Summer of plenty on the banks of the Lee

Never a city to rest on its laurels, Cork throws up another smorgasbord of cultural delights with the annual Midsummer Festival running from the 20 June to 1 July. Now firmly established as one of the country’s premier showcases for music, theatre, dance and a whole lot more, the Midsummer Festival has expanded its programme and is more ambitious in scope than ever before.
From the majesty of Corcadorca’s outdoor staging of The Tempest in Fitzgerald Park, to the seductive charms of the world famous Spiegeltent, Cork is bracing itself for a whirlwind of national and international creative expression.
Nowhere is safe from the Midsummer madness. The Unitarian Church will be a stable for some incendiary new theatre, while Cobh will be home to some innovating and inspiration sound instillations. The Victorian splendour of St. Fin Barres Cathedral will host classical recitals and a gospel choir competition. The old world charm of the Everyman Palace will house Enda Walsh’s very modern comic fable ‘Chatroom’. A cosmic big top in the Mardyke is the location for ImMortal­­2, which has been hailed as the best ever UK circus show.
And that’s just a taster of the magical Midsummer days and nights on offer.
With the gas craic you’ll be having at the Midsummer festival, food and lodgings are also prerequisites. Well, kick back and allow Hot Press to take you through the best of the options on offer.
Naturally there is a welter on places to choose from in Cork City and its environs, but one of these three fine establishments should with more than cater for your pampering priorities. First up is the Radisson SAS Hotel and Spa, which opened its doors in June 2005, was the first international brand hotel to move into Cork city. It offers new standards of style and service. Located in Little Island, the hotel is just 10 minutes from the city centre and Cork International Airport. Its close proximity to the city centre is ideal for the shopping guest and perfect for those who want to enjoy the social and entertainment offering of the city centre.
Featuring 19th Century Victorian Ditchley House, the hotel is a fusion of old world charm and new world cosmopolitan and sophisticated style. The interior is modern, contemporary and elegant. The hotel bedrooms are designed with comfort and style as a priority. All bedrooms feature plasma televisions which provide Movie Channels, fully stocked mini bar, personal safe and modem point.
Breakfast at the Radisson SAS Hotel and Spa Cork is a real treat The Super Buffet breakfast has a total of 63 mouth watering items to choose from. The ‘Island Grillroom’ restaurant at the hotel has a buy local policy. After dinner, guests can retire to ‘The Banks Bar’ to meet and enjoy cocktails or a nightcap.
The Retreat Spa features nine treatment rooms offering a range of luxurious Elemis treatments, a relaxation suite and state-of-the-art gymnasium with Precor equipment. In addition, there is a unique 18 m hydrotherapy pool which incorporates massage seats and jets, bubble seats, geysers, loungers and a children’s pool.
For those of you who would like to kick back with a group of your buddies in tow, then the UCC Campus Accommodation offers the perfect balance of luxury and affordability. UCC Campus Accommodation provides Summer Accommodation from mid June to the end of August. They offer a range of standard and ensuite accommodation totally nearly 1000 rooms in four apartment complexes.
The apartments vary in size from three to six bedrooms, most of which are now ensuite. Each apartment is stylishly designed and has a fully fitted modern kitchen and comfortable living room.
Located within walking distance of the University and the City Centre, the complexes are the perfect base for short term and long term guests. UCC itself is well worth a visit. Founded in 1845, the University is an exciting blend of old and new. The imposing lime stone buildings of the main quadrangle are accentuated and complemented by the various additions to the University such as the Lewis Glucksman Gallery.
UCC Campus Accommodation is an ideal location for individuals, groups, conferences, families and students. Catering can be pre-booked for groups in one of the campus restaurants.
Finally, if the hustle and bustle of the inner-city is not what to your liking, and instead you yearn for the solace of the sea breeze, then the Trident Hotel in idyllic Kinsale is the perfect place to rest your weary head. The Trident Hotel is spectacularly situated on the water’s edge - a prime position for you to enjoy the magnificent views from the bedrooms and guest areas. Relax, unwind and let the calming influence of the views and the water take effect...
A recent multi-million euro development has upgraded the hotel facilities and added 30 beautifully-appointed executive bedrooms and 9 magnificent suites. With a total of 75 bedrooms, an award-winning restaurant and bar and an excellent range of conferencing and banqueting facilities, the Trident now offers all of the facilities and services expected of a modern four star hotel.
Enjoy scenic walks... explore the narrow, winding streets of Kinsale and its craft shops, cafes and galleries... immerse yourself in the history of the Battle of Kinsale... visit Charles Fort and the International Museum of Wine... linger over mouth-watering menus in restaurant windows... and after all that hard work, unwind at the end of the day in the sauna, steam-room or jacuzzi.
Kinsale is also an ideal gateway from which to explore the rugged coastline, white sandy beaches and many colourful towns of the West Cork region.
With somewhere to call your temporary home taken care of, the perfect opportunity presents itself to sample some of Cork’s top class culinary fare. Any gourmand will have their appetite sated by these premier eateries.
First up is the impossibly refined surroundings of Greenes on MacCurtain Street. This swanky brasserie is offers some of the finest of new world cuisine at a very decent price. Unlike restaurants of a similar stature, Greenes does not creak under the weight of haughty pretensions, but instead cultivates a convivial atmosphere in its unique surroundings. So what if you’re credit card has a migraine? It will be worth it.
Obviously not everyone is going to want to eat in such a rarefied atmosphere so be thankful that Cork enjoys myriad choices for those who want to eat and go. The funky Foodsteps, also on MacCurtain Street, has a whole range of delicious savoury crepes and hot dogs on offer, with plenty of veggie options to boot. The Crawford Café, beside the Opera House, throws up a delicious bistro menu of soups, salads, modern and traditional cuisine, all within the greater confines of the celebrated Crawford Municipal Art Gallery.
Café Paradiso, a seminal vegetarian restaurant on Lancaster Quay, is regarded as one of the very best of its kind, not only on the banks of the Lee, but in the whole of the country. Its forward looking attitude to veggie cooking has won it fans from across the foody spectrum. Stair Anise on Bridge Street has established itself as one of the best Mediterranean restaurants in the city within its brief three years of existence.
Finally, if you simply want to indulge in an old fashioned pigging out session, the nonpareil greasy grub up for grabs in Jackie Lennox’s chipper at the top of Barrack Street is oh so worth the slightly out of the way trip.
With all that soakage, you’ll probably be seeking out some half way decent watering holes. Cork has some of the best old man pubs in the country, well worth ditching the old allegiance to Guinness for and indulging in a Murphy’s or Beamish.
Counihan’s on Pembroke Street is a certified institution in the city. A reliable source of banter, craic and live music, its congenial punters will always make time for blow-ins like you. The Abbey Tavern on Gillabbey St. is another certified local gem as is Charlies on Union Quay, which is an early house to boot, if you’re that way inclined.
Those in search of some more contemporary vibes should veer towards the newly refurbished hot spot du jour, The Roundy, which has sponged off some of the poseur habitués whose former allegiances lay solely with the cavernous Bodega.
The holy trinity of sister pubs, Sin E, The Oval and Mutton Lane, each have a careworn charm but with a modern crowd. Any late night revellers should wander towards The Brog, on Oliver Plunkett Street or The Slate, across the road.
If it’s music you’re after the Fred Zeppelin’s on McCurtain Street revels in its status as the rock out post in Cork. The LV on MacCurtain Street has a more relaxed atmosphere, but also has regular blasts of live tunes. Gig hunters could do worse than poke a head into Cypress Avenue off Oliver Plunkett Street to see what’s kicking off.
The teeny Tiki Lounge above Cashman’s on Paul St. will often house the city’s more eclectic noise.
So that’s Cork in all its splendour. Okay so it’s not everything, but you’ll want to find out a few little secrets of your own, won’t you?