Cork is the 2nd largest city in the republic or Ireland so you won't fall short of activities and culture. Live Music, theatre performances and poetry are found in abundance in cork city. You can unwind listening to the wonderful words of local poets and dance the night away to live music. You can discover well know musicians as well as local and traditional Irish bands in this city. In this massive city there is something for every taste. This is also true to the dining experience with the multicultural cuisine which is offered. Here you can get any food imaginable. Try corks traditional foods, tripe and drisheen in the local Irish restaurants. A great time to visit cork is when the food festival is on offering tasters and local sourced good in the street. Why not hire a car and take a 20 mile car ride to Fota Wildlife Park.
The park is stretched over a generous forty acres and has over 70 different species of animals including deer and giraffes. The only animal which is confined by fences is the cheater. Here the animals are able to run free giving you a taste of them in their natural habitat. With a hire car you will be able to visit the many castles and historical houses which surround Cork. Bantry house is a stunning manor house previously lived in by Egerton Shelswell-White. Revel in the history of the house and the rich interior as this elegant house is filled with a collection of unique furniture, original tapestries and paintings. The house lies within magnificent gardens filled with colourful flowers in full bloom and next to a sparkling lake. You can relax in the garden and have a light lunch of tea and cake in the tearoom.
Pack up a picnic into the rented car and set off on a 40 minute drive for a day at one of Corks close-by beaches. With sand between your toes surrounded by the sea as well as sublime countryside you will really feel as though you have found a perfect place to rest. If you don't feel like getting a rental car you could always travel by public transport, this will also give you the opportunity to do some sightseeing and people watching along the way. Being a major city, Cork offers many transport links and friendly residents so you will never find yourself lost or unable to get to your destination.