Romantic Restaurants, Getaway Places in Mallow

"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."

"Spiky spires, gurning gargoyles and elaborate sculpture adorn the exterior of Cork's Protestant cathedral, an attention-grabbing mixture of French Gothic and medieval whimsy. The grandeur continues inside, with..."

"Surrounding Cork’s Public Museum, the urban oasis of Fitzgerald Park provides a riverside escape from shopping and sightseeing. A mere 10-minute walk from Cork’s centre but worlds away from city life, this is a perfect spot to take a picnic and watch the tips of mature trees skimming the Lee or venture across the ‘shaky bridge’. It also has an excellent playground and duck pond (plus the odd fairy door) offering fun for the entire family."

"There are few public places in Ireland quite as beautiful as Fitzgerald Park, an impressive set of gardens located on the outskirts of Cork’s city centre. The park was named after Edward Fitzgerald, who helped establish Cork’s International Exhibition in 1902; the fair showcased contemporary designs from France and the USA. The results are still visible today, namely in its lavish Exhibition-era pavilion and fountain."

"the craic of cork: top 10 things to do in cork, ireland | spend an afternoon at fitzgerald park. Cork-Public-Museum-2012. ShakeyBridgeCorkIreland"

"As you head from the clock house along the Spa Road, keep an eye out for the Lions Heads and the famous hot Mallow springs in Tip O'Neill park, you will see the steam rise from the springs on the colder days. In days gone by the Mallow Spa was visited by people from all over Europe to enjoy and bath in the springs."

"This art deco restaurant over looks the cathedral and the river, and serves up amazing seafood caught fresh each day so expect amazing oysters, crab claws and hearty fish stews. Once the eating's done, this place transforms into a buzzing nightclub, so definitely stick around."

"Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Electric (@electriccork)"

"Whether you’ve a banging hangover on a Sunday morning or it’s Monday morning and you fancy a healthy breakfast fix to get you through a busy workday, Perry Street Market is worth a shout. This cute café is all about locally sourced produce and freshly made from scratch breakfast foods. The full Irish is both fulfilling and delicious."

"Although it’s open for lunch and dinner, it’s the breakfast that has the X-Factor. Popular among locals and visitors alike, this place bangs out a breakfast that’ll make your belly very happy. If you don’t fancy one of their famous fry-ups, don’t worry."

"Pay a visit to the Toy Soldier Factory in Macroom to see the world's largest Battle of Waterloo exhibit with over 15,000 hand cast figures, their impressive Lord of the Rings model collection and attend one of their workshops where you can cast and paint your very own model to take home. You can also take part in their interactive tour where you'll learn how to pour metal into their spin casting machines."

"The Toy Soldier Factory houses the world’s largest collection of Lord of the Rings figurines, and your child can even try their hand at making their own in an interactive workshop. The perfect fun thing to do in Cork with kids if you have any budding artists on your hands!. Address: Kilnamartyra, Macroom, Co."

"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."

"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."