Photos From top, left): Everyone loves to shop at Blarney Woollen Mills, Blarney; inside Blarney Woollen Mills sweater department; Kinsale Silver shopfront; and display inside Kinsale Crystal.
Cork City and County Cork offer many interesting and good-value shops. Cork also has a large enclosed multi-story shopping center on the River Lee next to Patrick Street — the Merchant's Quay Shopping Centre. For antiques, head to Paul's Lane, just off Paul Street.
Here is a cross-section of special shopping opportunities:
Blarney Woollen Mills, Blarney, Co. Cork (tel. 021-438-5280). Located next to Blarney Castle, this huge family-run emporium of knitwear and crafts is a veritable department store of Irish gifts and souvenirs.
Cork Wools, 10/11 Market Parade, Princes St., Cork City (tel. 021-427-4816), for all types and colors of yarn and knitting accessories.
Good Yarns, Market Parade, off Prince’s St., Cork City (tel. 021-427-0968), is a prime place for used books, CDs and DVDs. They buy, sell and exchange books.
Granny’s Bottom Drawer, 52 Main St., Kinsale (tel. 021-477-4839), for an eclectic mix of unique fashions, linens, silks, children’s clothing, accessories, antiques, and more.
Kinsale Crystal, Market St., Kinsale (tel. 021-477-4493), is a local cut class enterprise set up by Gerry Daly, former Waterford master-cutter, reviving the old deep-cutting method. Products include bowls, stemware, vasesand decanters.
Kinsale Silver, Pearse St., Kinsale (tel. 021-477-4359), local hand-crafted jewelry using Celtic designs.
Irish Linen Museum, 13 Main St., Kinsale (tel. 021-477-2159). As its name implies, this museum-cum-shop displays and sells all types of linen.
Liam Ruiseal, 49-50 Oliver Plunkett St, Cork City (tel. 021-427-0981) is the oldest bookshop in Cork. It specializes in books and maps about Cork, as well as Irish-interest books.
Living Tradition, 40 MacCurtain St., Cork City (tel. 021-450-2040), is the best source for Irish traditional music on CDs, cassettes, videos, sheet music, and song books, as well as instruments.
Murrays, 11-13 Grand Parade, Cork City (tel. 021-427-4731), is a prime source of Irish lace curtains, as well as linens and other fabrics.
O’Conaill Chocolates, 10 French Church St., Cork City (no telephone), sells chocolates of all kinds (truffles, bon bons, and diabetic chocolate bars), handmade at Carrigaline, Co. Cork (tel. 021-437-3407), also serves hot chocolate to go or to enjoy on the premises.
Paperworks, 41 Main St., Kinsale (tel. 021-470-0441), for unique cards, gifts and stationery.
Prince August, Kilnamartyra, Macroom, Co. Cork (tel. 026-40222), is Ireland's only toy soldier factory. It is situated off the main N 22 road NW of Kinsale., and also produces metal miniatures based on classic books such as "The Hobbit" and "Lord of the Rings."
Quills Woollen Market, Main St., Ballingeary, Co. Cork (tel. 026-47008), is a family-run enterprise headquartered deep in the heart of West Cork's Gaelic-speaking region. It produces sweaters, knitwear, and garments using the skins of sheep and goats Also has a branch at 107 Patrick St., Cork City (tel. 021-427-1717)
Soaps of Ireland, 2 Market Quay, Kinsale (tel. 021-477-2461), produces and sells 100% vegetable soaps made by using traditional methods with hand-filtered rainwater. Ingredients include palm oil, shea butter, olive oil, and tournesol oil, for moisturizing soaps. Other natural ingredients include tumeric, cinnamon, saffron and paprika.
Stephen Pearce Emporium, Shanagarry, Co. Cork (tel. 021-464-6807) is a huge skylit showroom and demonstration center for one of Ireland's master ceramic craftsmen. Pearce's pottery is distinguished for its earth-toned tableware and accessories. Works from other craftsmen, ranging from tweeds to wood carvings, are also for sale.
Teddy Bear Village, Savoy Centre, 108 Patrick St., Cork City (tel. 021 427-8547), is an interactive shop that invites customers to customize a teddy bear, with a choice of more than 30 types of bears and 80 different clothes & accessories.
Youghal Knitwear, 23 Princes St., Cork City (tel. 021-425-1251), sells wools and yarns of all types.
Return
to: Cork Main Page
Other Sections to
visit:
| The Ireland Expert | Ireland
Guide | Smart Shopping | Hot News |
| Group Tours | Pat's Books | Irish Links | "Ask Pat"
Q&A Forum |
