Having a Cork-ing great time

Most of the inhabitants of the city of Cork are born and bred here - they think of it as the best city in Ireland and are fiercely proud of their town. And the people are part of what makes Cork a great place to enjoy a city break. Whatever your interests, you're sure to find great craic.

Southern Ireland's second city has plenty to see and do and over a two-day city break travelbite.co.uk got a sample of what it has to offer.

One of the highlights of visiting Cork - and something that I would strongly recommend any visitor to Cork to experience - is the English Market.

Situated between Grand Parade and Patrick Street, the covered market, established by James I in 1610, houses 42 different traders selling a gourmet selection of fresh produce, organic meats, baked delicacies and specialty cheeses.

Not to be missed is the wonderful Farmgate Café, located in the gallery above the market.

Sample some of the freshest, tastiest local food you will have eaten in years, ranging from oysters from O'Connell's Fish downstairs to traditional Irish lamb stew or the baked fillets of Arctic Charr with braised fennel, which is sourced from the only people in Ireland exclusively farming the rare fish.

Naturally what is on the menu depends on what is available in the English Market each day, but you are certain to leave satisfied and will be served by staff who have a real passion for food and are happy to answer any questions.

After the market take a Sea Safari on Cork Harbour - the second largest natural harbour in the world after Sydney. This is great for catching a sense of the city's history and scenic beauty.

After being equipped with a lifejacket and waterproof clothing, we were shown to our seats inside the orange RIB (rigid inflatable boat). The 1.5 to 2.5 hour sea tour combines an irresistible mixture of high speed thrills with interesting historical commentary.

Visitors can take in Spike Island, from where a number of convicts were sent to Tasmania in Australia and, if you're lucky, you may even get to see dolphins.

The combination of a lack of sleep, a boozy lunch and a high-speed boat trip predictably left us feeling a bit spaced out after the first day, so it was relatively early to bed in preparation for another full day exploring Cork.

The Cork City Gaol and Heritage Centre operated as a prison from 1824-1923 but the impressive building is nowadays used as a site for radio broadcasting as well as an events venue (this year it hosted the taste of Cork food and drink festival).

The restored gaol opened to the public in 1993. Cells are furnished with lifelike figures - each telling a real-life story about a former inmate.

Cornelius Kelher was arrested at the age of 15 for being drunk and disorderly and spent his whole adult life in prison before being sent to the nearby asylum. Mary Macdonald who was sentenced to two months for accosting a gentleman.

For visitors who want to learn about daily life for the prisoners, gaolers and governor, tours are available in 12 languages and there is also an informative audio visual show.

You can't come to Cork without visiting one of Ireland's most famous tourist attractions: Blarney Castle, the home of the legendary Blarney Stone.

Built nearly six hundred years ago by Cormac MacCarthy, the castle is beautifully situated amongst stunning grounds.

The famous stone is situated at the top of the tower and once kissed, is said to imbue the kisser with the gift of eloquence. If you want to obtain the gift of the gab, you'll have to climb some seriously narrow, winding stairs but it is well worth it for the views you get at the top.

Cobh Heritage Centre at Deepwater Quay is another fascinating stop for history fans .

Here you can trace the stories of the millions of Irish who left Ireland between 1848 and 1950 following the Great Famine and ensuing poverty, crop failures and dearth of opportunities.

Over six million adults and children fled the country during this period and about 2.5 million of these departed from Cobh, making it the single most important port of emigration.

Outside the centre you can see a statue of the 15-year-old Annie Moore who, accompanied by her brothers Anthony and Philip, became the first person to make the four to six week journey to Ellis Island in New York on December 20th 1891 as a result of the new immigration system.

The Cork Midsummer Festival runs every summer (this year from June 15th to July 5th) and features 21 days and nights of theatre, music, comedy and entertainment.

It has proved a significant tourist drawcard but plenty of locals enjoy the festival too. And that is the great thing about this corner of Ireland. We enjoyed a performance of Super Stan goes Country at the Spiegeltent and enjoyed the craic.

For more information on what to see and do in Cork see the Failte Ireland website.

How to get to Cork

There are a number of ways of getting across the Irish sea and we opted to take a Eurolines coach from London Victoria coach station. Departing at 19:00 in the evening and arriving at our hotel in Cork at 10:30 the following morning, made for a long journey but there are numerous benefits to taking the coach. Eurolines fares to Cork are available from £21 single and £39 return, so it's a great way to enjoy European city breaks during the credit crunch. There is also the obvious eco-friendly advantage to take into account and the coach and ferry staff will do everything to make your journey as comfortable as possible. You'll also arrive right in the centre of Cork, close to the hotels, shops and restaurants.

Where to stay in Cork

We stayed at the Gresham Metropole. Situated in the heart of Cork City Centre, this hotel has very comfortable rooms, great food in the Riverview Restaurant and an atmospheric bar. It is also just a short walk to the main shopping area, a selection of restaurants and a number of the main tourist attractions.

Natasha Hegde