Getting Around County Cork by Thomas Hollowell and Katie Kelly Bell
Getting to County Cork is easy enough by plane, train, bus, or ferry. Cork City is located 250km (160 miles) from Dublin and is 200km (130 miles) from Galway. You might save time (but not money) by flying into Shannon Airport, which is 120 (75 miles) away from Cork. It is the same distance from Waterford and only 85km (50 miles) from Killarney.
Flying
If you want to start your journeys from Cork, then Aer Arann (0818 210 210, www.aerarann.com or www.cork-airport.com) flies in from both Dublin and Belfast. Aer Lingus (800 474 7424, www.aerlingus.com) has flights from London and other parts of Europe. British Airways (www.ba.com), Easy Jet, the budget Irish company Ryanair (www.ryanair.com), and bmi baby (www.bmibaby.com) all serve Cork as well. Getting from the airport to the city can be done on Bus éireann (021 450 8188, www.buseireann.ie), which takes you to the Parnell Place Bus Station in Cork city center. They also service other towns and districts in County Cork. Taxis are also available and will cost about 15 for the trip.
Train
Irish Rail (01 836 6222, www.irishrail.ie) have trains from major towns and cities in Ireland, all arriving at Kent Station (021 450 6766), located on Lower Glanmire Road. The city center is a twenty-five-minute walk from here.
Alert
If you are driving into Cork City from Waterford and coming along the coast on the N25 past Youghal, consider taking the Carrigaloe-Glenbrook Ferry, operated by the Cross River Ferries Service (021 481 1485), into the city. Doing so might save you a lot of time. Driving around the Cobh Harbor can be a time-consuming annoyance. The trip on the ferry is quick, convenient, and affordable. Plus, it runs year round.
Ferries
Brittany Ferries (021 427 7801, www.brittany-ferries.com) departs from Roscoff, France, to the Ringaskiddy Ferryport in Cork.
