Attractions Nearby
Cobh is situated in the Port of Cork on the Great Island in the heart of the South West of Ireland, an ideal location for vacations in Ireland, or as a base for touring Ireland. Nearby, within an easy drive are many of Ireland's best known attractions. The region is also renowned for
family fun and sporting activities with two championship golf courses, Fota and Cork Golf Club a short distance from the island.
The wonderfully restored
Fota House and world renowned arboretum and gardens as well as
Fota Wildlife Park are just 4 miles from Cobh. Here, you can come face to face with over 90 species of wildlife. Other attractions nearby include
Barryscourt Castle, a fully restored 15th Century Tower House, similar to the famous
Blarney Castle, just north of Cork City. Close by, the
Old Midleton Distillery holds the largest pot still in the world and will bring you to the center of Irish whiskey making. Additional guided walking tours of Ireland are available around the historic town of
Youghal, home to Sir Walter Raleigh.
Cork City, just 14 miles from Cobh, is Ireland's third city and home to 123,000 people. It is a compact, vibrant city, filled with history, charm, culture and creativity and famous for the friendliness of its people and sports. The City was founded by St Finbarr over 1,000 years ago it has grown from a trading merchant city to a cosmopolitan 21st century city of today. It began on an island in the swampy estuary of the River Lee (the name Corcaigh means a marsh).Today the river flows through Cork City in two main channels. There are many attractions in the city, including
Finbarrs Cathedral built in 1865 on the site of the monastery founded by St. Finbarr in the 7th Century.
Also of interest is the
Blackrock Castle Observatory, the
Cork City Gaol and the
Cork English Market. The market is one of the oldest of its kind and has been trading since 1788. It draws on the best local produce from the surrounding countryside and the superb Atlantic seafood from the Cork coastline.
The City has a rich cultural heritage and was the European Capital of Culture in 2005. There are several galleries in the City well worth visiting with an eclectic mixture of old and new. These include the
Crawford Gallery, the Cork
Vision Centre and the
Lewis Glucksman Gallery which is located in the beautiful campus of University College Cork.
The seaside town of
Kinsale is only 29 miles from Cobh and well worth a visit. 90 Minutes will take you to the famous
Lakes of Killarney or to Waterford, to visit the famous
Waterford Crystal factory.
| Ariel view of Kinsale |
Friendly giraffes at Fota Wildlife Park |
