Take five: Places to shop in Cork

Mahon Point

Mahon Point Shopping Centre is Munster’s largest shopping destination. It is located just off the South Ring Road (N25) and has over 2,000 free parking spaces. There are over 60 stores to choose from including Debenhams, Tesco, Zara, Next, Jack & Jones, Meadows & Byrne and Monsoon.

The centre is spacious, with plenty of room for buggies and wheelchairs.

The newly refurbished 13-screen Omniplex cinema is also an option for a rainy afternoon and shoppers can grab a bite to eat from the spacious and varied food court.

Shoppers can sample the produce of Cork and many other artisan foods and products at the Mahon Point Farmers Market every Thursday from 10am until 3pm outside the centre. One of Cork’s largest weekly markets with 50 stalls, the market has won top Irish food accolades including Good Food Ireland’s Best Market Award and recommendations by the Bridgestone Guide.

Brocade & Lime

An award-winning find for fashionistas, Brocade & Lime will give you a slice of vintage glamour and retro style on the city’s historic Coal Quay. Two floors are filled with modern designers who have pillaged the past for inspiration. Collections have been designated to decades from the art-decadent 1920s to the psychedelic 1970s, so you can find exactly what you want and learn a little about the history of fashion along the way.

Designer labels are sourced both worldwide and locally, from Brazil to Russia and Skibbereen. Brocade & Lime brings you the best in bygone design and quality that are utterly different from high-street offerings. In ELLE Magazine’s highly recommended independent boutique, ladies can dress in the classic, proven styles of the past. An in-house stylist will help you complete the look with the best in vintage-inspired footwear, furs and millinery to complete your outfit for any occasion.

A hidden courtyard holds a retro beauty parlour where your hair and makeup can also be styled to the past era of your choosing.

Call 021-4278882 or visit www.brocadeandlime.ie for more.

Opera Lane

Just off Patrick’s Street, Opera Lane is the city’s newest shopping hub and is home to many international fashion brands. It houses flagship stores in Cork and Munster for Topshop, Topman, H&M, New Look, GAP, Office, River Island and Tommy Hilfiger.

Opera Lane was developed as a fashion district connecting the main thoroughfare of Cork to the older Huguenot Quarter of the city. It caters for both women and men and beauty needs too. Shoppers can zip in and out of many stores on both sides of the lane, lending to a nice meander around the shops or ease to a search for something specific.

Resident stylist Natasha Crowley knows what each store has to offer and during a two-hour appointment, she will guide you through the seasonal trends. Appointments can be booked online at www.operalane.ie where you will also find information on offers and upcoming events.

Shanagarry Design Centre

Shanagarry Design Centre, nestled in the heart of picturesque east Cork, is part of the Kilkenny Group and is home to Ireland’s largest collection of Irish designers.

Promoting the finest in Irish design for over 50 years, from fashion to craft and homewares to gifts and accessories, the Kilkenny Shop has something for everyone. It boasts a stunning range of Christmas décor and gifts for all the family.

You can enjoy a delicious meal or barista coffee in the award-winning in-store Kilkenny Café, while taking in the breathtaking views of Ballycotton Bay. An attractive addition to the design centre is the design studios, where well-known local artists and craftspeople create products sold in the centre.

There are two other Kilkenny Shops located in Cork – Emmet Place, in the city centre, and the Douglas Court Shopping Centre. For more, log on to www.kilkennyshop.com or call 021-4645838.

Embellish Home Interiors

If Christmas decorations are your thing, then Embellish Home Interiors is the shop for you. Located at 20 North St, Skibbereen, owners John and Lorraine travel far and wide to source unusual decorations and gifts that are unique to their shop. They try to have all the displays completed for the October bank holiday weekend.

“People come from all over Munster to see the shop,” said Lorraine.

The new autumn/winter collection of luxurious cushions and throws, elegant lamps, mirrors and festive kitchenware has arrived too. The design clinic on Saturdays with Terry O’Driscoll is a huge hit if you have an interior design query.

Sister shop Higgildy Piggildy is just down the street and it has the largest selection of handbags, scarves and purses in west Cork. These were exceptionally popular on the stand at the National Ploughing Championships. For more, call 028-40185, visit www.embellishhome.ie or email embellish@eircom.net