Action Stations!
Sport mad stags rejoice! Cork is a premium destination for any active, heart pumping stag party. With everything from Football Match Day Tickets and a traditional day of Gaelic Games to a laid back game of Golfing or a classic game of 5 A Side, Cork has got competitive stags covered! Distillery Tours and Health Spas promise to keep chilled out stags busy if Fast and Furious Go Karting or stag vs. stag Paintballing warfare doesn't take your fancy.
Best Bars in Cork
The Long Valley Bar - Opened in 1842, this narrow and deep bar serves up belly filling homemade sandwiches and perfect pints all day long. Family run and ever friendly, this is a more traditional start for your stag night!
An Brog - Cillian Murphy, Jonathan Rhys Myers and Vince Vaughn have all visited this epic club in a pub - if it's good enough for the rich and famous it's good enough for your stag!
The Oliver Plunkett - Live rock, jazz and blues seven days a week and a range of beers and whiskeys that put most places to shame ... that's what this live music bar in the heart of Cork is all about.
Event Calendar
March - St Patrick's Festival
There's not much to say about St Patrick's day that any stags wont already know, but Cork's festival is one of the biggest and best in Ireland.
June to July - Live at the Marquee
Running over a number of weeks, this Cork music festival sees huge names in music, comedy and theatre descend on Cork for separate events every day.
October - Cork Folk Festival
Folk music, awesome costumes and the best moves since your dad hit the dance floor ... Cork Folk Festival is epic.
"If it's drowning you're after, don't torment yourself with shallow water."
- Irish Drinking Proverb.
Where to Head...
Districts
While Cork is loaded with great places to grab a pint, Barrack Street is far and away the best in the city. The Barrack Street Challenge, an epic pub crawl through the street's many watering holes, is a famous local pub crawl that'll test any stag to his limit.
Must see...
No trip to Cork is complete without kissing the world famous Blarney Stone. Said to bestow the powers of persuasiveness upon those who kiss it (a useful weapon in any stag's arsenal), this iconic tradition is great for a laugh so long as you've got a head for heights!
Cork is known as the "Rebel County" for its activity in the War of Independence.
Sydney harbour is the only harbour in the world bigger than Cork's.
Football hard man Roy Keane was born in Cork, but don't let that scare you away.
18th Century Cork's butter market was the world's largest (we're spreading thin here!).
A Taste of Cork
Eats - It might not sound great, but Cork is known for its packet and tripe, an Irish form of black pudding served with tripe.
Drinks - If Dublin is known for the Guinness, Cork should be known for Murphy's. A smoother, less in your face stout, Murphy's has been the best pint in Cork for 150 years.
On Ya Bike! Getting Around Cork
Cork's city is entirely walkable making any use of the city's bus network almost completely needless. Save some cash for a taxi to ferry you home after the ultimate stag night out in Cork.
Of course if you're in a hurry or want to save your feet for the dad dancing later, Cork has a 330 strong system of Boris Bikes available for renting and riding around the city.
"The jacks" - The toilets.
"Arseways" - Gone the wrong way.
"Put the heart crossways" - Cause a scare.
"Pint of Gat" - Guinness.
"The fear" - Hangover.
"Tonight we're going to partylike its 1929!"
Cork was the Titanic's last port of call.
A little more about a Cork stag do
Cork is one of the friendliest and most hospitable cities you could ever hope to visit both within Ireland as well as the UK and Europe as a whole. It's relaxed and trendy and thrives on the warm, welcoming nature of the fun-loving locals which makes it an ideal destination for your stag weekend on the Emerald Isle. The city, the country and the sea are all rolled into one in this fantastic city and you'll certainly never be short of something to do on your Cork stag do, whether you're enjoying the waves with some water sports or sinking a pint of the black stuff. Why not request a free callback and get things moving in no time!
Kiss the world-famous Blarney Stone and learn from native Corkonians how to get ‘the gift of the gab' before exploring the many fantastic pubs and bars which fill the centre. Cork has recently been renewed and regenerated and it's come out on top as a lively, thrilling place to visit which many locals call ‘the real capital of Ireland'. Whether you're looking for a big night out, or a relaxing night in traditional Irish pubs at night, soaking up the local culture (and plonk), there's something to suit every taste here. Cork was voted one of the top 10 best cities to visit by Lonely Planet's ‘Best in Travel' awards, describing Cork as ‘at the top of its game right now: sophisticated, vibrant and diverse, while still retaining its friendliness, relaxed charm and quick-fire wit'. Uncork all that this city has to offer and make it number 1 for your stag do!
What's the craic? A guide to speakin' the local lingo
Cork Harbour is the 2nd largest in the world.
Whether you've got the accent down or get a little baffled when an Irish spiel gets going, we thought we'd provide you with a quick guide to some of the best local words and phrases to help you keep up with conversation on your Cork stag weekend - get the gift of the gab!
- I claim ya! - I would very much like to challenge you to a duel, sir. If you hear this one, we recommend that you get a move on as soon as you possibly can. No gift of the gab will get you out of this one.
- On the tear - Myself and my comrades intend to partake of a few alcoholic beverages tonight.
- Whacker - An unpleasant fellow.
- Shade mobile - A police vehicle. Keep out of the way of these on your stag...
- D'yaknowwhatImeanlike? - Do you catch my drift? This ‘word' tends to act like a full stop to end many Irish phrases.
- Feek - An attractive female. Take it from us, Cork isn't short on feek.
- Cat - Awful/terrible. No, this has nothing to do with tiddles the moggie.
- Fluthered - Rather intoxicated. Try not to get too fluthered on your Cork stag do...
- Savage! - Excellent! We're well aware that this one makes absolutely no sense at all.
When to visit for your Cork stag do
The world's first steeplchase took place in Cork in 1752.
Cork isn't far from good old Blighty and therefore tends to experience a similar climate, so whether you visit in June or January, bringing along a brolly is always a good plan! Although there may not be wall to wall sunshine in summer and chilly climes in winter, whenever you visit for your Cork stag weekend, you most certainly won't be disappointed when it comes to events. In November, enjoy the Cork Film Festival which shows new and old, mainstream and indie cinema every year, as well as workshops and appearances from big names in the industry. Over December, the festive spirit gets going with A Cork Christmas Celebration, which attracts over 150,000 people every year with a giant ferris wheel, great local produce for sale and a vintage carousel as well as cracking Christmas lights. If you're fans of cinema and high-brow culture, be sure to check out the trendy French Film Festival in March as well as the St Patrick's Festival, for some slightly less high-brow ‘culture' perhaps. If you're around in June, don't miss the Cork Midsummer Festival which claims to ‘bring the world to Cork and show Cork to the world'. It's one of Ireland's leading international arts festivals with many varied acts and performances - well worth a look!
Travelling abroad? Stay informed.
For information on staying safe and healthy while travelling abroad as well as local laws and latest government advice on destinations visit the FCO Travel Aware website.
