| The second city of the Republic of Ireland is | | | | dance in late October. |
| Cork, first is Dublin. | | | | |
| | | | All round venues for entertainment and the |
| It is built on an island, the two channels of | | | | arts. The hub of alternative artistic |
| the River Lee embracing it either side while | | | | activity is the Triskel Arts Centre. It has |
| nineteenth century suburbs sprawl up the | | | | changing exhibitions of contemporary art, a |
| surrounding hills. This gives the city centre | | | | cinema showing art house films and a |
| a compactness and sharp definition. | | | | continuous programme of gigs, DJ nights, |
| | | | comedy, drama, performance art and poetry |
| The city Cork origins in the seventh century | | | | readings. |
| when St Finbarre founded an abbey and school | | | | |
| on the site where the impressive nineteenth | | | | The leading mainstream theatre is Cork Opera |
| century Gothic St Finbarres Cathedral stands | | | | House in Emmet Place which puts on high |
| today. A settlement grew up around the | | | | quality drama, jazz and pop concerts, dance, |
| monastic foundation, overlooking a marshy | | | | opera and comedy; the attached Half Moon |
| swamp where the city centre now stands. More | | | | Theatre has a more eclectic programme of |
| recently, Cork saw much violence and suffered | | | | drama, comedy and music, and among a largely |
| greatly during the Anglo Irish and Civil | | | | uninspiring selection of mainstream discos, |
| wars, the cities part in Republican history | | | | is the cities most interesting club venue, |
| is well documented in the local museum. | | | | with a wildly varied weekly roster of DJs and |
| | | | live acts. |
| As part of the Republic, Cork has continued | | | | |
| to develop as a port, a university city and a | | | | The Granary, offers a range of small scale |
| cultural centre and to assert its | | | | drama productions, while the Firkin Crane |
| independence from Dublin. In 2005 it will be | | | | Theatre at the Institute for Choreography and |
| the European City of Culture and a major new | | | | Dance, O Connell Square, Shandon is the best |
| art gallery is due to open at the university, | | | | spot to catch classical and contemporary |
| probably in early 2004. | | | | dance. Classical concerts are held at the |
| | | | School of Music, on Union Quay and the City |
| One of the joys of Cork is the fact that its | | | | Hall. |
| scale is human most of what it has to offer | | | | |
| can be explored on foot. | | | | There are plenty of good watering holes in |
| | | | the city and if all you want is a drink, you |
| Cork is a great city for festivals, the | | | | wont need a guide to find somewhere though a |
| biggest and most prestigious of which are the | | | | couple of the citys older pubs are worth |
| film festival in early October and the jazz | | | | seeking out for their atmosphere. Many bars |
| festival over one of the last two weekends in | | | | have music, traditional or otherwise. |
| October. Theres also an international choral | | | | Wherever you end up, this is not a difficult |
| festival in early May, a folk festival during | | | | town in which to enjoy yourself. |
| September and a fringe festival of drama and | | | | |