Check Cobh out this summer – 5 Things to do for an afternoon visit

Cobh is a lovely little colourful town and it really comes alive in Summer when the cruise liners come in.  These are a few of the things we enjoyed last week and some I have put on the to do list for the next time!  This is my first time back in Cobh in years!  Please send on more recommendations and I can add them to the post if you are a local or go there a lot.

1. Playground and Park – The little Kennedy Park in front of the water in the centre of the town is gorgeous to hang out for an afternoon on the promenade.  We spent over an hour here in the playground and just walking around and playing on the canons and old band stand.  Note there are no swings and it is more toddler oriented I think.
   
   

   
2. See a Cruise Liner up Close – Time your visit when one of the cruise liners are in.  It is some sight to drive into Cobh with these majestic ships towering over the little town.  Nice to go for a walk down to where it is docked.  Some locals dress up in victorian clothes and wave the ship off if you are there on its departure.  I think there is music there also on the weekends when the ship leaves. The timetable for cruise liners is here
   

   
3. Take the road Train through the town.  We didn’t do this but it looked like lots of fun.  Not sure whether they have space for buggies so it is probably worth giving them a ring and checking it out.  We will have to go back to do it.  The front of the train looks like Thomas the Tank Engine which is very cute.  
4. Titanic Experience –  I think the girls are too young for this yet but I am looking forward to bringing them when they are older.  It was voted one of the best places to go in Ireland by parents on the Independent. 
5. Get an Ice Cream at the seasonal Ice Cream shop outside kennedy Park. (not sure what it is called) The ice cream is delicious and a lovely end to a nice afternoon trip to Cobh.

So much more to do in Cobh so will have to return soon.  Here is other things to put on the to do list for the lovely town.

EAT

• Get Lunch/Coffee at The Yellow Door.  By chance we got parking right outside and it had a Badger and Dodo sign for coffee so I thought what better place to refuel!  I thought the food was tasty and it was reasonable and the staff were lovely.  The girls had more of a picnic in the park after as they were napping while I ate!
• Sirius Arts Centre – I only popped my head inside for a few photos as it looked amazing.  Beautiful building with windows looking out to sea. They serve Coffee on the Veranda at certain times of the day.
  

  

  

PLAY

• Playground inside the Park by the water
• Titanic Experience
• Road Train 

LOVE

• Just sitting in Kennedy Park by the water in the sunshine was my highlight.  I think I would love to sit outside and have coffee at the sirus art centre as it looked gorgeous so that is for next time!
• Experiencing the Town when the cruise liner is docked in the port is definitely worth experiencing.  The place was buzzing.  Schedule on the Port of Cork.

Cobh’s People Regatta is on Friday 11th, Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th of August.  Enjoy sailing, rowing, Open air concerts, Children’s activities, Markets, regatta queens, children’s crabfishing and fireworks display.   Check out the details on Visit Cobh.

If you don’t live close and want to make a full day out of it definitely check out Fota House and Gardens also which is one of my favourite spots in East Cork.

5 things on around Cork for the First week of the Holidays

 

Thank you to everyone who has sent me events on for this week.    I really appreciate you sending them on and I am sure everyone who needs some ideas for the start of the summer holidays will also be delighted.   I am not sure how child friendly some of these would be but you can make your own mind up.  I know it is hard to get out of the house with kids.  I only have 2 and I find it a challenge some days.  If you want to skip the events and just go to a playground or beach.  I have some ideas on the PLAY section of the site.  It is as always a work in progress, I am adding more things as the days go on.  Other events I know about over July are listed here.

What else is on this week or over the summer?  Please let me know so I can share.

Wednesday July 5th – Nano Nagle Place –  The Nano Nagle Place on Douglas Street will open up on July 5th with its fascinating heritage centre beautiful gardens and design shop.  I am not sure how family friendly this is as it is only opening but if you go check it out let me know.  Looks like a beautiful piece of Cork heritage.  The cafe isn’t open until Autumn 2017 so maybe bring a picnic.  Price information is here

Wednesday Evenings All Summer – The Lough Ceile – I can’t actually find information for this for 2017 but I have found older material on the internet, but I have it on good authority from an eatplaylove follower there is an open air ceile every Wednesday evening at the Loch.  It sounds like great craic.  It is from 7-9 in the evening so if you want to bring the kids and let them go to bed late might be a fun thing to do with older kids.  If anyone has more information/facebook page etc I could link to this would be useful.

Thursday July 6th – Teddy Bears Picnic at the Donkey Sanctuary I have never been here but I definitely want to try get here over the summer.  5 euro for kids, adults are free.  Some info from their site……The Donkey Sanctuary is set in the beautiful rolling countryside of County Cork just outside the village of Liscarroll in Ireland.  Over 5,200 donkeys from all parts of Ireland have been taken into their care here in Ireland since The Donkey Sanctuary in Ireland was set up.

Saturday July 9th – Blarney in Bloom Summer Garden Fair.  Kids under 12 Go Free.  Haven’t been to Blarney Castle and Gardens in years.  It is also on the bucket list for the summer!

All Summer – St Peter’s Cork exhibition of City by the Sea is on and Free.  I haven’t been to this venue itself but my husband has popped in with the girls.  I think it looks lovely.  Not sure how long smaller kids would be entertained but might be interesting for older kids on their summer holidays!