Local Essentials
The practical stuff most travel sites skip. Everything you need to know before visiting Cork, from parking to pharmacies.
Accessibility
English Market
The English Market has step access at the Princes Street and Grand Parade entrances; the Farmgate Café upstairs is reached by stairs. Contact the market office about lift access.
Rail
Kent Station has step-free access to the platforms. New through-platforms opened in 2025. Iarnrod Eireann staff can pre-book wheelchair assistance.
Museums
Cork Public Museum in Fitzgerald Park and the Glucksman at UCC are largely step-free. Cork City Gaol has a historic site with some uneven surfaces; contact ahead.
For detailed venue-level access, contact each venue directly. Cork's older hill quarters at Shandon and Montenotte are steep and not always step-free.
ATMs & Banking
Bank of Ireland ATM
Patrick Street
On the main shopping street. Free for most Irish and European bank cards.
AIB ATM
Grand Parade
Close to the English Market and the Grand Parade.
Bike Rental
TFI Bikes (Cork city bike share)
Cork has a public bike-share scheme with docking stations across the city centre and UCC. Buy a short-term or annual subscription via the TFI Bikes app. Stations near Kent Station, the South Mall and UCC.
Emergency Services
General Emergency
112 or 999
Coast Guard
112 (ask for Coast Guard)
Garda Station
Anglesea Street Garda Station, Anglesea Street, Cork City, T12 K244, +353 21 452 2000
Cork University Hospital, Wilton Road, Wilton, Cork, T12 DC4A. 24-hour Emergency Department, open every day, for all ages.
+353 21 492 2000Cork University Hospital (CUH)
Wilton Road, Wilton, Cork, T12 DC4A
+353 21 492 2000Acute hospital with a 24-hour Emergency Department, all ages
The main acute hospital and Emergency Department for Cork city and county, about 4 km west of the city centre at Wilton. Open 24 hours every day for all ages. Emergency Department direct line +353 21 492 0200; switchboard +353 21 492 2000.
Mercy University Hospital
Grenville Place, Cork City, Co. Cork, T12 WE28
+353 21 493 5241Acute hospital with a 24-hour Emergency Department for anyone aged 16 and over ONLY
Closer to the city centre than Cork University Hospital and open 24 hours, but it does not accept patients under 16. Children under 16 must go to Cork University Hospital at Wilton. The number listed is the Emergency Department direct line; the hospital switchboard is +353 21 427 1971.
Mercy Injury Unit, Gurranabraher
Mercy Injury Unit, Gurranabraher, Cork City, Co. Cork, T23 YV52
+353 21 492 6900Injury unit for minor injuries. NOT an Emergency Department.
Open 8am to 7pm, seven days a week, for anyone aged 10 and over only. Treats broken bones, sprains, minor burns, wounds and minor head injuries. Does not treat injuries to the chest, abdomen or pelvis, serious head or spine injuries, or life-threatening emergencies, which must go to an Emergency Department. Costs 75 euro unless you hold a medical card or have a GP or Emergency Department referral.
Anglesea Street is the main city-centre Garda station. Cork University Hospital at Wilton is the principal Emergency Department for the city and county, open 24 hours for all ages; Emergency Department direct line +353 21 492 0200, switchboard +353 21 492 2000. Mercy University Hospital, Grenville Place, T12 WE28, is closer to the centre and also runs a 24-hour Emergency Department, but it takes anyone aged 16 and over ONLY. Children under 16 must go to Cork University Hospital. Mercy Emergency Department direct line +353 21 493 5241. For a non-life-threatening injury, Mercy Injury Unit at Gurranabraher, Cork City, T23 YV52, +353 21 492 6900, opens 8am to 7pm every day and treats people aged 10 and over only; it is not an Emergency Department. Attending an Emergency Department costs 100 euro without a medical card or GP referral; an injury unit costs 75 euro on the same terms.
Luggage Storage
Kent Station does not run a left-luggage office. City-centre hotels will usually hold bags for guests on arrival and departure days. Bag-storage apps such as Stasher and Radical Storage list partner shops in the city centre.
Parking
Paul Street Car Park
Rate: Around EUR 2.20/hour; daily and evening caps apply
Capacity: ~400 spaces
Central multi-storey close to the English Market and the Huguenot Quarter. Confirm current tariff at the barrier.
Grand Parade Car Park
Rate: Around EUR 2.20/hour
Closest large car park to the English Market and Grand Parade.
On-street pay-and-display
Rate: City-centre on-street parking is metered; pay by app via the city parking provider
On-street spaces in the centre are time-limited. The multi-storeys are easier for a longer visit.
Pharmacies
Phelan's Late Night Pharmacy (Patrick Street)
9 Patrick Street, Cork, T12 W760
Long-hours city-centre pharmacy on the main shopping street. Confirm holiday hours directly.
Supermarkets & Groceries
Dunnes Stores, Patrick Street
Patrick Street, Cork
Full supermarket and department store on the main shopping street. Confirm exact hours, which vary seasonally.
Tesco, Paul Street
Paul Street, Cork
Central supermarket near the English Market and the Huguenot Quarter.
Taxis & Rideshare
City-centre taxi ranks and FreeNow
Taxi ranks at St Patrick's Street, the South Mall, and Kent Station. The FreeNow app operates in Cork city.
Public Toilets
Bishop Lucey Park / Grand Parade
Kent Station
WiFi & Connectivity
Cork City Library
Free public WiFi during opening hours at the Central Library on Grand Parade.
SIM Cards
Three, Vodafone and Eir all have stores on Patrick Street and in the Merchants Quay and Wilton shopping centres. A prepaid tourist SIM with around 10GB of data costs roughly EUR 20.