Cork city has quite an extensive shopping area, with a variety of shops to suit all budgets. This precinct encompasses Patrick Street (Cork’s longest shopping street) and North Main Street, with Oliver Plunkett Street and Princes Street in between. There are also a variety of extensive shopping centers including Paul Street Shopping Centre, North Main Street Shopping Centre, Merchant’s Quay Shopping Centre, French Church Street and the famous English Market. This covered market has been in operation since the early 18th century, making it one of the oldest. There is a wide variety of stalls here selling everything from meat and vegetables to cheeses and spices, soaps and champagne. There is also a selection of cafes here, where one can take a break from wandering around and watching the world go by. There are entrances from Princes Street, Patrick Street, Oliver Plunkett Street or Grand Parade. If you want to go a bit further afield, there are also excellent shopping opportunities available in Blackpool, Mahon, Douglas, Carrigaline, Bishopstown, Wilton or Midleton.
MacCurtain Street is one of the oldest shopping areas in Cork City. Here you will find an eclectic mix of shops, ranging from antiques to musical instruments. Along the way there are several picturesque cafes to revive. Crowley’s Music Center is where legendary musician Rory Gallagher purchased the 1961 Fender Stratocaster that will forever be associated with him. In the past, MacCurtain Street was the place to go if you fancy some old-style sweets. An example of this was the Hadji Bey store, located on the ground floor of the Metropole hotel, famous for its Turkish delight in the early 20th century. Sadly it went out of business in the 1980s. These days the Metropole Hotel is still there, and the area around the bay windows is where Hadji Bey’s used to be.
French Church Street is one of those shopping areas with many secrets waiting to be discovered. Here you will find a variety of exciting one-of-a-kind shops, selling clothing and accessories, sweets, and coffee. There are heated outdoor seating areas around many of the cafes, giving this street that French cafe society vibe. This street, together with Paul Street and Carey’s Lane, forms the Huguenot neighborhood. In this area is the Huguenot cemetery. This walled cemetery dates from the early 18th century; a time when Huguenot refugees left France to start a new life in Cork. They specialize in textiles, making silk and linen. They also became real estate developers.
Since the late 19th century, produce has been bought and sold on Cornmarket Street (also known as Coal Quay). It was also the site of the Mercado de San Pedro, which was originally a food market but today is a vibrant pub and restaurant. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, many apartments were built along with a shopping center that can be accessed from Paul Street. These days, street traders sell their wares on Cornmarket Street every Saturday morning. His nickname hints at his origins; this district used to function as a wharf as it was where the channel of the River Lee empties. However, it came to fruition to develop what is now Cornmarket Street.
Opera Lane is one of Cork City’s newest shopping districts. The architects ensured that their design complemented the surrounding historic structures, for example the Queen Anne House on Emmet Place and the Crawford Art Gallery. Many of the well-known stores such as Topshop, Gap, Next, Kuyichi, Topman, and Tommy Hilfiger, to name just a few, do business here.