My grandson really wanted to see the Butter Museum. He may have been hoping for a tasting but…read moresadly they don't offer that. The tour is self-directed but starts with a video. Having been buying Irish butter in the US because I like the taste, it was interesting to see what is different like milk coming from grass-fed cows and higher fat content making it spread easier. There are a lot of displays around the building. The big butter was interesting to see which demonstrates an older practice of burying butter in a bog to preserve it. The large one they have is thought to be about 1000 years old. I found it interesting that Cork's history included being a butter exchange with a worldwide trade in butter. Information includes the culture and history of dairying the various tools used to make butter, a collection of butter wrappings and more. Overall interesting and educational but a tasting would really be a great addition

Really enjoyed my time at the Cork Butter Museum. We made it in time for the butter making…read moredemonstration and tasting which really enhanced the experience. Very happy with my decision to check this place out. 10/10 would come again.

CORK PUBLIC MUSEUM The Cork Public Museum in Fitzgerald Park…read moreis well and truly up and running again after last winter's flood damage. Called there today to see the Traveller Visibility Group Exhibition which was due to open at 10.00am (according to the Cork City Event Guide for National Heritage Week) and that meant a waste of some time as the Museum doesn't open until 11.00am. Bet you wish you could get a job like that! And you do need time here as, between the permanent displays and the temporary shows, there is so much to see. You can see displays on the city's sports heroes, Roy Keane and Christy Ring among them, on the role of the corporation, the various wars (including the Emergency), the Fashions, Cork Silver and Glass, the International Exhibition of 1902, the last tube made in Dunlop's along with a run through of the area from pre-history right up to the present, replicas of the Cross of Cong and the Cross of Cloyne along with some medieval artefacts and also some ancient stones with ogham script. Here too you'll learn that a meat market was once called a "Shambles" and much much more, including the story of the Aloys Fleischmann family, told through photos and mementoes. The display I came to see, The Traveller Visibility Group Exhibition, was upstairs. Highlights include the Barrel Top Wagon and the Black and White Phony (his hide made up of hundreds of black and white photos of travellers) and the Copper Craft project by the Ennis Travellers. Putting all this together was a learning experience for the travellers, viewing it was a learning experience for me. Dachau is mentioned downstairs in the Fleischmann exhibition and, upstairs, you may see a collection of paintings from the Dachau Art Gallery permanent collection. During the 19th century, artists were drawn to Dachau by the beautiful moorland scenery. Many settled in the town, and it soon became an artists' colony. Captivated by the subtle nuances of colour and light of the Dachau countryside, they took their canvases out into the open - ushering in the era of painting en plein air. Taking painting outdoors meant a shift from the darker canvasses to much lighter and this is easily seen here, in the Schleißheimer Canal by Toni Binder (1868-1944) for example. Really interesting show and there is a decent leaflet on hand to guide you through. Just be sure and leave it there afterwards for the rest of us! I must admit I spent just well over an hour here and that was nowhere near enough. I'll have to go back. Tel+ 353 21 4270679 http://www.corkcity.ie/ourservices/recreationamenityculture/museum/

Cork Public Museum open its doors in 1945 by the administration of University College Cork and was…read moreaided grant by the Cork county council. The Cork Public Museum is in Fitzgerald Park on the Mardyke. In the Museum you will get to see collections of the economic, social and municipal history of the city. It was nice to see the very fine collections of Cork silver, Cork Glass and Youghal needlepoint Lace. I think its a very educational Museum to go too, you learn alot about the public history.

"Rain: unlike anything we know."…read more That was one of the helpful hints for Irish solders leaving Collins Barracks for UN duty in the Congo in 1960/1. It would be a tough experience for the brave soldiers, the torrential rain the least of their problems. The Congo (with displays of arrows, spears and photos) is just one of the UN campaigns touched on at the Military Museum in Collins Barracks. Missions to Cyprus, Lebanon, Somalia, Kosovo, East Timor and Liberia are also covered. The UN missions would be an obvious target for the museum, established in 1985, but so much more is remembered here. Photos and trophies from the British Years (including the Irish contribution to the Boer War). Recruiting photos and a picture of VC winner Sergeant Cosgrove recall the Great War. The Easter Rising figures prominently as do the Cork Lord Mayors McCurtain and McSwiney and then the Civil War. Peace then until the emergency which is remembered with lots of paraphernalia including helmets, gas masks and bikes. Small arm weapons (mainly pistols but also a Black and tan dagger) figure prominently through the years and especially in the room dedicated to Michael Collins, for whom the Barracks is named. Also here is his letter cabinet. Also remembered are the McSweeney family who, from 1934 to 1996, had at least one member serving here.. The Museum has an entrance at the top of Military Hill, once the old entrance to the barracks, and you have to go up a few steps to a side door and may have to press a doorbell to gain entrance. You could well be overwhelmed with the amount of items on displays but curator Jim Horgan is always on hand to help you out. Old Youghal Road 021 4514252 Normal hours: Mon, Wed and Fri - 10am to 1pm. No entry fee.

LAVIT GALLERY Went to the Lavit Gallery this morning to see…read morethe retrospective honouring the work and memory of the much loved local artist and teacher John O'Leary. Got a great welcome from the two ladies downstairs, busily assembling the Christmas show, and enjoyed my visit, surprised at the space and light available in the upstairs section (see photo). The Lavit is owned and administered by the Cork Arts Society and is the city's longest established gallery, catering to the first time buyer and seasoned collector alike, with prices to suit all budgets. There are some striking items in the exhibition assembled to honour John O'Leary. It deserves a second visit but, on first viewing, the favourites of this amateur were the John Burke sculpture entitled Black Forest Sunset, the two Catriona O'Leary works Morning Light and Path Runs Through, Vivienne Roche's Light 1 and 2 along with the Glencar Series II 1998 by the master himself. The show closes on the 28th so you'll have to hurry. Check out the gallery's website for future exhibitions. see also: http://corkabout.blogspot.com

From the owner: The Lavit Gallery showcases the work of Cork-based artists primarily and present work by leading…read moreIrish and International names. Through the ambitious programme of solo exhibitions and group shows, we promote both emerging and established artists, in addition to stimulating and challenging Cork audiences.

When I first learnt that I was I was going to a butter museum I have to confess I did think…read more"Boring" . However, I was pleasantly surprised by the history of it all and how the butter/ dairy trade really took off in the 19th century. It's really cool when you see how the infrastructure of the dairy trade was created by the fanous "butter roads" and how people kept the dairy produce fresh. Overall good fun and not just for geeks!

This museum is definitely a place to take children along or better yet relatives or friends who…read morewant to enjoy a day out. The museum is housed in former waterworks site. The restoration process must have been enormous. There are various buildings which house the history of Cork's waterworks site over the centuries and you see the hige Lancaster boilers and think yep some engineer got it right. It's a fun day out plus the museum has a lovely tea shop.

fab for families,excellent value at €7 for 4 of us,spent about an hour and a half between the…read morebuildings,playground and exhibits

If you want to see an electic range of sculptures by numerous up and coming artists then you should…read morehead here. It's a large store room area full of contemporary art. The museum lacks the wow effect in that the exhibitions are poorly presented nevertheless is invaluable for local artists who want to get a foot on the ladder by making their work public