by this signal station... to help warn ships off the rocks. — Lonely Planet

Myrtle Allen reigns supreme at Ballymaloe House... Darina, Ireland's most famous celebrity chef and Slow Food advocate, rules at the Ballymaloe Cookery School. — Fodor's

Professional and amateur cooks flock here from all over the world to sit near the whisk of Darina Allen. — Frommer's

The Ballymaloe Cookery School is the epicenter of Ireland's burgeoning local, sustainable, organic food movement. — Afar Magazine

It was in the village of Woodfield... that Michael Collins (1890–1922) had his last drink before he was shot in an ambush. — Fodor's

A visit to the Michael Collins Centre is an excellent way to make sense of his life and that period of Ireland’s history. — Lonely Planet

More a place of pilgrimage than a traditional attraction. — Frommer's

The small heritage centre has exhibits on the island’s history and culture, and fine views north across the water to Mizen Head. — Lonely Planet

Many of the people who left Ireland on immigrant ships for the New World departed from Cobh, which was formerly known as Queenstown. The exhibit, in the old Cobh train station, re-creates... — Fodor's

Standing at the mouth of the River Lee, this 16C castle was rebuilt in 1827. Thanks to a partnership with the Cork Institute of Technology, which has its observatory here, Blackrock is... — Michelin Guide

Blackrock Castle is a restored 16th-century castle that now, rather incongruously, hosts a science centre and observatory. Kids love it and the pastoral location is worth the jaunt. It's... — Lonely Planet

Completed in 1909 to help warn ships off the rocks, Mizen Head signal station is perched high above crashing waves and contorted sea cliffs on a small island connected to the mainland by... — Lonely Planet

At Mizen Head, the southernmost point in Ireland, the land falls precipitously into the Atlantic breakers in a procession of spectacular 210m (700-ft.) sea cliffs. A suspension bridge... — Frommer's

An excellent place to get the pulse of artsy goings-on in town, the Triskel occupies converted town houses and a former church. — Fodor's

Refurbished in 2011, this ever-growing arts center presents a variety of entertainment, from drama, poetry readings, and opera to traditional music concerts. — Frommer's

Dinky Fox's Lane Folk Museum contains more than 600 household gadgets dating from 1850 to 1950, and a Victorian kitchen. — Lonely Planet

This giant mural along the walls of Mutton Lane depicts musicians performing the traditional Pana Shuffle, and is a vivid and colorful evocation of peace and community spirit. — Frommer's

This Georgian house was built around 1750 for the earls of Bantry. — Frommer's

With its melancholic air of faded gentility, 18th-century Bantry House makes for an intriguing visit. From the Gobelin tapestries in the drawing room to the columned splendour of the... — Lonely Planet