Cork has a great selection of hotels and guesthouses ranging from small family owned properties to the five star Hayfield Manor Hotel a pleasant ten minutes stroll from the city centre. You can get great priced flights from Newcastle with Jet2 and make your own short break on direct flights from Newcastle to Cork.
Cork got its name from the Irish work corcach which when translated means marshy place. Cork today is very different and is now the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland. The Rive Lee flows through the city and joins the Lough Mahon and helps create one of the largest natural harbours in the world. Cork is still a major seaport and has lots of quays and docks
Cork was first founded in the sixth century by St Finbarr and became a city much later when it received its royal charter by King John in 1185. Having a large natural harbour meant that Cork became a major trading port and particularly with the merchants from the Scandinavian regions. However this also attracted attention from the less friendly visitors and Cork was attacked by Vikings and Norsemen.
Weather in Cork is generally mild all year with no excessive extremes in Winter or in Summer. The climate is generally mild, moist and can be changeable. Cork has a lot of foggy days and despite this is still the sunniest city in Ireland with an average of almost four hours of sunshine in the summer months.
There are lots of places to visit whilst visiting Cork and a lot of architectural buildings of note. The most famous building in Cork is the church tower of Shandon, which dominates the northern side of the city. St Patrick’s Street is a main street, which has been renovated and is now a pedestrian friendly route through the main shopping area. Don’t forget to visit Blarney Castle, Charles Fort and perhaps a visit to the greyhound Stadium.
Shops ranging from market stalls to boutiques offering the latest fashion from famous designer labels. There are lots of different shopping centres and areas including the most popular St Patrick’s Street, which is a pedestrian area. The restaurants range from the usual fast food restaurants as seen anywhere in the world to some of the more specialized ones offering excellent cuisine.
