Photos From top, left): Everyone loves to shop at Blarney Woollen Mills, Blarney; inside Blarney Woollen Mills sweater department; Kinsale Silver shopfront; and display inside Kinsale Crystal.
Cork City and County Cork offer many interesting and good-value shops. Cork also has a large enclosed multi-story shopping center on the River Lee next to Patrick Street — the Merchant's Quay Shopping Centre. For antiques, head to Paul's Lane, just off Paul Street.
Here is a cross-section of special shopping opportunities:
Blarney Woollen Mills, Blarney, Co. Cork (tel. 021-438-5280). Located next to Blarney Castle, this huge family-run emporium of knitwear and crafts is a veritable department store of Irish gifts and souvenirs. Web site: www.blarney.ie
Cork Wools, 10/11 Market Parade, Princes St., Cork City (tel. 021-427-4816), for all types and colors of yarn and knitting accessories.
Good Yarns, Market Parade, off Prince’s St., Cork City (tel. 021-427-0968), is a prime place for used books, CDs and DVDs. They buy, sell and exchange books.
Granny’s Bottom Drawer, 52 Main St., Kinsale (tel. 021-477-4839), for an eclectic mix of unique fashions, linens, silks, children’s clothing, accessories, antiques, and more.
Kinsale Crystal, Market St., Kinsale (tel. 021-477-4493), is a local cut class enterprise set up by Gerry Daly, former Waterford master-cutter, reviving the old deep-cutting method. Products include bowls, stemware, vasesand decanters. Web site: www.kinsalecrystal.ie
Kinsale Silver, Pearse St., Kinsale (tel. 021-477-4359), local hand-crafted jewelry using Celtic designs. Web site: www.iol.ie/~dolan
Knitwell Wool, Marino St., Bantry, Co. Cork (tel. 027-52640), and 34 Ashe St. Clonakilty (tel. 023-36982), are two sister shops that are prime sources in West Cork for woolen products, wool yarns and knitting supplies.
Irish Linen Museum, 13 Main St., Kinsale (tel. 021-477-2159). As its name implies, this museum-cum-shop displays and sells all types of linen.
Liam Ruiseal, 49-50 Oliver Plunkett St, Cork City (tel. 021-427-0981) is the oldest bookshop in Cork. It specializes in books and maps about Cork, as well as Irish-interest books.
Living Tradition, 40 MacCurtain St., Cork City (tel. 021-450-2040), is the best source for Irish traditional music on CDs, cassettes, videos, sheet music, and song books, as well as instruments.
Murrays, 11-13 Grand Parade, Cork City (tel. 021-427-4731), is a prime source of Irish lace curtains, as well as linens and other fabrics.
O’Conaill Chocolates, 10 French Church St., Cork City (no telephone), sells chocolates of all kinds (truffles, bon bons, and diabetic chocolate bars), handmade at Carrigaline, Co. Cork (tel. 021-437-3407), also serves hot chocolate to go or to enjoy on the premises.
Paperworks, 41 Main St., Kinsale (tel. 021-470-0441), for unique cards, gifts and stationery. Web site: www.paperworks.ie
Prince August, Kilnamartyra, Macroom, Co. Cork (tel. 026-40222), is Ireland's only toy soldier factory. It is situated off the main N 22 road NW of Kinsale., and also produces metal miniatures based on classic books such as "The Hobbit" and "Lord of the Rings." Web site: www.princeaugust.ie
Quills Woollen Market, Main St., Ballingeary, Co. Cork (tel. 026-47008), is a family-run enterprise headquartered deep in the heart of West Cork's Gaelic-speaking region. It produces sweaters, knitwear, and garments using the skins of sheep and goats Also has other Cork branches at 107 Patrick St., Cork City (tel. 021-427-1717); Main St. Glengarriff (tel. 027-63488), and Wolfe Tone Sq., Bantry (tel. 027-56905). Web site: www.quillsireland.com
Youghal Knitwear, 23 Princes St., Cork City (tel. 021-425-1251), sells wools and yarns of all types.
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