Rebel Yell Colm O’Sullivan’s guide to Cork

EATERIES
MARKET LANE TAVERN
Tel. 021 427 4710, marketlane.ie
There’s a great atmosphere in the Market Lane Tavern on Oliver Plunkett Street. It draws its inspiration from different cuisines: you can get something like baked moussaka, if you’re feeling slightly adventurous, or just settle for fish and chips. There’s always something on the menu to grab your attention.

ORSO
Tel. 021 243 8000, orso.ie
I like ORSO, a little place on Pembroke St. which does lots of different salads. It’s great if you feel like having something light. You can grab yourself a fruit, bean or potato salad or choose from a large variety of gourmet sandwiches. Again, the location is nice, right in the centre of town.

DRINKERIES
THE MUTTON LANE INN
Patrick St. 
Tel. 021 427 3471
The Mutton Lane Inn is right in the heart of the city: an old-fashioned bar, it’s one of the oldest pubs in Cork. It’s well-known for its stout, and people pop in during the week for a quiet pint. It’s a cosy sort of place.

AN BRÓG
Oliver Plunkett St.
Tel. 021 427 0074
An Bróg is on Oliver Plunkett St. There’s something different going on every single night: a DJ one night, a live band the next. At the weekend, loads of people head to An Bróg for the night instead of a nightclub, because it stays open late.

BODEGA
Cornmarket St.
Tel. 021 427 3756
The Bodega is in a really picturesque place on Cornmarket St. not far from Lavitt’s Quay. The bar itself is very rustic but there’s a lovely archway inside that really lights up the room. Bodega does excellent food during the day, so it’s definitely a place to check out.

SOUNDERIES
THE PAVILION
Carey’s Lane Tel. 021 427 6230
My favorite live venue in Cork has to be the Pavilion. It was originally a cinema house, so there’s a very vintage feel to it. I’d say the only place in Dublin you could compare it to would maybe be the Olympia. The room lends itself to all kinds of musical genres so the atmosphere one night could be totally different to the next.

CYPRUS AVENUE
Caroline St. Tel. 021 427 6165
Cyprus Avenue, just off Oliver Plunkett St., is Cork’s equivalent of Whelan’s, a nice, intimate venue that has a great reputation for featuring artists before they hit it big. Snow Patrol played Cyprus Avenue years ago, before they took off. I think Editors played their first ever Irish show there. It’s a great place to hear international, national and local talent, before they go global.  

SHOPERIES
PLUGD
Triskel ArtS Centre,Tobin St.
Tel. 021 427 6300
Since the closure of HMV, this has become one of the last stores in the city where you can buy CDs, vinyl or whatever else. If you’re into music and find yourself in Cork city, pop in and check it out.

BOOKSHOPS
Washington Street has a couple of new and secondhand bookshops. There’s tons of interesting reading to be found, so it’s a nice area to check out.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS
OLD JAIL
Tel. 021 430 5022, corkcitygaol.com
I’d have to put the Old Jail at the top of the must-see attractions. It’s a museum now with displays and galleries galore, which really add to the experience, giving you an amazing insight into what life in the prison was like. Fascinating. 

BLARNEY STONE
Tel. 021 438 5252, blarneycastle.ie
The Blarney Stone is definitely one of the most popular things for visitors to see in Cork. Blarney village is also quite beautiful and the castle itself is a site worth seeing.

SHANDON ST.
If you really want to get a feel for Cork city, it’s worth taking a walk up Shandon St. It’s a really narrow street, overlooking the Lee and there’s a church at the top of the hill which is roughly the highest point in Cork city.

NEXT BIG THING
There is such a vibrant music scene in Cork, that it would be impossible to pick one act out as being the next big thing. But I have to mention The Hard Ground. Much as they might not like to admit it, what they do is pop/rock that has universal appeal. They could be huge. There’s also The Vincents, a five-piece rock band – I’m not even going to attempt to describe what they sound like! Both are destined for big things.
See thehardground.com and facebook.com/thevincentsindrag