Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A weekend away with your girls is always a good idea — and when that weekend is in Cork, even better. Three weeks ago, myself and my two best friends packed up the car and headed south from Dublin for two days and nights in the Rebel County or, as the locals like to call it, the ‘real capital’. Of course, as a Dubliner I vehemently refute even the joke in that — but I will never deny that Cork is one of the most beautiful counties in Ireland. READ MORE: Ryanair bag rules: Airline sets record straight on staff commission rumour amid €75 charge scandal READ MORE: I visited Mirror Houses on the shores of Ireland's largest freshwater lake to switch off from life From the harbour town of Cobh to the colourful Kinsale and popular tourist villages of Blarney and Clonakilty, a journey through Cork has a little bit of everything — from cosy country pubs to a bustling night life if you head into Cork city. On our visit, we were heading first to Ballincollig and then onto Midleton, just 30 minutes’ away by car and probably best known for being home to the Midleton Distillery — a major producer of Irish whiskey. From Dublin, the journey to Ballincollig takes around three hours — though, top tip, if you carpool with a group of chatty friends, this will feel far shorter — and is pretty much a straight run on the motorway for most of that time. A not-too-unexpected traffic jam of a Friday afternoon took us off course for a section of the journey but by the time we got to the Talbot Hotel in Ballincollig — formerly the Oriel Park Hotel — we had made it in about three hours and 10 minutes. The Talbot Collection has eight 4-star hotels around Ireland, in Wexford, Cork, Dublin, Carlow and Tipperary. I have previously stayed in the Talbot Hotel Wexford, which was the sixth addition to the collection, as well as its sister suites, the Talbot Suites at Stonebridge, comprising of 69 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Both the hotel itself and the self-catering apartments in Wexford are extremely impressive so when the chance arose to check out the newest additions to the Talbot Collection, I jumped at it. The takeover is relatively new so both the Talbot in Ballincollig as well as the one in Midleton are still undergoing refurbishments and tinkering and tweaking, with the Midleton (www.talbothotelmidleton.ie), formerly the Midleton Park Hotel, closer to the finished product. A stay here is everything you need for a great night out in Midleton. The Park 89 Bar & Bistro was buzzing of a Saturday night, with a live singer keeping guests and walk-ins entertained. The food is also exceptional — the goat’s cheese salad for starters is a must while I’d highly recommend the roast beef for your main. Just don’t expect to have much room left for dessert — the portions are extremely generous and the slabs of beef so delicious you won’t stop eating, even when you’re bursting at the seams. If you do manage to leave room for dessert, the sticky toffee pudding should be high up on your list. In the Talbot in Ballincollig, meanwhile, there’s only one dessert to try — the chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream. Simply put, this is perfection. As is the deep fried brie starter. The Talbot Ballincollig is also within walking distance of a great bar in Tradehouse Central Bar & Kitchen — a modern hotspot serving up live music every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. While this is the place to be at weekends in Ballincollig, in Midleton, there’s no need to leave the hotel for a great night. The stylish and intimate Park 89 Bar is awash with people and abuzz with activity. And despite being packed to the rafters on the night we ate there, the restaurant staff were on the ball, the bar staff were engaging and friendly, despite being under tremendous pressure and the cocktails were second-to-none. I cannot recommend dining here enough. In the Talbot Ballincollig, meanwhile, I’d recommend visiting the leisure centre which boasts a fully-equipped gym — though we didn’t use this! — as well as a 25m swimming pool with separate children’s pool, an infinity resistance pool, spa jet stations, an eight-seater Jacuzzi, steamroom and sauna and an indoor relaxation area — all of which we used after a night out in Tradehouse! During the day, it’s well worth hopping in the car and exploring what the rest of Cork has to offer — Cobh is just a 30-minute drive from Ballincollig and on a sunny day there are few better places in Cork to spend an afternoon. Grab an ice cream and sit on the waterfront. On a duller day, which is more likely, head to the Titanic Experience (www.titanicexperiencecobh.ie), located in the historic White Star Line Building — the very place from where Titanic’s last passengers departed. For kids, a trip out to Fota Wildlife Park, which is one of Ireland’s top 10 visitor attractions, is a must. At Fota, wherever possible, the park have chosen animals that thrive in a free-range environment, which allows them to roam free and mix with visitors. For adults, The Maple Leaf in Midleton is a great little boozer, buzzing on the afternoon we visited with the Aintree Grand National on the telly. After another terrific weekend in the Rebel County, you can certainly bet on my return.