Blarney Castle is a must-see. It's a privately owned property. The gardens are spectacular. They're…read morethe greenest gardens I've ever seen. Each section in the garden has a theme. It's fun. The castle is surrounded by the gardens and a stream that flows around it. It's beautiful. Once inside, the stairs are a bit intimidating on your way to the top. The stone is an additional level higher than when you first arrive up. There's someone at the site to help with your Blarney stone kiss. Just don't look down! After you've kissed the Blarney, be sure to make your way to the coffee and gift shop. Grab an Irish or Bailey's coffee and soak it all in. Congratulations on your adventure.

And to think I almost decided against going here! It was easy to get to by bus and we went first…read morething in the morning which meant we beat the crowds, which I'm sure made it much more enjoyable. I am so grateful for all the signs saying how tricky the trip up to the Blarney Stone is because I made the choice not to go. My husband went by himself and said I'd never have managed. The gardens were spectacular. We easily spent a couple hours in there. It was like a fairytale. Super good use of half a day.

We loved this place a little too much. I thought this would be a short visit, but we ended up…read morespending the entire day there. This place is highly recommended while in Cork. If you are of Irish descent, you will love this place. If you are interesting in the history of Irish emigrants, like me, you will even love it. They also have a very extensive and informative Titanic exhibit. Simply wow!!!

Housed in the former Victorian Railway Stations main hall, (a single line to Cork still adjoins the…read moremain building). The heritage centre, complete with it's own genealogy centre, tells the story of the estimated 2.5 million people that left these shores from this very spot forever. Although this itself is roughly a third of the number that left all Ireland in a century of emigration that really began with the 1846 famine, Cobh was to be the single most important port of departure. Cobh is literally pronounced cove, and is indeed the cove of nearby Cork, although it was named Queenstown from 1849, until the time when it's original name was revived in 1922. The Queenstown story is very well presented, I liked the recreation of life on board a ship from steerage bunks to upper decks, and clearly an awful lot of thought & imagination has gone into creating an environment that will appeal to everyone from easily distracted children through to American tourists, although some might say there is no disparity between the two! For transatlantic liners, departing English ports like Liverpool or Southampton, Cobh was always the last port of call before heading west. Many familiar large ships would have anchored just a couple of miles offshore, with smaller tender vessels ferrying passengers to & from the quayside here. The most famous of all of them of course was RMS Titanic. At 1.30pm on Thursday 11th April 1912 Titanic sailed after a 2 hour visit to take on just 123 passengers to bring her total complement up to 2206, 1517 of which were to drown with the ship 3 days later. There is a famous photograph taken by a Father Frank Browne, one of 7 passengers to have disembarked from the ship here, that frames this small exhibition, the last image of a legendary ship. However I was left wanting more here than the exhibition could ever provide. The museum is much better about another ill fated 4-funneled liner, RMS Lusitania. The Lucy as she was nick-named was torpedoed in 1915, just up the coast from here of Kinsale, with a loss of life almost on the same scale, (a small number of the victims were buried in the nearby cemetery). One of my favourite exhibits was the old phone kiosk of the period, where by picking up the receiver you can listen to tape recordings of both witnesses to the tragedy & survivors. Also because there are personal belongings on show recovered from the wreck, these prove to be a more persuasive reminder of human tragedy than the Titanic exhibit with only it's words & photos. If you're interested in the Lusitania, seek out my review of nearby Kinsale Tourist Office as well. Overall this is a very impressive experience, particularly thought provoking on the 19th century mass exodus from Ireland. It will easily absorb you for an hour or two's visit, if not there's an extremely well stocked gift shop & coffee & snack bar! However it's only when you're outside, gazing out beyond the statue of Ellis Island Annie & her brothers, far out to sea, & recall those millions whose last sight of their homeland this was, that you begin to get a true sense of perspective on the place.

I had no idea that there was a port in Ireland and that a group of passengers embarked on the…read moreTitanic from here. But I learned all about that when I visited the museum in Cobh. At the beginning of your tour, you receive a boarding pass-a replica of an actual passenger on the ship-and you follow their journey through the museum. You see where the different classes would have slept, dined and spent time being entertained. At the end, you can find out if your passenger survived or not. The museum itself is a little light, but does have some interesting things on exhibit. However, knowing that you're in the exact spot that passengers would have queued up to board is where the draw is. Such a tragedy and it's nice to be able to honor those people and learn more about their individual experiences.

This was a really well done experience. I thought it would be just a museum or a movie or talk or…read moresomething but they did their best to put us in the shoes of those who got on the ill-fated voyage from Cobh. I left saddened but with a greater understanding of what happened. I recommend.

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.

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.

Highly, highly recommend adding this to your Cork bucket list! The reading tour is 10 euros; I…read morebelieve the audio tour was 15 euros. We got to tour the prison grounds and learn about life in the prison, all while doing the reading tour. It was very eye opening, but very informative as well.

I know it's unfair to compare this to other jail tours in Ireland but it's really hard not to. The…read morearchitecture was gorgeous but the history was all quite surface level. I do appreciate them trying something different in tackling the stories of the jail and its prisoners.

You can get insight into what it looked and felt like setting off for the New World. The advertised…read morejobs and other opportunities that promised everything. If you would just get the ticket and get yourself on the boat. My wife and I were here, at the start of a trans-Atlantic cruise with absolutely none of the hazards. She said, "why again are we watching shipwreck and sinking stories when we're about to get on?" Lovely staff are on duty in the aBUNdant gift shop, and serving fresh toasties & coffee in the center of the permanent free exhibits.

We were thrilled with our experience. We learned so much about Ireland from the plentiful,…read moreprofessional, and educational exhibits. We even enjoyed the gift shop which had very nice products. On our visit in February 2023 we learned about emigration, famine, the Titanic, and more. It was all informative and well done. In fact, the Titanic displays were so well done that we skipped the Titanic Experience up the street farther. Both of us highly recommend a visit to this wonderful spot. Oh, the have a nice looking café, too, but we didn't try the food.

Brought my Mom here for lunch. The food was terrible and when we complained - the chef/manager came…read moreout to yell at us that they had made the food for us so we had to pay for it. Most of the staff were nice but some of them were very undressed for serving food, one had a top on that barely covered her front and her back was completely bare. Completely inappropriate and unhygienic for a food service worker. We were told by a staff member that all the food was brought in pre-made. Complete waste of money, we paid for two of the meals as we had started eating them before realising that it was poisoned with salt. My sister didn't even take her meal from the server as she could see immediately that it wasn't what was on the menu and had items she is unable to eat. That was when the manager came out to yell at her and caused a scene! We had to go to another restaurant to get her something to eat as she hadn't been able to eat anything. Please avoid this restaurant unless you want sub par, pre made food at extortionate prices.

One of my favourite places in Cork, and somewhere I try to call into whenever I have a few free…read moreminutes when I'm at home. The Crawford was lucky enough to snag an extension and refurbishment during the Celtic Tiger years. It's spent the last few years putting it's new-found sprawl to good use. There's three permanent exhibitions each on the small side (sculptures, a Harry Clarke sampler and a few artifacts from Cork's merchant past). The main exhibition area tends to lean on modern Irish art and has a good pedigree thanks to the gallery's links with the Hugh Lane in Dublin. Oh, and there's a nice tea-room and restaurant in the back, so it's a good way to waste a lunch hour too!

"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.

Absolutely worth a visit by anyone wanting to know more about the Great Famine (or Great Hunger as…read morelocals know it as). Much research has been put into this place and it shows. If you don't "do" museums - then there is a self guided walking tour around the whole town with signs noting the information about each location. Grab a map from the museum and put your walking shoes on!

This is my third visit to the Skibbereen Heritage Center since 2014, and each time I have come away…read moredeeply moved, better educated, and with a deeper understanding of the causes and consequences of the Great Hunger on the late 1840s.