Surroundings, Cork
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Besides the many attractions in the city of Cork, the surrounding areas also have much of interest to offer the visitor - mansions and islands and resorts.
Related Attractions
Barryscourt Castle
East of Cork, near Carrigtwohill off the Cork-Youghal Road (N25), Barryscourt Castle is an example of 15th C. tower and 16th C. alterations and additions. The ground floor is an exhibition of the history of the Barry family and the castle.
Riverstown House
4.5mi/7km northeast of the city of Cork is Riverstown House, with sumptuously decorated rooms.
Fota Island
Fota Island, east of Cork and linked to the city by a bridge, has many attractions. Firstly there is the Fota Wildlife Park. Various waterfowl, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, monkeys and many other animals live in the park and are particularly attractive to children. Independent of the wildlife park are Fota House and its adjoining grounds (Fota Arboretum). After restoration the mansion with its famous art collection is to be opened to the public. New varieties are constantly being added to the trees in the grounds.
Cobh
Southeast of Cork, surrounded by arms of the sea, lies Great Island, on the south coast of which is the port of Cobh (International Folk-Dance Festival). This relatively modern town, 15mi/24km from Cork, was formerly an important port of call for oceangoing vessels. It is the headquarters of the Cork Yacht Club. There are facilities for all kinds of water sports. Above the harbor stands a richly decorated neo-Gothic cathedral.
Queenstown Story
With the advent of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars (1792-1815) Cork Harbor became an important fueling and assembly point for naval and commercial ships.By the time of Queen Vistoria's visit in 1849, when Cobh was renamed Queenstown, it was the point from which prisoners were transported to Australia and Irish immigrants to North America. From 1848 to 1950 more than six million Irish emigrated and about two and a half million left from Cobh.The Queenstown Story is a multi-media exhibition recounting Cobh's story. It is housed in Cobh's Victorian rail station.
International Folk Dance Festival (closed)
NO LONGER IN OPERATION.This annual week-long festival brings together colorfully-costumed troupes from around the world. Nightly competitions as well as street dances ensure that everyone visiting the festival gets involved in the activities.
Cork Harbor
In the area around Cork Harbor, a large, almost landlocked inlet south of Great Island, are fortifications of many different periods. There are also a number of little resorts the mild climate of which attracts many holidaymakers.
Cruise Port
From here, majestic cruise ships depart for distant ports of call. While docked, these mighty ships are a spectacle for all to see.
Monkstown Castle
At the outer end of Passage West stands Monkstown Castle (17th C., National Monument), now the clubhouse of a nine-hole golf course.
Crosshaven, Ireland
The R609 and R612 run south from Passage West to Carrigaline (8mi/13km) and then east to Crosshaven, a popular holiday resort with good sandy beaches at the outflow of the River Owenboy into an inlet off Cork Harbor.
Blarney, Ireland
Blarney (An Bhlarna, "The Plain") lies near the south coast of Ireland, 5mi/8km northwest of the county town, Cork.
Blarney Castle
The imposing Blarney Castle is guarded by 5.5 m thick walls and a 25 m high tower. The famous Blarney Stone is located in one of the walls.
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Blackrock Castle
Blackrock Castle Observatory is home to a state of the art exhibition highlighting recent discoveries of extreme life forms on Earth and their implications for life in outer space. Use cinema sized video screens to explore the formation of the Universe and how life developed on earth. Send an email to space and play "The Comet Chaser" in Ireland's first interactive cinema and virtually save the Earth!
Royal Gunpowder Mills
The mills, established along the banks of the river Lee near Cork in 1794, quickly became an industrial center during the Napoleonic Wars. In 1837 they produced about 16,000 barrels of gunpowder and by the mid-1880s some 500 men and boys were employed there.Through slide shows and exhibitions, the mills explain the dangerous work done there.
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