Choose Cork City For A Shopping Break

• By: Editor
• On: 19/Aug/2009
• In: Cork Travel Tips

In terms of city centre shopping, Cork city won't be found wanting when it comes to top brands and high street stores and the great thing about it's city centre is that it is so compact with lots of pedestrianised streets to make your shopping experience even more enjoyable.

First stop on your itinerary should be Patrick Street, the heart of Cork city's shopping district and the main thoroughfare of the city itself. Patrick Street runs from Patrick's Bridge (the north end) right down to Grand Parade (the south end) and it is a pedestrian-friendly street with wide, expansive footpaths and walkways along with eye-catching street lighting.

You'll find all of you retail favourites on each side of the street with brand names such as Brown Thomas, Marks & Spencer, River Island, Bennetton, Oasis, Mango, French Connection, Monsoon and many more top clothing stores. Other major stores include HMV, Argos, Easons and much, much more.

Running parallel to busy Patrick Street is yet another bustling shopping street called Oliver Plunkett Street. Actually, its fair to say that all streets running off both Patrick Street and Oliver Plunkett Street are awash with shopping options and of course cafes, restaurants and pubs are all in abundance too.

For a bit of out of town shopping that is all under one roof (great to know if the heavens decide to open!) you should make your way to the hugely impressive Mahon Point Shopping Centre. This is easily one of the largest shopping centres in the entire region and is located just off the N25 South Ring Road so it is really easy to get to. A local bus service operates regularly throughout the day from Cork city centre so you can enjoy two different shopping experiences if you've the energy!

With over 50 outlets based at Mahon Point Shopping Centre you won't be stuck for choice with names such as Lacoste, Next, French Connection, Jane Norman, Pamela Scott, Zara, Oasis, Berksha and Debenhams all to the fore. The centre is also home to numerous coffee shops and eateries in which to recharge your batteries while the Omniplex Cinema has all of the latest movie releases if you fancy a few hours in front of the silver screen. For more information, check out the official website of Mahon Point.

Also, if you happen to be visiting Mahon Point on a Thursday you can check out the Farmers Market on the West side entrance of the centre. With loads of local fresh produce you are sure to pick up a taste of Cork; it is held every Thursday morning from 10am to 2pm. For further details, have a look at the Mahon Point Farmers Market website.
 
So there you have it, hope this has helped convince you that when it comes to a shopping break, Cork city has it all! If you are planning a trip to the city, check out our variety of quality Cork hotels.