By Ciara McDonnell
Regardless of your retail pleasure, there is something for everyone to be found for anyone who wants to shop until they drop in the city of Cork. Throughout the city there are countless shopping options to suit every price point and palate.
Exquisite jewellery
The city centre is the jewel in Cork’s crown when it comes to shopping, Cork’s main thoroughfare takes in St Patrick’s Street, Princes Street, Oliver Plunkett Street, and the North Main Street. All are within moment’s walk of each other, making the city centre a doddle to navigate.
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- Pick up a bespoke piece of jewellery whilst in Cork
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- Or treat that special someone
Jewellery fanatics should head to Oliver Plunkett Street where amongst the charity shops, cafes and salons lie some of the city’s oldest jewellers. Keanes Jewellers is a third generation of jewellers which has made Cork its headquarters since Patrick Keane opened his first watch-making workshop in 1948. Today, their shop façade on Oliver Plunkett Street takes up almost an entire building, and they are one of the largest jewellery dealers in the country.
Cork’s main thoroughfare takes in St Patrick’s Street, Princes Street, Oliver Plunkett Street, and the North Main Street and all are are within moment’s walk of each other
Pre-loved shopping
Fans of the written word should head to Vibes & Scribes, where a huge selection of new and pre-loved books await your interest. Much more than a bookshop, Vibes & Scribes sells all kinds of supplies that would-be artists, knitters, even quilters may need. Consider this a creative person’s Aladdin’s Cave.
Vibes & Scribes sell books and craft supplies
Blarney Woollen Mills is one of Cork’s longest-standing clothes stores, with a fantastic reputation for making high quality clothes from locally-sourced wool and yarn. With its Cork store still based in the hometown of Blarney, you know that Blarney Woollen Mills still keep their roots firmly in County Cork.
Irish craftsmanship
If you are looking for something more niche or specific, then head to some of the smaller side streets. On MacCurtain Street, Oliver Plunkett Street and French Church Street you’ll find excellent boutiques, food shops, bookshops and gorgeous little cafes with outdoor seating just made for people who need to take a break from all that shopping.
Pinocchio’s Toys & Gifts on Paul Street is one such find. Forget your computer-operated toys; this is a toy shop at its utter best. Filled with ethically-sourced, good-quality toys that are built to last but to be played with hard, this is one of those shops that every child should visit, to remember what toys are really about. Be sure to at least walk by Pinocchio’s during your visit; its window display alone is worth a trip.
