All this week the
Cork French Film Festival is running in Ireland’s second city and to mark the occasion, MyHome.ie is focusing on the country’s biggest county and profiling some of the unbeatable homes and attractions that it has to offer.We’ll also be speaking to one of our estate agents in the area to get their view on Cork life and offering you a chance to win tickets to two events at the French Film Festival.
The 23
rd year it has been running, the festival kicked off on Sunday and will run throughout the week with events at the likes of The Gate Cinema, Ballymaloe House, Farmgate, and the Triskel Arts Centre.Amongst many highlights of the event will be a talk with legendary screenwriter Jean-Claude Carriére on Thursday evening in UCC.
Cork is Ireland’s largest county and it’s certainly big on attractions too.
The French Film Festival is just one of many major events held there throughout the year.
It is also not short of attractions. From the Blarney Stone to Fota Wildlife Park and Mizen Head (Ireland’s most southern point), there’s plenty to see and do in Cork and this year is a special occasion for Cobh as it marks the 100th anniversary of the Titanic’s arrival there on what was its last stop before sinking en route to America.
A popular destination for tourists, Cork’s ports also link Ireland to Swansea in Wales and Roscoff in France.
With a fine sporting tradition, Cork is also renowned for its top quality shops and pubs and restaurants. The Mahon Point Shopping Centre, for example, is the largest in the whole of Munster.
Famous Cork figures include former Republican leader Michael Collins, former Taoiseach Jack Lynch, ex-Ireland captain Roy Keane, rugby stars Ronan O’Gara and Donncha O’Callaghan, actor Cillian Murphy, presenter Graham Norton, guitarist Rory Gallagher, world champion athlete Sonia O’Sullivan and two time Olympic gold medal winner Dr Pat O’Callaghan.
A former European City of Culture from 2005, a signposted walking tour makes Cork an easy place to see.
Amongst many respected pubs in the city are The Long Valley in Winthrop Street, The Old Oak and The Grafton in Oliver Plunkett Street, The Franciscan Well in North Mall, The Bodega in Coal Quay, Reardens in Washington Street and Larry Tompkin’s in Lavitts Quay.
For eating out, The Farmgate in English Market, The Cornstone in Cornmarket Street, Liberty Grill in Washington Street and Jacques Restaurant in Phoenix Street all come highly recommended.
For shopping Patrick Street, Prices Street, MacCurtain Street, French Church Street and Opera Lane all come highly recommended along with the likes of the Carrigaline Shopping Centre, Mahon Point Shopping Centre, Douglas Shopping Centre, Blackpool Shopping Centre and the Wilton Shopping Centre.
With top hotels and B&Bs throughout the county, there’s no reason not to visit Cork and for those already there, their pride in their county proves that it really is a fantastic place to live.
To coincide with the event MyHome.ie are delighted to be able to offer two tickets to any screening this week in the Gate Cinema and two tickets to “Belleville Rendez-vous”, an original stage adaptation of Sylvian Chomet’s Academy Award-nominated animation film, which will take place in the Triskel Arts Theatre on Friday night at 8pm.
To be in with a chance of winning tickets to these events simply tell us how many years the Cork French Film Festival has been running.
Entries can be made below or via our Facebook page.
To get a real flavour of the county we spoke to a number of our agents to get their view on what makes Cork such a great place to live.
Janet from Sherry FitzGerald O’Donovan, who have offices in Mallow and Midleton, was the lucky winner of two tickets to Memorsion by Manuel Chantre at the Triskel Arts Centre this Thursday night as part of the Cork French Film Festival.
Asked what she felt the best thing about Cork was she said it was the “friendliness of the people and the beautiful scenery,” while she highlighted West Cork as an area that “continues to hold its own as a popular place to buy property.”
Janet’s favourite restaurant in Cork is O’Callaghan Walshes Seafood Restaurant, The Square, Rosscarbery, because “the atmosphere is fantastic and the food is sublime.”
Her favourite pub, meanwhile, was Shanley’s in Clonakility, which she says offers great craic and loads of music.
Among the many areas and sites she would recommend people to visit include the Model Railway Village in Clonakilty, Nolan’s Bar in Rosscarbery, The Heritage Centre in Baltimore and Le Jolie Brise Pizzeria and Seafood Restaurant at the Waterfront Hotel, also in Baltimore.
She would recommend visitors to stay in either The West Cork Hotel in Skibbereen or the Inchydoney Island Hotel in Clonakilty while she also recommended De Barra’s Bar in Clonakilty as a great place for live music.
The Mahon Point Shopping Centre is Janet’s recommendation for those who like to shop while other events she said she is looking forward to include the Taste of West Cork Festival in Skibbereen, which is scheduled to take place between September 10th and 16th this year.
