A tantilizing glimpse of Cork, Ireland

Ahhhh!!! So much to see in Cork, so little time!! The only perception I had of Cork was that locals partook in lots of sailing, including the biannual Cork Week Sailing Festival, a racing event that many New Zealand sailors aspire to go sailing in. Cork, a major Irish seaport, is the Republic of Ireland’s second largest city. Literally meaning,“swamp,” Cork is often referred to as the “real capital of Ireland” by its residents. There is much rivalry between Cork and Dublin. Cork people consider themselves ‘different’ to the rest of Ireland, often referring to themselves as ‘rebels.’ Indeed they have their own accent, very musical and pleasant to listen to, which is great, because they tend to love talking! On Saturday morning, after a pleasant evening relaxing in the Collins Bar at comfortable Carrigaline Court Hotel, we visited the English Market in the Cork City Centre. Established in 1788, many stallholders, often run by families, have been there for over 100 years. The current market buildings were constructed in the mid 19th century until they destroyed by fire in 1980 and had to be extensively refurbished by Cork City Council. Today the Cork English Markets is very multicultural, selling a huge variety of food and fresh produce, all beautifully displayed, and attract local visitors and international travellers alike. Even Queen Elizabeth visited during her recent trip to Ireland in June.

The shopping precinct of Cork has changed much over the past 15 years, and is perfect for to go shopping along its traditional streets,

to admire the eclectic array of old and new buildings, and indulge in a tad of shopping followed b a delicious coffee in the eclectic Bookshop Coffee house – as we did. Oops! Lunch time and that means time to go sailing with the Royal Cork Yacht club……

Visiting Dublin, Ireland

Dublin, Ireland, the city of romantics, poets authors and artists. Oscar Wilde, James Joyce Today a city empty apartments and shops, shoppng mals, negative building values and unemployment. Very old and interesting buildings nestled amongst newer uglier ones. A traveller needs time to explore a new city however with not much ot it available we elected to bipass a visit to the Guinness factory - which, we found out was an excellent historical display culminating in one of the best high views of Dublin, complemented by a glass of Guinness beer in one’s hand. Instead we walked through Dublin City to visit the Book of Kels at Trinity College. Our Trinity College guide was a young graduate student who was saving to study as a lawyer in London later in the year. With typical Irish humour he had us Dublin' in laugher as he described the triumphs and tribulations of the construction f the university buildings - many shortcuts were made, usually as a result of lack of funds. The book of Kels exhibition was very well presented - much information about the book and the beautifully intricate art. What patience and precision those early artists had! The Long Room library at Trinity College with its high arched ceiling and books reaching to it from the floor is the storage place of all old and new published books. It had a fascinating display of publications - opened - going back centuries with details about the artistic and publication techniques. I have to say I am not sure if I would return to Dublin - probaby because we spent so little time there and therefore did not absorb the feel of the city - unlike Belfast, but that is another story.