Christmas on Leeside: It’s night and day
It’s around this time of year that the line between the gentle bustle of the day and the thrill of the night becomes wonderfully blurred in Cork city.
You could walk into a shop in close to broad daylight, spend a fast hour browsing its wares, and step back out into a transformed nighttime scene full of busy shoppers and often even busier socialisers.
That’s what’s great about a city like Cork this time of year – you have everything at your fingertips.
If you’re in the city centre, you don’t have to worry about traffic or buses or having to walk for ages to get to your next stop. You don’t even need a plan! You have shops of all kinds, restaurants, bars, entertainment, all mixed in together and all within walking distance.
There’s something so exciting about popping into town for a few bits and just getting caught up in the flow of the city and before you know it, the lights are on and you’re immersed in the irresistible buzz of the evening time. Maybe a friend gets onto you for a spontaneous meet up. Maybe some live music catches your ear. Maybe a thoughtful shop window display inspires you for the perfect gift. It can all happen!
Iconic Cork bard John Spillane puts it poetically: “I rise up early on Christmas Eve and I head for Cork city centre to do all my Christmas shopping in one fell swoop. I am sure to put on my cloak of invisibility so I don't get side tracked by anyone I know or by Tom, Dick or Harry. I stick to the side streets; I have my own special routes around this town. I buy everyone a book, not just any book, but the book they need that they don't yet know they need.
“When the books are bought, I go to Nashs 19 for the breakfast; the potato cake is like an old friend. I sweep through the crowded streets like an avenging angel, picking up presents as I go. I land in the Long Valley for one Irish coffee and I am home before dark. Happy Christmas everyone.”
Don't miss John Spillane's annual Christmas concert spectacular at the Everyman on 21 December. Tickets are on sale at everymancork.com.
Christmas will officially arrive in Cork tomorrow, Friday, with the return of Corkmas to the city centre. Running until 31 December, the festivities will get underway with the fabulous Corkmas Parade tomorrow evening from 7-8pm through the heart of the city.
So, whether you’re an early bird, a night owl, or a bit of both, Cork city has you covered this Christmas.
Forget the clock and let the warmth of the city pull you in along. Pop in in your own time but make sure to always stay a just a little bit longer than you’d planned.