Visitors can opt to either stay in and amongst the atmosphere of the city centre which has an abundance of hotels, hostels and B&B’s to choose from, or relax and unwind in some of the resorts, hotels or traditional B&B’s in the wider Cork area, which can be easily accessed by car, bus or taxi from Cork Airport.

Cork hotels boast state-of-the-art conference facilities, fully equipped to cater for groups of from 6 all the way up to 1,000 delegates, making Cork the perfect destination for a convention in Ireland.

Cork also hosts an array of annual, mouth-watering foodie festivals that are guaranteed to satisfy even the most discerning palates. From the Murphy’s Cork Oyster and Seafood Festival in the City Centre to Feast; an East Cork food festival based in the town of Midleton, the festival is a fresh blend of conversations, dinners, produce, markets, foraging, mixology, producers, landscape, heritage and storytelling. A Taste of West Cork Food Festival not only celebrates the local food but is a celebration of everyone who helps along the way bringing these culinary delights from farm to fork. Whether you’re a carnivore, herbivore, vegan or just a “fussy eater”, Cork is guaranteed to have something that will tickle your taste buds.

Cork – A hub of educational opportunities / Where learning never stops

Named Irish University of the Year on five separate occasions, University College Cork has been producing graduates and scholars for over 175 years. In the latter part of the 00’s UCC was restructured from it’s original seven faculties and split into four colleges: Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Science; Business and Law; Medicine and Health; and Science, Engineering and Food Science.

The University has also been ranked in the top 3% of universities worldwide for its research capabilities. Innovation and Knowledge transfer is driven by UCC’s Office of Technology Transfer, an office of the University dedicated to commercialising aspects of UCC’s research and connecting researchers with industry. Recent spin outs from the college include pharmaceutical company Glantreo, Luxcel Biosciences, Alimentary Health, Biosensia, Firecoms, Gourmet Marine, Keelvar, Lee Oncology, and Sensl.

Over the years UCC has acquired a number of well-established Irish institutions across various sectors including the Irish Management Institute and Tyndall National Institute, one of Europe’s leading research centres in integrated ICT (Information and Communications Technology) hardware and systems.

Cork Institute of Technology (CIT), one of Ireland’s largest institutions with its primary campus located in Bishopstown, offers course in Business, Engineering, Science, Computing, Humanities, Media, Art, and Music. CIT has an enviable record of providing students with excellent employment opportunities and a firm basis for future career development.

Also located on the CIT campus is Rubicon. The Rubicon Start-up professional team provide access to a wide range of Start-up Supports for Entrepreneurs who want to start, grow and expand their business. The Incubator is the centre of a thriving entrepreneurship eco-system in Ireland. Entrepreneurs are supported by experienced start-up professionals. The Bishopstown location provides a community for entrepreneurs where access to funding, advice and market opportunities in a proactive environment.

Adding to the catalogue of educational institutions in Cork is the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI). NMCI is Ireland’s primary provider of training to those seeking careers in commercial shipping. The college is situated on former Department of Defence land in Ringaskiddy, County Cork, and has been welcoming students since 2004.

It’s no surprise that Cork produces such a wealth of highly educated professional.

Cork – Bursting with culture

Cork boasts a wealth of year-round cultural havens such as Nano Nagle Place, Crawford Art Gallery, the Glucksman, and St Finbarrs Cathedral, to name but a few. Each has its own unique offering specialising in art, sculpture, design, architecture, history, and much more.

Not forgetting the mind-blowing number of festivals held in Cork each and every year. Enjoy the musical delights of the annual, highly acclaimed Guinness Cork Jazz Festival, bust a move at Indiependence Music Festival, satisfy your soul at Soul in the City and immerse yourself in Cork culture at the Cork Folk Festival.

But it’s not all about the music – Cork has festivals to meet everyone’s taste. The West Cork Literary Festival attracts an incredible line-up of authors year in, year out. The Cork Harbour Festival celebrates Cork’s expansive maritime offering. Cork Heritage Day gives visitors an opportunity to go behind the scenes and explore some of Cork’s oldest buildings and learn of their history. Cork Midsummer Festival is a grand celebration of the arts. And of course we’re not forgetting Cork Culture Night – which is quite self-explanatory!

Be sure to check out www.purecork.ie to see what festival coincides with your visit.