Cork City: The Culinary Capital of Ireland

February 15, 2025

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Cori McCormick

Cork City, Ireland’s second-largest city, is a vibrant and charming destination filled with history, culture, and lovely scenery. It’s in what’s known as the “Rebel County,” so called because of its historical support for a pretender to the English throne, Perkin Warbeck, during the 15th century War of the Roses. At that time, the people of Cork rebelled against the reigning King Henry VII by backing Warbeck’s claim to the throne. The city’s reputation, at least today, centers around its culinary offerings.

We visited Cork with a specific goal in mind: to see the hometown of, and a sculpture made by, Roy’s third great-grandfather, Thomas Kirk RHA. In the process, we ended up coming to appreciate this quaint little city.

Getting to Cork City, Ireland

Cork is well-connected by air, rail, and road. If you’re flying in, Cork Airport (ORK) is just 8 km from the city center, with direct flights from various European destinations. We flew directly into Cork from London on Aer Lingus.

Here are the things we did during our time there.

1. Strolled Down St. Patrick’s Street – The Heart of the City

The main shopping and social hub of Cork, St. Patrick’s Street (or “Pana” as the locals call it), was the perfect place to start our adventure. With a mix of high-street stores, charming cafés, and lively street performances, this street embodies the city’s dynamic spirit.

St. Patrick's Street Cork City, Ireland — *St. Patrick’s Street*, *Cork City*

2. Ate at the English Market – A Foodie’s Paradise in the Heart of Cork City

One of Cork’s most famous attractions, the English Market was a great place for us to window shop and eat.

Established in 1788, this bustling indoor market is home to a variety of local traders selling fresh seafood, artisan cheeses, baked goods, and traditional Irish delicacies like drisheen (a type of blood pudding).

English Market, Cork, Ireland — *The English Market*

Soda Bread, Cork City, Ireland — *Soda bread—it pairs perfectly with stews*

Cork Ireland — *It’s here that I had possibly the…Best. Breakfast. Ever.*

3. Visited the Crawford Art Gallery

We went to this gallery to view one of the sculptures made by Thomas Kirk RHA. The employees were very gracious.

Crawford Art Gallery is dedicated to the visual arts, both historic and contemporary. The collection comprises over 3,500 works, ranging from eighteenth-century Irish and European paintings and sculptures to contemporary video installations. At the heart of its offerings is a collection of Greek and Roman sculpture casts brought to Cork in 1818 by the Vatican Museum in Rome.

Crawford Art Gallery Cork Ireland — *Crawford Art Gallery, Cork City, Ireland*

Thomas Kirk from Cork City, Ireland — *At left, Thomas Kirk RHA; on the right: the “Sleeping Child,” a sculpture made by Kirk in 1818*

Crawford Art Gallery in Cork City, Ireland — *At left, Thomas Kirk RHA; on the right: the “Sleeping Child,” a sculpture made by Kirk in 1818*

4. Spent Some Time in the Cork City Archive’s Research Room

Here we got to retrieve articles about Thomas Kirk and his work. Fascinating!

This facility was located on O’Brien Street.

Article about Thomas Kirk of Cork City, Ireland

5. Wandered through Liam Ruiséal’s Bookshop on Oliver Plunkett Street

This was a huge treat because this 100-year-old shop was the oldest independent bookshop in Cork and a treasure trove of old books. We were able to pick up a few books about the history of Cork here. Sadly, this shop closed in 2018.

Liam Ruiséal's Bookshop in Cork City, IReland — *Liam Ruiseal ‘s Bookshop on Oliver Plunkett Street*

6. Took Walks Along the River Lee

It was very serene. Our hotel was located on the river, so we got to see it every day.

Here are the things on on our list we weren’t able to get to:

Shandon Bells & St. Anne’s Church

Cork City Gaol (prison)

Day trip to the Blarney Stone

Cork Jazz Festival (October) and Cork Midsummer Festival (June)

Where We Ate

Other than the English Market, there was one other memorable restaurant for us: Thormond’s, a traditional Irish pub. We ate shepherd’s pie there, and it was delicious!

*Shepherd’s Pie at Thomond’s, a traditional Irish pub*

Where We Stayed

We stayed at the Imperial Hotel on South Mall Street. The location was a stone’s throw from the River Lee and very convenient in terms of shopping and restaurants.

*Imperial Hotel. Look at the height of those ceilings!*

Some Things We Learned

Currency – The local currency is the Euro (€). Credit/debit cards were widely accepted, but carrying some cash for small purchases was useful.
Weather – Cork’s weather is unpredictable, so we were glad to have layers.
Power Adapter – Ireland uses Type G power sockets (same as the UK).
Transportation – Bus Éireann runs city and regional buses, but services can be infrequent. We ended up walking everywhere and it was fine.
Driving Considerations – We didn’t rent a car, but in Ireland, people drive on the left. We also saw that parking in the city can be limited.
Early Closures – Many shops closed by 6:00 p.m.
Comfortable Shoes – Cork’s hilly streets can be tough on your feet! We were glad to have comfortable walking shoes.

Final Thoughts

Cork City, Ireland, is a destination that has a lot to offer—from rich history and stunning landscapes to amazing food and friendly locals. Even though we came with a specific purpose in mind, we really enjoyed our time there.

Originally written October 1, 2013; content refreshed in 2025

Cori McCormick

Cori is an independent journalist, adventurer, and photographer who is currently sailing around the world full-time with her husband, Roy. She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Southern California and her master’s degree in communications from California State University, Fullerton. When she’s not exploring new places, she can be found hiking or playing with pothounds.