Relaxing Things To Do In Cork

An Overview of Cork

Cork is a seaport and university city in the province of Munster, Ireland. The city is known for harbor views, colorful houses, broad university campus green spaces and a distinct cathedral overlooking the bay. The area is also home to the famed Blarney Stone and Blarney Castle. With a long heritage as a monastic settlement, Viking trading community, stronghold and marshland city, there are many relaxing things to do in Cork.

Relaxing Things To Do In Cork

Fota Wildlife Park and Gardens

This wildlife park contains a large series of shady trails and tiny greenhouses supporting a wide range of gardens.  Many animals such as Sumatran tigers, spotted deer, macaques, giraffes and zebras, call this area their home and are allowed to roam freely through the grounds. The park is an independently-funded, not-for-profit charitable venue and a primary source of tourism, wildlife and conservation in Cork.

Blackrock Castle Observatory

Blackrock Castle Observatory is a squat castle tower used to observe the heavens. It’s the oldest surviving structure in the city of Cork still currently in use. The historic castle has served many purposes over the years. It has operated as an Admiralty court, a lighthouse, a gun battery and river defense. There is an admission fee required to enter the castle.

Fitzgerald’s Park

This is a public park in the city of Cork located on the banks of the Lee, near the Cork Public Museum. The small park contains a pond, a short sculpture trail, a café and access to Sunday’s Well across the river. Sunday’s Well and Fitzgerald Park are connected by the “Shakey Bridge,” a pedestrian suspension bridge officially known as Daly’s Bridge.

Blarney Castle

Blarney Castle once stood as an impressive series of medieval fortifications in the community of Blarney, near Cork. The famed castle houses the Blarney Stone.  Legends state that those who kiss the rock will be blessed with eloquence and a gift of flattery. The stone, which is limestone, made of the mineral calcite, can only be kissed by people who climb the to the top of the castle and lean under an overhang to kiss upwards. The Castle grounds have many other unique features and heritage sites nearby.

The Blarney Castle Poison Garden

Located at the base of Blarney Castle, this is the most deadly garden in all of Ireland. This patch of plants is universally deadly to touch or eat. The garden was created as an educational feature, showcasing dangerous plants from both the wilderness and domestic gardens.

Fern Garden Walkway

This is an intensely green lowland patch of land near Blarney Castle with hidden totems and great sweeps of ferns. The damp space is full of tall Dicksonias (tree ferns) which were transplanted from the other side of the world. These trees are survivors of the Jurassic period. Due to a lack of wind and the ferns muffling most sounds, it is a magnificently peaceful place to relax.

St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral

This building is the grandly-spired Gothic Revival cathedral of Cork, dominating the city’s skyline with three imposing spires over the banks of the Lee River. The Cathedral is easy to reach, since it’s located in the center of the city. The impressive building is dedicated to Finbarr of Cork, patron saint of the city, first bishop of Cork and founder of the urban area’s original monastery.

Glenview Gardens and Fairy Trail

Located on the banks of the Lee River, in Regional Park Ballincollig, this is a tiny patch of manicured gardens filled with tiny Wendy houses and Hobbit homes. The Fairy Trail is primarily for children to enjoy tiny fairy houses along stone walls and trees, but it makes for a short, relaxing walk for adults as well.

The English Market

This is an open stall market selling teas, brown bread, jams, meats, cheeses, sweets, veggies, coffee fish and other native products. It was originally built in 1788 in the iconic covered-market style. Despite it’s cheery exterior and accessible location in the center of Cork, the market has a long history of surviving through famines, floods and recessions.

University College Cork (UCC)

UCC is a pretty campus which hosts the largest collection of Ogham Stone inscriptions on display in all of Ireland. The Ogham Stones can be found in the Stone Corridor, a covered walkway on the campus. Ogham Script is one of the earliest coded forms of the Irish language, dating back to a time predating St. Patrick’s arrival on the Isle. The scripts are unique and mysterious, especially since ancient Ireland was a largely oral culture. The Scripts are represented by grooves and notches along a central line.

Kindred Spirits Sculpture

This ring of standing metal feathers is a tribute to the immense generosity of the Choctaw Nation in the Americas, who raised money to help Ireland during the Great Famine while they themselves died marching the Trail of Tears. Despite suffering enormous casualties amongst their own people, the Nation was able to raise $5,000 dollars to aid Irish suffering. The memorial was created by Alex Pentak who explained “I wanted to show the courage, fragility and humanity that they displayed in my work.”

Knocknakilla Stone Circle

There are few subjects more compelling to ancient historians and anthropologists than the ancient and mystical stone circles which cover Ireland and the United Kingdom. The Knocknakilla is a megalithic complex on peatland thought to be over 3,500 years old. The prehistoric complex includes a stone circle, two standing stones, and a cairn.

Baltimore Beacon

This is a very strange conical beacon perched atop a sharp, beautiful cliff. The beacon is white-painted stone, making it a striking visage above the channel, Baltimore Garbour and nearby Sherkin Island. The beacon was built by order of the British government following the 1798 Rebellions,

Kilcoe Castle

A stunning medieval structure of an interesting hue restored by actor Jeremy Irons. The tower is actually 500 years old and is made of terracotta-colored stones.

St. Patrick’s Street

St. Patrick’s Street is one of the main shopping and walking streets in all of Cork with numerous pieces of artwork and sculptures on display. The street is sometimes colloquially referred to as “Pana” by locals.

The Village Hall Vintage Market & Studio

This is a small shop which sells traditional Irish vintage furniture, costumes, antiques and trinkets.  A cafe portion is included which sells cake and some nice coffee

Garnish Island

This is an island located off the coast of nearby Glengarriff. The island is a unique microclimate separate from the rest of Ireland.  The gulf stream produces exotic plant life. The rest of the island’s rocky shores are home to a very loud and adorable seal population. Visitors can also enjoy the island’s walled gardens and a Martello tower.

Jameson Distillery Midleton

The Jameson Experience is part of an Irish whiskey museum in Midleton, County Cork. The venue was founded by John Jameson, a Scottish businessman who used an older technique to test the proof of his product. Before sophisticated chemical tests, crafter would throw gunpowder into a newly finished batch. If the gunpowder flashed, the whiskey could be sold. If not, it was passed out amongst the workers. The musuem is well known for it’s historic copper pot out front.

Franciscan Well Brewery & Brewpub

This is a famed vaulted pub and beer garden built out from an old Franciscan monastery site. The site was originally known to the “Holy Well” which had supposed healing properties.

Ballycotton Cliff Walk

Located outside of Cork, this is a profoundly dramatic footpath linking Ballycotton Village to Ballyandreen Beach. The path follows cliffside walks, meadow scenery and ocean views.

Read more about relaxing things to do in Cork and seeing the world by visiting Leftfade Trails Blog.

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