Everyday living in Cork - A guide

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Everyday Living
Content
Public Transport
Voting Right
Banking
Public Holidays
Media
Faith Communities
Country of Origin Groups
Places to See
Libraries
Public Parks
Public Transport
Buses are the main form of public transport within Cork City. Bus
Eireann runs 12 bus routes in the city, most of which travel via the city centre (see map, page 27). Bus fares are a fixed fee wherever you travel in the city (in 2004 the fare was €1.20). Reduced fares are available for children aged under 16 and those aged 66 and over can apply for free travel passes (which provides free travel on bus and rail across Ireland) from the Department of Social & Family Affairs. Bus timetables for various routes are available free of charge from the main bus station in Parnell Place.

Commuter bus services to the rest of Cork and expressway bus services to places throughout Ireland all leave from the bus station in Parnell Place. Fares depend on the distance travelled - for details on times and fares call Bus Eireann on 0214508188, Register or Login to View this Link

Train services in Cork run from Kent Station and are operated by Iarnrod Eireann (Irish Railways). There are five main train routes from Cork – to Cobh (Co. Cork), Tralee, Limerick, Rosslare and Dublin. For information on times and fares call Iarnrod Eireann on 021 4506766 or visit Register or Login to View this Link
Direct flights to cities throughout Europe are available from Cork Airport, situated five miles outside the city centre. For information on services contact Cork Airport. Tel 021 4313131 or visit website: Register or Login to View this Link Passenger ferries travel between Ringaskiddy (10 miles outside Cork city centre) to destinations in the UK and France.

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Voting Rights
The right of non-nationals to vote varies with the type of election:

Everyone aged 18 and over (including asylum seekers) can vote in local elections (elects councillors to the local authority –e.g. Cork City Council).
Only Irish citizens can vote in Presidential elections, in Referendums (changes to the Irish constitution) and Seanad elections (the senate/upper house of Parliament).
Irish and UK citizens can vote in general elections (elects representatives to the Dáil – the lower house of parliament).
Irish and EU citizens who are resident in Ireland can vote in European Parliament elections
In order to vote in any election your name must be on the electoral register. The register is produced each year by the city or county council and includes the names and addresses of everyone aged 18 and over who is entitled to vote. The draft register is put on display in libraries, post offices and other public buildings every November and changes can be made up to 25 November. However, if you are qualified to vote but not included on the register, you can apply to be included in the Supplement to the Register. If you change your address, you should inform the register.

Dept of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Franchise Department,
Custom House, Dublin 1.
Tel 01 8882000, or
lo call 1890 201607,

Register or Login to View this Link


Cork City Council,
Franchise Department,
City Hall, Cork.
Tel 021 4926222/021 4924000

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Banking
Banks and building societies in Ireland are usually open Monday to Friday, from 10am to 4pm. When opening an account you will be asked for photo identification (passport, driving licence etc) and proof of current permanent address (usually household bills such as electricity, gas or phone bill). If an original bill is not available (e.g. because bills are not usually paid in your name) then your employer can help with a letter stating your name, address, date of birth and Personal Public Service (PPS) number. You may need to check with the bank as the necessary documentation differs from bank to bank. As some bank charges are high, it’s worth checking the charges and shopping around before opening an account. Money transfers can be made from banks, credit unions or post offices.

Public Holidays
Most workplaces are closed on public/bank holidays, including government offices, post offices, banks etc. Bus and train services may be reduced on bank holidays. Increasingly city centre shops and shopping centres may open for part of the day. On Good Friday and Christmas Day everything is closed including the pubs.

Public Holidays

New Year’s Day 1 January
St Patrick’s Day (national holiday) 17 March
Good Friday* Late March or April
Easter Monday Late March or April
First Monday in May
First Monday in June
First Monday in August
Last Monday in October
Christmas Day 25 December
St Stephen’s Day 26 December
* While not officially a public holiday, many businesses also close on Good Friday
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Media
Newspapers
Corks main daily newspaper is the Evening Echo, which focuses on local news. It includes a classified advertisements section, which is useful if you’re looking for items to buy, services, accommodation, etc. There are also a number of free local papers, usually produced weekly, such as Inside Cork. National daily newspapers include the Irish Examiner, Irish Independent and Irish Times. These include national and international news, with supplements on accommodation, job vacancies, etc on particular days. These newspapers and many others can be read free of charge in most libraries. Metro Éireann is a monthly newspaper with up to date information for immigrants and ethnic communities. Metro Éireann, tel: 01 8690670, Register or Login to View this Link

Television & Radio
In Ireland, the national television company responsible for public service broadcasting is called RTÉ. RTÉ broadcasts three channels - RTÉ 1 and Network 2 (largely English language) and TG 4 (Irish language). The fourth channel is TV3, run by a private TV company.

Radio is also very popular in Irish daily life and local Cork stations are a particularly good source of local news and information (eg Red FM 104.5 – 106.1 and 96 FM, 95.4 – 96.. Cork Campus Radio 97.4 FM hosts Cork’s only multicultural radio show “Diversity Speaks”. Broadcast every Tuesday at 2pm the programme addresses the issues affecting the various ethnic minority communities living in Ireland and specifically in Cork. For further details contact Cork Campus Radio at radio@ucc.ie Tel 021 4902170/ 4902008

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Faith Communities
While the main religion in Cork is Catholicism, the number of other faith communities is quickly increasing.
These include:


Catholic Church, Cork & Ross Diocesan Office, Redemption Road, Cork. Tel 021 4301717,
e-mail: secretary@corkandross.org
Church of Ireland, Diocesan office, 14 Cove Street, Cork. Tel 021 4272262,
e-mail: office@cork.anglican.org
Cork Muslim Society, 69 Riverview Estate, Glasheen, Cork. Tel 021 4342955.
Mosque, Heinz Haupt Health Centre, Vicars Road, Togher, Cork. Tel 087 2402832
Baptist Church, MacCurtain Street,Cork. Tel 021 4894464.
Cork Hebrew Congregation, The Synagogue, 10 South Terrace, Cork.Tel 021 4870413, e-mail: rosehill@iol.ie.
Christian Orthodox Community of Cork, 1 Sydenham Terrace,Monkstown, Cork. Tel 021 4841187/086 3533113,
Jehovah Witnesses, Cork Central Congregation of Jehovah Witnesses,The Kingdom Hall, Hibernian Road,Cork. Tel 021 4873174 or 021 4770880.
Presbyterian, Trinity Presbyterian Church, Little William Street, off York Street, McCurtain Street, Cork. Tel 021 4891437, e-mail: jfaris@presbyterianireland.org
Methodist Church, Ardfallen,Douglas Road, Cork. Tel 021 4292503,
Church of Jesus Christ of LatterDay Saints, Sarsfield Road, Wilton,Cork. Tel 021 7434790
Religious Society of Friends
(Quakers), Summerhill South, Cork. Tel 021 4504830.
Grace Christian Fellowship,
St Patrick’s Woollen Mills, Douglas, Cork. Tel 021 4372913 Register or Login to View this Link
The Father’s Bosom Christian Fellowship, c/o South Parish Community Centre, Grattan Street, Cork.
Celestial Church of Christ,8 Sydney Place, Cork.
The Redeemed Christian Church of God, O’Sullivan’s Quay Primary School, Cork.
Christ Restoration Life Ministry, 7 Knapp’s Square, Cork Arts Theatre, Cork. Tel 021 4533549, 086 3065201
Greater Light International Ministries, Little Island Community Centre, Co. Cork. Tel 021 4355154, 087 7774559
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Country of Origin Groups
There are a variety of national groups in Cork – e.g. Congolese Irish Partnership, Cork Somalian Community, Association of Cameroonians in Ireland, Ivory Coast Group, Zimbabwean Group and Togolese in Ireland, to name just a few. Other groups include the Eastern European Association of Ireland and
Kurdistan Solidarity Group (Register or Login to View this Link ) Contact details can often change and new groups are always emerging. For up to date contact details, and information on other groups, contact:

Cois Tine Drop-In Centre, Convent Place, Proby’s Quay, Cork and 21 Victoria Avenue, Cork. Tel 021 4316593, e-mail coistinecork@eircom.net; or
NASC, The Irish Immigrant Support Centre, Sharman Crawford St, Cork. Tel: 021 4317411, e-mail: nasccork@eircom.net; or
Cork City Partnership, Sunbeam Industrial Estate, Mallow Road, Cork. Tel 021 4302310.
As a newcomer to Cork, there are many historic buildings and churches you may like to visit. Some of the main sights include St Ann’s Church in Shandon, where visitors can ring the bells. The Shandon steeple is one of Cork’s main landmarks. The English Market on Prince’s Street is famous for its fresh food products and is the place to go for foods from around the world. Cork’s public museum is located in Fitzgerald’s Park, while the Crawford Art Gallery on Emmet Place is Cork’s main art gallery with both art and sculpture exhibitions. The Cork Vision Centre, on North Main St, houses a scale model of the city and lots of information on the attractions and history of Cork. For further information on places to see and visit in Cork visit the Tourist Information Centre, Grand Parade, Cork. Tel 021 4273251 or visit Register or Login to View this Link , Register or Login to View this Link or Register or Login to View this Link interest.html.When it comes to entertainment Cork
has a lot to offer, from cinemas and theatres to music and dance. ‘Whazon Cork’ is a free monthly listing of events, and can be picked up in many
bars and shops, or visited at Register or Login to View this Link

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Libraries
Cork has a network of public libraries which are open to everyone living or working in the city. Anyone can drop in and read a book or newspaper free of charge, find out more about the city’s culture and facilities, and its past, access the world wide web and send e-mails. To borrow books –applications forms are available at each library, and to join you need to show proof of address and pay a small fee. All libraries have public access PCs with internet links, which can be used for €1/30 minutes, and a children’s library. Libraries often host free events for children and adults, and are useful sources of information for what’s going on locally.

Central Library, Grand Parade, Cork.Tel 021 4924900. Open Monday –Saturday, 10.00 a.m – 5.30 p.m (Includes Music Library and Local Studies Library).
Douglas Library, Douglas Village Shopping Centre, Cork. Tel 021 4924932. Open Tuesday – Saturday 10.00 a.m to 5.30 p.m, late opening Thursdays until 8.30 p.m.
Hollyhill Library, Hollyhill Shopping Centre, Cork. Tel 021 4924928. Open Tues, Wed, Fri and Sat 10.00 a.m to 5.30 p.m, Thursday 1.00 p.m – 8.00 p.m.
Mayfield Community Library,Murmont, Mayfield, Cork. Tel 021 4924935. Open Tuesday –Saturday, 10.00 a.m – 1.00 p.m and 2.00 p.m – 5.30 p.m. Late opening Wednesday until 8.00 p.m
St Mary’s Road Library, Cathedral Cross, Cork. Tel 021 4924933. Open Tuesday – Saturday, 10.00 a.m –1.00 p.m and 2.00 p.m –6.00 p.m
Tory Top Road Library, Ballyphehane, Cork. Tel 021 4924934.
A new library is being built and will open in Spring 2005. Until then a mobile library is available at Ballyphehane Community Centre, Tory Top Road, on Fridays from 10.00am – 1.00 p.m and 2.00 p.m – 5.00 p.m

There is also a mobile library service in other parts of the city. To find out more contact Cork City Library Service. Tel 021 4924900 All weather pitches are also available for hire at the Glen Resource and Sports Centre, Glen Avenue, Cork. Tel 021 4550511 Recreation centres at Knocknaheeny, Tramore Road and Mayfield, can all be hired for indoor football, basketball, table tennis, badminton, volleyball or tennis.

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Public Parks
Cork City is well provided with parks, playgrounds and pleasant walks. Fitzgerald Park is a short distance from the city centre and features an ornamental pond and fountain, together with a playground area. The Lee Fields, on the western edge of the city, are a traditional recreational area for Cork people, while the Lough in the southwest suburbs is a lake and bird sanctuary, with many swans and ducks. At the eastern end of the City, the Marina Walk leads to Blackrock passing on the way the Atlantic Pond, a pleasant area comprising grassy banks and a decorative lake. Other major parks in the city include The Glen River Park, Shalom Park at Monerea Terrace and Bishop Lucey Park on the Grand Parade.

Sports Facilities
here is a range of sports facilities available in Cork City. Some are private (e.g. many gyms and swimming pools) and access is for members only. Others are provided by third level institutes (UCC and CIT) and may not be open to the general public. Below are some of the public facilities available in Cork:

Swimming
Leisureworld, Bishopstown, swimming pool, gym and 5 7-aside all weather pitches. Tel 021 4346505
Gus Healy swimming pool, Nursery Drive, Douglas. Tel 021 4293073
Mayfield Swimming Pool at Old Youghal Road has a number of public hours available. Tel 021 4505284 for further information
The Matt Talbot swimming pool in Churchfield is being redeveloped and is due to reopen by mid 2005.
Other public sports facilities include:

Ted McCarthy Municipal Golf Course, Skehard Road, Mahon, Cork. Tel 021 4292543
The Sam Allen Sports Centre has 6 all-weather pitches, which can be hired on an hourly basis. The centre is located in Knockfree Avenue, Churchfield. Tel 021 4211688/689
All weather pitches are also available for hire at the Glen Resource and Sports Centre, Glen Avenue, Cork. Tel 021 4550511
Recreation centres at Knocknaheeny, Tramore Road and Mayfield, can all be hired for indoor football, basketball, table tennis, badminton, volleyball or tennis.
Contact details are:

Terence McSwiney Community College, Harbour View Road, Knocknaheeny, Cork. Tel 021 4397740
Coláiste Stiofán Naofa, Tramore Road, Cork. Tel 021 4961029.
Mayfield Sports Complex, Old Youghal Road, Cork. Tel 021 4505284.
Further Information

Cork City Council Recreation Amenity & Culture Department Abbey Court House Cork Register or Login to View this Link
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Article reproduced with permission of Cork City Council. Full URL of article Register or Login to View this Link