One week in Ireland - Cork

Cork is Ireland's largest county, and the second largest city in the Republic. It often promotes itself as 'the real capital'. Similarly to Dublin, it's got great nightlife, with a good selection of pubs and clubs.

Cork city: 1-2 days
Your main landmark in Cork will be the St Patrick's Street/Grand Parade, the main shopping street. The bus tour is a good way to get acquainted with the city, or if you fancy a walking tour (and Cork is pretty compact), try Walk Cork. I did one of their tours before, and found it excellent.

• St Fin Barre's Cathedral
• Cork city gaol
• Cork public museum
• Fitzgerald Park
• CIT campus
• The Mardyke

For a proper old school pub, try the Castle Inn. Ask for the snug if you've got a small group of six or seven, and they'll let you in if nobody else is there. Other pubs in Cork that I've sampled and liked (though this is by no means a comprehensive list)

• The Oval
• Fionnbarra - great food, decent beer garden
• Sober Lane
• An Bróg
• Fred Zeppelins - rock bar, though they wouldn't play NIN for us one night. Instead they played Billy Joel

Outside of Cork is Blarney Castle, where you can kiss the famous Blarney stone, and get the gift of the gab. And possibly a disease or two.