Getting To Cork
Visitors from overseas will probably find that flying is the most convenient method for getting to Cork. Aer Lingus , Aer Arann and British Midlands fly from a number of British cities including London, Birmingham, Leeds and Glasgow. Ryanair offer budget flights from Dublin, London & Liverpool to Cork.
Those flying from further afield will often be able to avail of through-flight deals, often involving a connection in London. Another option is flying to Dublin or Shannon, the latter being a 90 minute drive from Cork. More information regarding this course can be found on the website of Aer Rianta, the Irish aviation authority, who also run a site on Cork Airport.
Ferry crossings are another possibility. Swansea-Cork Ferries sail between the Welsh city of Swansea and Cork from mid March to early November. Irish Ferries also sail from Pembroke, Cherbourg and Roscoff to Rosslare (a two hour drive from Cork).
The Irish rail network is centred on Dublin, so travelling from the capital is a straightforward affair. However, those arriving from other areas, particularly the north, west and south-east, may find they have to make connections and be brought out of their way for long parts of the journey. All services are operated by Iarnród Éireann. The main bus network is run by Bus Éireann, and is generally more comprehensive.
Arrival
Airport You can take a taxi or bus to Cork City. The journey time is usually around 15-20 minutes, although rush-hour traffic jams are common. Car-hire is also available.
Ferry Port On arrival at the ferry dock at Ringaskiddy, take the N28 which will bring you onto Cork’s South Ring Road. At the Kinsale Road Roundabout, turn right and take the N27 to the city centre. There’s also a bus service.
Train Station A taxi rank is located outside the station. The city centre is a 10-minute walk away.
Bus Station The bus station is a short walk from Patrick St, the main thoroughfare. A taxi rank is located on Parnell Place, otherwise you can catch all local buses to suburban and country destinations from here.
Rail
Cork doesn’t have an extensive local rail network. There are no suburban trains and only four local towns can be reached by train. Trains to Cobh (also serving Fota) run roughly every hour on weekdays. Mallow and Charleville lie on the Dublin line. The former is served at least every two hours (much more frequently at peak times) from 5am to 8pm on weekdays, the latter less often. Millstreet is on the Tralee line and on weekdays is served roughly every two hours from 11am to 8pm. All services operate from Kent Station on the Glanmire Rd. For travel details, call into the Iarnród Éireann Travel Centre at 65 Patrick St (T 450 4888).
Buses
Virtually all areas of the city and county can be reached by bus. All services operate from the Bus Station on Parnell Place, although suburban buses can also be caught from the bus stops dotted along Patrick St, the Grand Parade and the South Mall. The suburban services are the most frequent, but there are also regular buses to satellite towns such as Ballincollig and Carrigaline. Services to country towns are less frequent, and some areas may only have one or two buses a day.
Taxis
Taxi ranks are to be found on Patrick St and outside the bus and train stations. Finding a taxi late at night can prove difficult, and the queues outside the cab firms when the clubs close are often enormous. The following cab firms operate round the clock:
Apollo Cabs, 31 South Main St, T 427 1111
Shandon Cabs, 42 McCurtain St, T 450 2255
Wilton Cabs, Wilton Shopping Centre, Wilton, T 450 2255
Driving
To drive in Ireland you need a current driving licence from any jurisdiction. If driving your own car, ensure your insurance is sufficient. Other points to note: driving is on the left, the speed limit is 55mph/88kmph unless otherwise indicated and seatbelts are mandatory. Disc-parking is in operation, discs can be bought from newsagents and should be displayed on the car.