O'FLYNN'S GREAT GAS

O’FLYNN’S GREAT GAS

Billy O’Flynn’s petrol/diesel station is a popular stop on the Old Youghal Road. O’Flynn, quite well known locally in soccer circles, took this establishment over as a Shell outlet quite a few years back. It is now independent and doing well and the proprietor is almost always on hand to greet you with a big smile.

He also runs a convenience shop and nowadays there is also a second hand car sales facility on the site.
Check out my review and map of O'Flynn's Great Gas - I am cork - on Qype

RORY GALLAGHER PLACE

RORY GALLAGHER PLACE
Quite a few visitors come to Cork to walk in the streets where the City’s original rock star Rory Gallagher walked and one of the first ports of call is Rory Gallagher Place in the city centre.
Paul Street runs through here and the small square, on its south side, has a selection of cafes, restaurants and bars while the entrance to the Paul Street Shopping Centre and Car Park bounds the northern edge. This square and the streets off it, Carey’s Lane and French Church Street, are collectively becoming known as the Huguenot Quarter.
The little piazza, then known as Paul Street Plaza, was renamed in honour of Rory in 1997, and a commemorative sculpture was erected on the western side. If you walk from here, through Emmett Place and turn right by the river, you will see opposite you (with the Larry Tompkins Pub to your back) the block where Rory’s second level school (St Kieran’s) once operated. 
If you want to walk some more in his footsteps, check out Rory On and the official site at Rory Gallagher 
I came across Rory a few times in his early years and you can read that account at http://sites.google.com/site/glounthaunedays/home

Check out my review of Rory Gallagher Place - I am cork - on Qype

The Shandon Walk

THE SHANDON WALK
Took the Shandon Walk today. You can pick up a map in the Tourist Office; well worth it, even if you are a native.
The one hour jaunt takes you through some of the oldest parts of Cork: the narrow lanes of the Huguenot Quarter off Paul Street, old and new buildings all along the way, including a string of churches, more narrow lanes in the Shandon vicinity.
Shandon Street itself is an eye-opener. There are food outlets galore, from the traditional chipper to shops selling Hungarian, African, Asian food – truly multi-national. If you overdo it on the eating, there is an undertakers at the bottom!
Start in Daunts Square, down Paul Street, into Emmett Place, turn left on the quay and cross the river via the pedestrian bridge, turn right, and then left up towards Shandon; from here, head to the Cathedral and then back down the multi-national Shandon Street, over the North Gate Bridge. The walk actually stops at the Cork Vision Centre.
The morning started frosty and foggy but the blue skies were appearing as I started. Just took in the sights today, including information boards along the signposted way. Next time, I’ll take it real easy and call in for a snack, a drink, a look or a chat.

Check out my review of Shandon Walk - I am cork - on Qype
 Cork City Council   021 4924452

Mayfield Sli na Slainte

MAYFIELD SLI NA SLAINTE

The Mayfield Sli Na Slainte starts, and ends, by the local Community School, with a good part of the walk taking you through the Glen Recreational Park. I followed the refreshing route this frosty foggy morning.

The frost and fog were clearing as I reached the park, having gone down the Old Youghal Road before turning right at Dillon’s Cross and entering the park by Keating’s on the Ballyhooley Road, where there is a car park.

Five or six people were out walking their dogs around the 10.00am mark. The corporation workers were coming and going from their depot in the park and some were working on the new entrance.

The walk itself, which takes you close to Blackpool, totals 5km, as do all the Sli Na Slainte walks. Max and I enjoyed the excursion and I took some photos, all in the park.

Check out my review of Mayfield Sli na Slainte - I am cork - on Qype

CORK VISION CENTRE

CORK VISION CENTRE

Made a visit today to the Cork Vision Centre to see the John Adams series of Cork paintings.

The works are in the main representational and you will recognise the well loved landmarks of the city (such as St Fin Barre’s Cathedral) and some new ones also (e.g. the Elysian). My favourite perhaps is the work depicting St Peter’s Church, the very building in which the exhibition (closes 28^th) is being held.

The paintings are mostly large scale, suitable for big buildings and indeed one, of the Blackrock Castle Observatory, is on loan from the City Council.

I brought my guest today upstairs to see the exhibition of Examiner photos from the first half of the previous century (mainly) and she was much more taken with this display, as I was on my first visit some time back. Highly recommended – see previous post.

BLARNEY UTD FC

BLARNEY UNITED AFC
Blarney United is one of the most vibrant soccer clubs in or around the city. They field adult teams and a whole string of underage sides, catering for both boys and girls and then there is also a very busy academy.

All this takes place at O’Shea Park in Riverview (Tower). Here there is a full size grass pitch with state of the art floodlights and alongside a FIFA approved full sized floodlit all-weather pitch, all overlooked by one of the best clubhouses in the area.

If you are new to the area and looking for a club for yourself or your children then check this one out. http://www.blarneyunited.com

Check out my review of Blarney United - I am cork - on Qype

THE BLARNEY WALK

BLARNEY WALK
Most of you will have heard of the Blarney talk (the gift of the gab from kissing the famous stone) but do you know about the Blarney Walk? It goes through the Clogheenmilcon Sanctuary and is one of the most popular in the Cork region which, generally (particularly evenings and weekends) makes it really safe if you are out on your own.

Two notes of caution re safety. If you use the car park nearest town, you will have to cross quite a busy road and there is no pedestrian crossing there of any kind. The walk also incorporates most of a 5km Sli Na Slainte (Path of Health) but if you start in the village be very careful walking to the sanctuary as there is no footpath for part of the way!
The pleasant walk (you can also jog it) is fairly straightforward, running in a straight line for 2km or so (then you turn back), with the sanctuary on one side and the main road (fenced off, on the other side).

You walk along past an unusual elevated sculpture, past a boggy area and small lakes where waterfowl are plentiful: ducks and swans, seagulls galore today. It is a refreshing walk on a tarmac path, popular with all kinds of humans and dogs (who are kept on their leads).

Check out my review and map of Blarney Walk - I am cork - on Qype

LAKEWOOD ATHLETIC

LAKEWOOD ATHLETIC
On the lookout for a soccer club on the western side of the city?
Lakewood Athletic, founded as a company team in 1981, is now perhaps the biggest soccer club in the area.
They now have more than 600 playing members and field 35 teams in various competitions in 5 different leagues. Schoolboys, schoolgirls, men’s and ladies teams have all tasted considerable success at local, national and international tournaments in recent seasons and they have produced a number of internationals. Highlights: winning the U14 Boys National Cup in 2004 and the U14 Girls Munster Cup in 2005.

Facilities: Number of Pitches: 2 full-size and 2 academy pitches.
Other facilities: Floodlit training pitch, floodlit all weather training pitch, 6 dressing rooms, showers and meeting room.
http://www.lakewoodathleticfc.ie/
Noel Mullins 087-9864585

Check out my review of Lakewood Athletic - I am cork - on Qype

DOUGLAS HALL AFC

DOUGLAS HALL
We move from the north of the city to the south as we continue to fill you in, those of you coming to work or study in Cork, on the top local soccer teams.
Douglas Hall is today’s port of call. Founded in 1971, the Hall are based in Moneygourney where they have quite a set up including a FIFA approved floodlit pitch. They cater for under 7s up to adults (including ladies), so Moneygourney is a busy spot.
They have adult teams at all levels up to senior and, no matter what standard you are capable of, you’ll find a team to suit you here.
Their website http://www.douglashallafc.com is well worth a visit and the secretary may be contacted at 087 7992470.

Check out my review of Douglas Hall AFC - I am cork - on Qype

MAYFIELD UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB

MAYFIELD UTD FC
I regularly get queries from people coming to live and study in Cork as to what football club they should join. Mayfield Utd is one, of several, to be considered. I will be adding others soon.
Mayfield is one of the biggest amateur football clubs in Cork City and County. The club has outstanding facilities, including several grass pitches, one full sized FIFA approved all-weather pitch and a very large clubhouse.
The friendly community based club - its motto is Noblesse Oblige – is based in Lotamore and was founded in the summer of 1971. Many of the founders are still active in the club but there is much needed new blood there nowadays as Mayfield caters for a large range of footballers from kids to adults (including fielding a team in the Over 35 Floodlit league).
http://www.mayfieldunited.com/
asaville@tycoint.com

See http://www.qype.co.uk/place/1194735-Mayfield-United-Cork for map and contact details

MAYFIELD SNOW WALK

WALK ON RETREATING SNOW TODAY 11 JAN 2010
though the playing pitches of Village Utd, Mayfield GAA and Mayfield Utd

Thats my ball!

This is not the strand!

Church of Our Lady Crowned

'sno ball today

Looking east towards Dunkettle - see Fr Matthew Tower top right

Thaw coming...

Lapps Quay Boardwalk

THE LAPPS QUAY BOARDWALK
The boardwalk at Lapps Quay was the first in modern Cork and is certainly the most popular. Quite a few events take place here and some, like the Oceans to City Race, end here.
No shortage of facilities. Here you have the Clarion Hotel (with Kudos and Augustine Restaurants), the Boardwalk Restaurant, the Club Brassiere, plus a couple of coffee docks (including the innovative Cafe Gusto) on the riverside decking.
It was more or less deserted in the icy weather today but will be busy once the temperatures rise.

Check out my review of Lapps Quay Boardwalk - I am cork - on Qype

ALLIANCE FRANCAISE

ALLIANCE FRANCAISE
Aside from providing a whole range of French language courses, Cork’s Alliance Francaise plays a major role in the cultural life of the city, hosting and helping host poetry readings, a Film festival, theatre performances and it is also associated with the October Jazz Festival.
The premises, now in Mary Street, also has an art gallery and that was one of the reasons I visited today. It is a quite a decent space and some thirty paintings by Catherine Laisne—O’Rourke were efficiently and comfortably accommodated in the gallery space.
There are some still life and also depictions of beach life both in France (Normandy) and Ireland (Kerry). Must admit, I wasn't stirred or shaken by the exhibition but I did really like the two paintings entitled Beautiful Old Wooden Door.



For map and contact details see http://www.qype.co.uk/place/1185599-Alliance-Francaise-Cork