Best Museums in Mallow

"Cork City Old Gaol Cork City which is located 2km from Cork's main thoroughfare, this castle like prison once housed 19th C. prisoners, often in wretched conditions. Wandering through the wings of Cork City Gaol, the atmosphere suggests you are accompanied by the shuffling feet of inmates, each representing their particular period in Irish history from pre-famine times to the foundation of the State."

"This imposing former prison is well worth a visit, if only to get a sense of how awful life was for prisoners a century ago. An audio tour (€2 extra) guides you around the restored cells, which feature models of..."

"If you’re wondering what to do in Cork City that you can combine with a decent bit of brunch, make your way to Blackrock Castle. You can visit the castle, first, and then head off on a nice looped walk that follows a former railway line (it’s now paved). The walk stretches for 8km and takes 1.5 hours to finish, but you can follow it up with some of the best brunch in Cork at the Castle Cafe."

"The Blackrock Castle Observatory may be old (the building dates back to 1582) but it’s always had an eye on the horizon. Originally, the watchtower was built to defend Cork from pirates, the Spanish, and even (in the case of one English Lord) Corkonians themselves. With walls thick enough to withstand cannon fire, it presented a formidable defense to marauders."

"First constructed as a defence against pirates and invaders, the castellated fortifications of Blackrock stand proudly over the River Lee, with a tower that spirals several feet above the castle. Razed by fire in 1722, the original building no longer stands here. Architects reproduced it in 1829, adding three new stories to its height."

"Crawford Art Gallery, a National Cultural Institution and regional art museum for Munster, is dedicated to the visual arts, both historic and contemporary. Located in the heart of Cork city, beside the Opera House, the Gallery is a critical part of Ireland's cultural and tourism infrastructure, welcoming over 200,000 visitors a year. Admission to the Gallery and to its exhibitions is free."

"Located on the leafy grounds of University College Cork, at its main entrance on Western Road, this sleek gallery was unveiled in 2004 to critical acclaim, winning a tranche of awards for the Irish architecture firm O’Donnell + Tuomey, who designed it. Boasting three floors of exhibition space in a swish concrete-and-glass building, the gallery hosts three temporary exhibitions each year. The gallery’s mission is to support the research, creation and exploration of the visual arts, and it offers a genuinely fresh perspective on contemporary works from Ireland and beyond."

"Another UCC building, the sleek Lewis Glucksman Gallery, designed by Irish architects O’Donnell + Tuomey, is one of Cork’s newest buildings and one of the most widely praised, having earned many accolades since being added to the campus in 2004. As well as being named Ireland’s Best Public Building in 2005, its architecture also won a UK Civic Trust award, a RIBA award and was shortlisted for the Royal Institute of British Architects Stirling Prize. The wood-covered gallery building was designed to fit seamlessly in with its sylvan surroundings."

"Opened in 1788 and influenced by the covered markets built in English cities, the market was completely restored in the early 1980s. Today both tourists and locals enjoy a diverse range of Irish food and culinary delights on oer – including quality meats and fish, herbs and spices, fruit and vegetables, cakes, cheeses and much more. The Queen’s Visit – HM Queen Elizabeth II visited Cork’s English Market on the final day of her Irish visit."

"Every Saturday morning in the centre of Midleton in East Cork is held one of the most popular Farmers Markets in the region. From a small start a number of years ago, this very pleasant weekend experience has gone from strength to strength. Fresh locally produce, breads, juices, vegetable, gourmet snacks and often times a bit of live music to add […]"

"Every Saturday morning in Midleton town centre holds one of the most popular Farmers Markets in the region. The market sells a range of fresh locally produced homemade cakes, breads, gourmet snacks and woodfire pizza."

"They provide some of Ireland’s best outdoor family recreation opportunities from walking and hiking to mountain biking and from family picnics to fishing and nature watching"

"A 19th-century estate surrounded by pristine gardens and a fragrant arboretum, the handsome Fota House provides one of County Cork’s most splendid attractions. There’s a small fee to enter Fota Gardens, but it’s well worth the outlay; there are acres of tropical gardens to explore. You’ll also discover a unique walled garden, an Italian arboretum, a fernery and a lavish orangery."

"The guided house tour will take you on a journey through the grand décor of the principle rooms and behind the scenes to the exquisite boudoir and charming Victorian nursery."

"One of the nicest dining rooms in the country, this is an oasis of serenity in the heart of Cork city in one of the country’s major galleries. The lunch menu remains an immaculate reimagining of the culinary ethos of the doyenne of Irish food, Myrtle Allen, who first opened it as a cafe some 30-odd years ago. The decidedly homey and traditional fare — including eggy quiches, roasted bone marrow, devilled kidneys, and home-baked cakes — nonetheless does not seem remotely out of place in these grand surroundings, but cooking like this is an art form in itself."

"Located in the cultural setting of the Crawford Art Gallery in the heart of Cork city center is the renowned Crawford Gallery Café. Situated on the ground floor of the gallery building, the café is an eclectic but inviting space. There is rarely an empty seat and there is often a short queue in the mornings as visitors eagerly arrive to enjoy a delicious breakfast."