FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

Cork: Size Doesn’t Matter

by Gtrav

Oct 1, 2009
2009 / October 2009

It may be only a tenth the size of Dublin, but Ireland’s second-largest city offers such a wealth of arts, education, history, recreation and commerce that proponents score Cork City with a “perfect 10.” Situated on an “island” embraced by two channels of the River Lee, the city which originated on marshland (hence its Irish name, Coraigh, from corcach, meaning swamp) has transformed itself into a major metropolitan center.

An important trading hub since the Middle Ages, Cork sent hides, wool and cloth around the globe and famously became the world’s largest exporter of butter. When the potato famine struck, its port saw the departure of thousands of immigrants overseas, and during the civil wars fierce battles between British and Irish left this “rebel town” burned and pillaged. Late in the 20th century, when the shipbuilding industry and local Ford and Dunlop plants closed down, Cork turned to other opportunities. With the emergence of technology it has successfully attracted major international corporations.

Amazon, Apple, Avery Dennison, Centocor, CitCo, EMC, McAfee, MVware and Siemens are among multinationals attracted by the educated, English-speaking workforce of close to half a million in the greater city area. Additional lures include business parks providing utilities infrastructure, telecommunications and building site options and the city’s welcoming, convivial atmosphere.

Pharmaceuticals Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer manufacture in the region; much of the world’s Viagra originates in Cork. Murphy’s Irish Stout (now owned by Heineken) and Beamish and Crawford are bottled here, and the country’s two main national newspapers — the Irish Examiner and the Cork Independent publish in Cork.

Called “one of the most attractive business environments in the world,” the region’s investment incentives include unrestrictive product market regulation, a low 12.5 percent corporation tax and tax credits of up to 20 percent for qualifying research and development projects. The Cork City Enterprise Board aids start-ups, offering new business grants and expert advice to local entrepreneurs.

Several institutions of higher learning contribute a steady and reliable source of workers. Besides engineering and arts courses at University College Cork, the Cork Institute of Technology, Cork Music School and the Crawford College of Art and Design, other schools offer medicine, nautical studies, commerce and vocational preparation and training. Also located in town is Tyndall National Institute, a worldclass research facility specializing in photonics, electronics, nanotechnologies and their applications.

An elected lord mayor handles ceremonial proceedings while a city manager appointed to a five-year term oversees town planning. Recent projects include regulating traffic to preserve the vibrancy of the historic downtown area and initiating development of the former auto and tire factory “docklands” into a major financial services center. In the planning stages are a digital media district in the city center and an outlying knowledge zone to facilitate knowledgebased businesses.


Diversions

The charming historic center of the city boasts brightly painted shops and stores, many featuring typical Corkonian Georgian bow windows. Meandering St. Patrick’s Street, the major thoroughfare originally built on arches over a river channel, was recently remodeled into a pedestrian-friendly lane mingling pharmacies, jewelry shops, bookstores, boutiques and the high-end Brown Thomas and Marks & Spencer department stores. Pick up some tripe, pigs’ feet, buttered eggs and other traditional foods at the refurbished 1786 Old English Market (Grand Parade, Mon.–Sat. 9 a.m.–6 p.m.). Coal Quay Market (Cornmarket Street) on the site of the city’s original open-air marketplace is a junk hunter’s paradise.

Dominating the skyline, the 17-story Elysian, a luxury apartment garden complex, is Ireland’s tallest building. Sightseers can visit surviving gates and remnant sections of the medieval city wall and view St. Finbarr’s Cathedral, named for the city’s 6th-century founder. Shandon Church Tower with its four-sided clock, salmon weathervane and acclaimed bells is a symbol of the city, and its 120-foot climb provides a cityscape overview.

Named the 2005 European Capital of Culture, Cork is rich in concerts, museums and a full array of cultural activities playing in venues such as the glass box Cork Opera House (Emmet Place, tel 21 427 0022 ), the Everyman Palace (15 MacCurtain St., tel 21 450 1673) and Cork Arts Theaters (Camden Court, Carrolls Quay, tel 21 450 5624).

In a converted 18th-century customs house, the Crawford Municipal Art Gallery (Emmet Place, tel 21 490 7855) exhibits works by Jack B. Yeats, William Leech, James Barry and other notable Irish artists. The rotunda of the original Butter Exchange has been transformed into the Firkin Crane Cultural Centre (John Redmond Street, tel 21 450 7487), which hosts international dance troupes and the annual Guinness Jazz Festival each October, a month before the Cork Film Festival .

The Cork Butter Museum (John Redmond Street, tel 21 430 0600 ) celebrates the era of the city’s prominent export, and the Cork Public Museum (Fitzgerald Park, tel 21 427 0679), in a handsome Georgian mansion, traces city history. Restored cells with graphic sound effects portray the suffering of great patriots at the castle-like Cork City Gaol (Sunday’s Well Road, tel 21 430 5022).

Sports fans can take in a game of rugby, Gaelic football, hurling or association football. The more athletic can choose from horse-riding, hiking, rowing, cycling, sailing and teeing off at dozens of nearby golf courses — or bend over backward to kiss the famous stone for eloquence atop Blarney Castle (tel 21 438 5252), just six miles away.

The ample population of more than 30,000 students generates lively pubs, offbeat cafés and nightspots. Weekends after concerts, the Opera House’s Half Moon Bar (Lavitt’s Quay, tel 21 427 0022) converts to a club with varied entertainment. In a converted warehouse, Bodega Bar (46–49 Cornmarket St., tel 21 427 2878 ) is referred to as “the most beautiful bar in Ireland.” Friendly An Bodhran (42 Oliver Punkett St., tel 21 437 1392) and two convivial old standby pubs, Counihans (Pembroke Street, tel 21 427 7850) and Costigans (Washington Street West, tel 21 455 655), often erupt in spontaneous traditional music sessions. All are good places to round out a stay in a close-to-perfect city.


Info To Go

Cork City’s ultramodern road and rail infrastructure features extensive local and suburban bus service and hourly trains to Dublin.

Flights from 60 European airports arrive at Cork Airport (ORK), which handles 3.3 million passengers a year. A new terminal completed in 2006 incorporates the hotels and offices of Cork Airport Business Park. Visit www.cometocork.com.


Lodging

Cork Clarion Hotel

Anchoring the new docklands development, in the business district overlooking the River Lee, this boutique-chic contemporary hotel boasts several “best hotel” awards. Lapps Quay, tel 21 422 4900, $$$
Hayfield Manor

Set in a garden, the stately manor house combines 5-star accommodations with old-world charm, including a drawing room and carved mahogany double staircase. Perrott Avenue, College Road, tel 21 484 5900, $$$$
Imperial Hotel

Charles Dickens and Sir Walter Scott lodged at this 19th-century landmark, updated with marble floors, Waterford crystal chandeliers and Aveda spa toiletries. 14 Pembroke St., South Mall, tel 21 427 4040, $$


Dining

Greenes

Tucked beside a waterfall on a patio in this Victorian warehouse conversion, Greenes can only be reached on foot and features French chef Frederic Desmoreaux. 48 Mac-Curtain St., tel 21 455 2279, $$$$
Jacobs on the Mall

Located in a renovated Victorianstyle Turkish bath, this stylish financial district restaurant showcases Chef Mercy Fenton’s eclectic cuisine. 30A South Mall, tel 21 425 1530, $$$
Jacques

Hidden away on a tiny side street, Jacques features sister chefs whose imaginative menu has relied on home-grown and local produce for 25 years. Phoenix Street, tel 21 427 7387, $$$

Introducing

FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

Explore Excursions

#globility

Insta Feed
Daily
May 12, 2025

Incheon International Airport Wins 2 Titles in Skytrax 2025 World Airport Awards

Incheon International Airport recently announced it won two awards in the 2025 World Airport Awards from Skytrax. The airport topped the list as World’s Best Airport Staff and Best Airport Staff in Asia Pacific.

Find Your Perfect Escape with Paradisus by Meliá — More Than Just All-Inclusive

Luxury travel today is about more than just beautiful accommodations — it’s about experiencing the destination. Paradisus by Meliá takes traditional all-inclusive resorts to the next level by offering indulgence with immersion, experiences and authenticity. Each resort is shaped by its location, local flavors and curated Destination Inclusive® experiences that bring you closer to the heart of the destination.

May 2025
May 12, 2025

Global Traveler Announces the Winners of the 2025 Leisure Lifestyle Awards

While not always viewed as a lucky number, for us this year, 13 means winning! We offer our hearty congratulations as we bring you the winners of our 13th annual Leisure Lifestyle Awards. We offer our hearty congratulations as we bring you the winners of our 13th annual Leisure Lifestyle Awards. Our travel, recognizing goods, services, destinations, hotels, airlines, airports, cruises and more. Read on to find out who dominates in the leisure travel industry and see if your favorites made the cut. We also say thank you to our readers, the most seasoned travelers we know, for voting in this year’s survey.

Daily
May 12, 2025

SLS Playa Mujeres Debuts SLS Elite and Signature Suites

SLS Elite at SLS Playa Mujeres brings a new level of sophistication to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. The resort raises the bar in the world of hospitality with the introduction of its new SLS Elite and signature suites, offering guests a unique collection of bespoke benefits and next-level luxuries.

Explore Europe with the Best River Cruise Line this November

Experience Europe from a fresh perspective with AmaWaterways, just awarded Best River Cruise Line by Global Traveler for the third consecutive year. Step aboard, unpack once and embark on a cruise through iconic capital cities and awe-inspiring landscapes. AmaWaterways' ships, which accommodate an average of just 156 guests, offer a spacious yet intimate setting. Throughout your journey, you'll enjoy exquisite farm-to-table dining; unparalleled service; and a variety of included excursions, from city tours for gentle walkers to thrilling bike rides along the rivers.

Slideshow
May 12, 2025

6 Reasons to Put Salzburg, Austria, on Your Travel List

It’s time to start dreaming of your next trip. Here’s some destination inspiration for you. Take a visual journey through Salzburg, Austria, with us.

Daily
May 9, 2025

The Caribbean Guilder Debuts as New Currency for Curaçao, Sint Maarten

Curaçao and Sint Maarten recently introduced a new currency: the Caribbean guilder, with five banknotes and seven coins all holding the same value as the previous currency, the Netherlands Antillean guilder. With a theme of World Under the Sea, the new currency symbolizes the unity of the two islands. Curaçao is currently the most Googled international summer travel destination.

Sail Unique with Explora Journeys

SAIL UNIQUE: A New Chapter in Luxury Ocean Travel Imagine a place where modern European elegance meets the rhythm of the sea — where time slows down, and every detail is crafted to inspire connection and quiet indulgence. This is Explora Journeys, the luxury lifestyle ocean brand from MSC Group created to redefine how we explore the world.

Daily
May 8, 2025

5 Destinations for a Fourth of July Getaway

Get a jumpstart on Fourth of July travel plans and book a trip to one of these patriotic destinations.