Home

  • My first post is about Cork

    Okay, I’m still learning how to use this to post all these amazing stories I want to tell, so here’s my first post. Now, I wouldn’t be writing a lot for this first post — I am just trying out this interface after all.

    So, perhaps I will tell you all about the place I am from, which is Cork, a truly grand old place.

    Now, Cork may not be as big a city as Dublin, but it is a very vibrant city. Located in the south of Ireland, Cork started out as a monastic settlement in the 500’s and became recognized as a city from the 900’s. Here are some of its many attractions:

    • Blarney Castle – Arguably the most famous landmark in Cork, where you can kiss the Blarney Stone if you are wanting to improve your speech.
    • Titanic Experience – Take a day trip to the lovely port town of Cobh, which was the last port of call for the ill-fate Titanic.
    • The English Market – Created in 1788 and located in the city center, this market is packed full of the food, such as fresh seafood, traditional Cork fare and artisanal cheeses. The English Market is one of the many reasons that food is a huge attraction in Cork!

    I dare say that Cork has a most wonderfully delicious food scene. In addition to The English Market, there are a huge host of artisanal cafes, pubs and microbreweries in Cork! Here’s a list of the foods you must try if you ever visit Cork:

    • Cork Spiced Beef – traditionally cured and spiced delicacy
    • Disheen – type of blood sausage
    • Farmhouse cheeses – Like that from Coolea, Durrus and Gubbeen
    • Murphy’s Ice Cream – a famous hand-made ice cream originally from Dingle in the southwest of Ireland
    • Smoked Salmon – try the traditionally wood-smoked salmon

    And don’t forget about the full Irish breakfast, which comes with pork sausages, black pudding, rashers (bacon, if you don’t know what rashers are), baked beans, fried egg, tomatoes and toast. This is what I serve to my guests at my little B&B — well, usually, although I do try to accommodate my guests for whatever they would like to eat for breakfast — within reason, of course!

    Anyway, this is just a little information about the place I was originally from and which I try to visit as often as possible, usually during the off-season as my B&B may not be so busy.