'Don't overlook Ireland's second city' - The New York Times visits Cork

36 Hours in Cork

Compact Cork is a city for walkers.

Bastion, Kinsale

English Market, Cork. Photo: Fáílte Ireland

Shopping in Cork. Photo: Fáilte Ireland

thumbnail: Compact Cork is a city for walkers.
thumbnail: Bastion, Kinsale
thumbnail: English Market, Cork. Photo: Fáílte Ireland
thumbnail: Shopping in Cork. Photo: Fáilte Ireland
Pól Ó Conghaile

Has the Rebel County fallen off the tourism radar? Not according to the New York Times, which has just visited... and been mightily impressed.

Dublin, Belfast and Galway may have stolen some of Cork's tourism thunder in recent years, but the paper's Travel section has some solid advice:

"Don’t overlook Ireland’s second city, with its many churches, pubs, local beers and an increasingly diverse array of restaurants."

A surge in craft breweries, exciting restaurants and streets "glowing with Christmas lights" are all highlights of a 36 Hours piece by Brendan Spiegal.

Shopping in Cork. Photo: Fáilte Ireland

Spiegel recommends kicking off with a stroll around the UCC campus and its Glucksman Gallery, before moseying into the city centre.

There, he goes on to suggest South Indian cuisine at Iyer's, additive-free brews at Elbow Lane Brew & Smoke House, a healthy breakfast at The Rocket Man Food Co., and shopping at Carousel and Salingers, among several other stops.

After walking the city, The New York Times tips a trip to Kinsale (Bastion, the Bullman and Cask are recommendations in the Wild Atlantic Way hotspot).

With some 3.5 million paid print and digital subscribers, The Grey Lady is one of the most influential titles in global journalism - even the briefest of mentions is capable of creating huge exposure for businesses.

Bastion, Kinsale

It's just the latest in a series of end-of-year plaudits for Irish tourism, too.

This month, National Geographic Traveler named Dublin on its Best of Travel list for next year, while Lonely Planet tipped Belfast and the Causeway Coast as the world's No.1 travel region for 2018.

Last night, Ireland was named “Best destination: Europe” at the annual Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards in New York.

It's the fourth year in a row that it has won the award.

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