When visiting Cork I knew I had to go to Waterstones as I'm a huge book nerd who has ordered from…read morethem online for a while now. I was hoping to see some of their famous special editions, but they didn't have any at all. I didn't find any books that I wanted and everything was a bit overpriced, though I may be used to used book prices in the states. I ended up only buying two tote bags. The cashier was friendly and helped me quickly. Not sure I'll have a need to return next time I'm in Cork, but it was nice to browse for a bit.

Great shop. Very cosy and a nice seating area. Also a nice selection of books. The environment is…read morevery quiet. The staff is very knowledgeable. Great shop.

Right at the end of Oliver Plunkett Street this little used book store has been chugging away for…read moreyears despite floods, recession and the advent of MP3 downloads. Barely bigger than your granny's front room but packed to the gills with old vinyl, cassettes and VHS, plus well-worn paper backs (and a few of those modern CDs and DVDs), Uneeda Bookstore is an independent outpost on the fringes of highstreet status quo. Keep in mind, you're more likely to pick up a vintage Lionel Ritchie or Nana Mouskouri LP than The Clash or Tom Waits, but the loyal following of Cork city musos has to count for something. Stop by on your way in or out of the long Oliver Plunkett street shopping district and pick up a cassette or two - at €5 and €10 a pop most items in the shop are easy buys.

I was on vacation in Ireland and thought it would be cool to flip through records at a local store…read moreto see what they have. After a disappointing trip to Golden Discs finding only new releases @ 20+ euro each, I found this spot right on Oliver Punkett. The man working there, John Coffee, was such a delightful person. He made my stay in Cork even more pleasant just by chatting with me about music and culture for about an hour which felt like 15 minutes. I found some great music in his modest collection at great pirces. He helped me pick out some new things I've never heard of, which is really most of the fun for me. If you like sifting through old records looking for something unique, this is the place to go. John Coffee, if you ever read this, you rock!

Oooh they got vibes here, and they're all good ones! Popped in on a weekend wander and this place…read morecertainly hit the spot! They had all the things the make my hear pitter patter. They had new releases, the classics, used books, discounted books. They also have a book buy back program which is fantastic, because we stan substantially! Simply put, they had everything I needed (eh..wanted but same same) And the staff was so very nice and cheerful. Go there! Loose yourself among the good vibes, beautiful bindings, and endless pages.

I'm convinced that it's impossible to be unhappy in a bookstore, especially if that bookstore is…read morethe adorable Vibes & Scribes! I have visited the local shop multiple times during my semester in Cork and each time I am delighted to get lost in expansive bookshelves! The shop has a great selection of both used and new books and makes buying lots of books easy with plenty of mix and match deals ensuring you get the most bang for your buck! Vibes & Scribes is one of those stores where you walk in not knowing exactly what you'll discover. I repeatedly find books that I've been meaning to read as well as books I've never heard of but want to dive into! I can't bring myself to walk past the shop without stopping in, especially on rainy days (which are common in Ireland) spent meandering downtown. The staff is also incredibly helpful and friendly. I remember on my first stop into the shop, the cashier asked my friend and I about how we were enjoying Cork and gave us some local recommendations for restaurants and live music. Next time you're looking for your next great read, you'll be able to find it at Vibes & Scribes!

EASON'S Eason's is the biggest newsagents in town but I…read moredon't go there that often, mainly because of their unreasonably big difference in real terms between the sterling price and the euro price on UK magazines. But, being something of a guerrilla customer, I regularly call there this time of the year as they hold a sale on their travel books with twenty per cent off most. This time I picked up the DK Eyewitness Guide to the Dordogne, Bordeaux and Southwest Coast and it cost me €15.44 instead of the cover price of €19.30. The sterling price was £13.99; I would really have been annoyed had I paid €19.30 for it! I did buy a magazine also, Ireland's Food and Wine for January/February. Cost was €3.99, same as the sterling cover price. Happy with that. Oh and by the way, the Patrick Street shop has a huge selection of newspapers, magazines, book and music and the lady that served me was absolutely brilliant as are most if not all the staff there.

Other Realms, conveniently situated in the trendy Hugenot quarter's Paul Street Shopping Centre, is…read morea mecca for anyone interested in role-playing games, board games, collectible card games and wargames in Cork city. Previously a considerably bigger shop with space to have coffee, a recent refurbishment and addition of a health food section (well, all-night games sessions, fatty fast food chomped down between games and far too many heavily caffeinated beverages take their toll..!) has removed the additional space Other Realms enjoyed, without having a knock-on effect on their product range. Munster's largest comic and gaming store, the staff at Other Realms' professionalism and extensive product knowledge mark them out as leaders in what can sometimes be an unprofessional industry. The thoughtful, open design encouraging browsing, extensive product range of games, genre books and tie-in merchanchasing, as well as the attentive but casual staff, also single Other Realms out as a major contender in the games and comics industry in Ireland. As well as this, they also host a web-based comic and game catalogue service, for those who can't access their physical premises. Still only a few years old, Other Realms is definitely worth a browse for anyone interested in all things geek.

THE GLUCKSMAN Made a cross-town trip this morning to see the…read moreLewis Glucksman Gallery in the grounds of UCC. Impressive building and a very impressive viewing space. Admission is free but a five euro donation is suggested. Anyone interested in pop music will find it a worthwhile to take in one of the two current exhibitions. It is called Mixtapes, a mixed media show, and runs until 24 October 2010. The Glucksman also has quite an extensive shop with books on art in general plus a huge range of specialist publications on individual subjects.

A welcome addition to both the UCC campus and the city in general, the Glucksman is a relatively…read morenew gallery (it opened in 2004). It shows on the outside as well as in, with lots of space throughout the building, so the exhibits aren't piled on top of one another. There's a pleasant cafe downstairs too, so it's good for a lazy lunchtime.

One of the best places in Cork. One of the best local, private bookshops in Europe.obviously a must…read morefor mystery fans.

We found this store while vacationing in Ireland. There is something for everyone here. They have…read morea lovely assortment of dress and casual clothing. We purchased a shirt, bra, and a dress. They were high quality items which came to 68 euro. The styles are trendy and stylish. I highly recommend this store.

DEBENHAMS Dual pricing at Debenhams is annoying. For two…read morereasons. Firstly, if you are not a very regular visitor, you can sometimes see just the pound mark and only find out the euro cost at the till; secondly, you will see the rate of exchange is high street robbery, like 8 pounds equals 12 euro. Come on, get real! Usually, I leave it behind me. Still I managed to find Irish made gifts there this morning and, with no great enthusiasm (solely because of the pricing policy, the staff are fine), bought them as they were suitable for my purposes.