Top Things to do in County Cork
The 10 Best Specialty Museums in County Cork, Province of Munster
Discover the best top things to do in County Cork, Ireland including Independence Museum Kilmurry, West Cork Model Railway Village, Cobh Heritage Centre The Queenstown Story, Allihies Copper Mine Museum, Collins Barracks Museum, Leahys Open Farm, Fota House, Arboretum and Gardens, Titanic Experience Cobh, Butter Museum, West Cork Regional Museum.
Restaurants in County Cork
1. Independence Museum Kilmurry
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 19 reviews
History Museum focused on the fight for independence in the County Cork area, especially during the War of Independence and Civil War era.
Reviewed By Anniebannie1981 - Cork, Ireland
After leaving Kilmichael Ambush Site, we decided to keep going and travel to the Independence Museum, as I discovered that the museum would be open on Bank Holiday Monday. I was greeted by Siobhán, a volunteer to the museum and she gave me a booklet with a lot of information and showed me downstairs to the main museum and the order of museum. It was self-guided and I had time to view and look at each item in my own time. It was lovely to read and see so much information about the Civil War in this locality. The space was small, but there was so much information crammed into this space. This place is a must for those who are interested in Irish history and it was lovely to see other places of interest discussed within the museum. The entrance fee was €5 for adults and it is well worth the price. I could have spent hours going through in detail all the items that they have to display. Would strongly recommend and would love to go back and see more items that I missed.
2. West Cork Model Railway Village
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 458 reviews
As Ireland's only Model Village, the West Cork Model Railway Village in Clonakilty, Co. Cork is a fully scaled handmade model of the old West Cork Railway Line with fully working trains and the towns that the railway served during the 1940s. Take a spin on our iconic Road Train through the beautiful town of Clonakilty. Indoor and outdoor play areas. Relax and enjoy a cup of coffee/tea in our cafe or visit our Gift Shop in an authentic train carriage.
Reviewed By CMBernadette - Doolin, Ireland
The model village with its many trains passing through tunnels and into stations of reconstructed towns in the vicinity held the children's interest but also filled in a lot of history for adults. The remote control boats were a great hit, the playground good fun and the "train" ride around Clonakilty a lovely way to see the whole town and end the visit.
3. Cobh Heritage Centre The Queenstown Story
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,145 reviews
The Queenstown Story tells the story of Irish emigration- from the indentured servants and forced labour who left for the Colonies and the West Indies in the 17th century, the early emigrants to Canada and the U.S.the Great famine and the transportation of convicts to Australia . Learn about our maritime history,the hardship and the heartbreak. Find the stories and learn the connection between Cobh and the Titanic and the Lusitania. A facinating, educational and emotional journey through our past. "Walk in the footsteps" of our emigrant ancestors in this restored Victorian building.
Reviewed By MiAndN - Spiddal, Ireland
The Cobh Heritage centre is well worth a visit. The staff are very helpful, cheerful and interested in helping visitors. The exhibition itself is extremely well presented in the way it depicts the maritime history and recounts the stories of Lusitania, Titanic and Irish emigrants.
4. Allihies Copper Mine Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 80 reviews
The museum tells the story of 19th century copper-mining in Allihies and the enormous effects of this industry on the people and landscape. A cafe and gift shop beside the museum open in the summer months. The surrounding landscape is stunning, with beach, river, mountains and several great pubs with good food and live traditional music!
5. Collins Barracks Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 77 reviews
Reviewed By JJRK_12 - Philadelphia, United States
We stumbled upon Collins Barracks after climbing the stairs up St Patrick's Street and I'm glad we did. Sgt McGarry was on duty and gave us an enthusiastic, informative and interesting tour of the museum and history lesson on Michael Collins and Ireland's fight for independence.
6. Leahys Open Farm
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 326 reviews
We are a family run business. We provide a fun day out for all the family. We have digger rides, petting/feeding times with the animals, adventure trails, climbing frames, maze, go karts, museums, coffee shop and indoor play areas. We cater for birthday parties, school tours, communions, scout groups, company days out and holiday visitors. We are open each day for the summer from 11am to 6pm with pig racing and dog agility on select days (check on Facebook) The petting times at the farm are on each day at 1pm, 3pm and 5pm.
Reviewed By rubylass
Had the best family day out ever and for such a great price. From the minute we walked in the door until we left 4 hours later, my 2 small kids, aged 4 and 2 were kept entertained. I believe it to be one of the best value for money places we have visited. There was everything from animals, indoor and outdoor playgrounds, go karts, barrel train, maze, fairy gardens, museums, the list goes on. There really is something for every one, no matter your age. It costs €2 extra for a ride on a real mini digger. We thought this was great value. A ride on the bumpers at our local funfair costs €3 so for my 2 year old to get to control a real mini digger for €2 was excellent value. It rained for some of our visit but there was plenty to do indoors so weather isn’t really an issue. We didn’t sample the food but looked lovely. There were plenty picnics tables to have your own picnic outside so we did that. We also did the chocolate lolly pop making and the kids loved it. We will definitely be back and we only wish we lived a little closer so we could make use of the annual membership. Outstanding value for an outstanding day. As for COVID, there were sanitisers every where and they were working a one way system so we felt safe every where we went. Well done Leahys
7. Fota House, Arboretum and Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 164 reviews
Fota House, Arboretum & Gardens is famous for its magnificent Regency period house, beautiful formal gardens and world renowned arboretum. It is located 12km east of Cork City on the northern shore of Cork Harbour, adjacent to Cobh. Fota House was built by the Smith Barry family and was redesigned by John "The Magnificent" Smith Barry in the 1820’s. Today you can hear Fota's legendary stories for yourself with guided tours led by a team of volunteers whose passion for heritage is contagious!Our guides will show you the grand principle rooms with their exquisite decor. A special feature is our service wing, where you can experience what life was like for the cooks, butlers, footmen and maids who supported the lavish lifestyles of the gentry. Experience the the heavenly rose garden and explore the arboretum where you will discover a host of rare and majestic trees. A key feature of our recent restoration programme is the Victorian Frameyard Garden, now one of the finest in the country. Visitors can also enjoy top class food in the cafe and browse in the gift shop, Fota House, Arboretum & Gardens is a charitable organisation and is managed by the Irish Heritage Trust. Our high season is from April to September, when the house is open for public tours. A guided tour of the house is €8 per person.
Reviewed By 983stevey - Silver Spring, United States
This was my 2nd visit to Fota House and Gardens. However this time we did a guided tour of the mansion. It was really cool and informative. We then checked out the surrounding gardens and orangery. Gardens are well kept and the cafe still remains a treat!
8. Titanic Experience Cobh
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,133 reviews
Titanic Experience Cobh is a permanent visitor centre, located in the original White Star Line Ticket Office in the centre of Cobh town (formally known as Queenstown) in what was the departure point for the final 123 passengers who boarded the Titanic. Our visitor experience is presented in two parts. The first is an exciting immersive audio visual tour retracing the steps of the 123 passengers who boarded Titanic from Queenstown on April 11th 1912. Experience their anticipation of the long journey ahead and their new life waiting in America. With Fourth Officer Boxall as your virtual guide and using innovative audio visual technology and replica set designs, ‘passengers’ will experience what life would have been like on board for those 123 Queenstown Passengers. Passengers will share the excitement of boarding the most Luxurious liner of her time and feel the horror of the tragedy on that fateful night on the 15th April 1912.
Reviewed By jewelsbyers - Drogheda, Ireland
As the whole reason I came to Cobh was because it was Titanic's last port of call, coming to this attraction was a must for me. Situated in the original offices of the White Star Line, at the beginning of the tour each of us was given a 'ticket' of a real passenger who boarded the Titanic in Cobh (then Queenstown) and we would have the opportunity to find out if they survived at the end of the exhibit. The first half-an-hour is an immersive and interactive experience, led by both a human guide, our guide, Jeff, was exceptional, and a virtual guide, who is an officer on board the Titanic. Two particularly moving parts of the experience are the views of Heartbreak Pier, where the last of Titanic's passengers boarded her, many never to see land again, and the final room of the experience, in which you sit in a 'lifeboat' and watch a short film as if you are watching the Titanic sinking from your lifeboat, before a crewman from the Carpethia speaks to you as if he's just pulled you up from your lifeboat onto the ship. The second part of the experience is a museum-style, self-guided exhibit, where you can view information about the building of Titanic, her crew, how she sunk, and the discovery of her wreck in the 1970s. Also there is information about the effects of cold and other interesting facts about what would have happened to the survivors, both physically and psychologically, during and after the ship went down. In this section too you learn the fate of your passenger and can read their story. There is also a well-stocked gift shop, with plenty of merchandise and memorabilia to fulfil any Titanic fan's wildest dreams. Absolutely no downsides to this experience, anyone planning a trip to Cobh should make this compulsory.
9. Butter Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 414 reviews
Reviewed By PeterNarog - Blue Anchor, United Kingdom
Ireland has a long and rich history of making a butter. The museum would educate in that matter. Fantastic place in Cork city centre.
10. West Cork Regional Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 9 reviews
