Category Archives: Blog

Beaches Near Cork City

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Some of our international English language students have been visiting the many beaches of Cork. Both on sunny , warm days and wet and wild windy days the beaches on the coast of Cork have something special to offer.

Myrtleville and Fountainstown Beaches

  • Km from Cork City: 22km (Drive time – 30 minutes)
  • Direction: SOUTH-Take the N28 via Carrigaline
  • Nearest town: Carrigaline 4km
  • Public Transport: 220A bus. Myrtleville Beach is 10 minutes walk down the hill from Crosshaven Rugby Club. The bus stops in Fountainstown

Myrtleville is a small sandy beach mainly used by residents of nearby holiday homes. Limited parking on the road. You can walk or drive from here to Fountainstown beach – about 1k away. Fountainstown beach is stony with lots of seaweed. It has a large free car park.

Myrtleville – Photo @jessburkephotos

Fountainstown – Photo @ramseysalim

The Dock Beach, Kinsale

  • Km from Cork City: 29km ( Drive Time – 37 minutes)
  • Nearest town: Kinsale 2km
  • Public Transport: 226 bus

The Dock Beach Cork is a small well-sheltered beach located in Kinsale, Co Cork that offers a view of the harbour and Charlesfort. The beach is situated near James fort. The water is safe for swimming, there are no big waves or currents.

The Dock Beach, Kinsale – Photo @corkexplores

Garrettstown and Garrylucas Beaches

  • Km from Cork City: 34km ( Drive Time – 40 minutes)
  • Direction: EAST – Take the N27 via Cork Airport, Riverstick, Belgooly, Kinsale, Ballinspittle.
  • Nearest town: Ballinspittle 2km
  • Public Transport: 226 bus

Large sand and stony Blue Flag beach, great for surfing. Lifeguards present in Summer Season. Lots of parking on the beach front. Ask for directions to the nearby cliff walk, which affords fantastic views of the Celtic Sea on a clear day.

Garrettstown – Photo @atlantic_offshore_adventures

Garrylucas – Photo @yogaandval

White Bay Beach, Glanagow, Cork

  • Km from Cork City: 40km
  • Nearest Town: Whitegate ( 2.5km)
  • Public Transport : 241 Bus

White Bay is a lovely scenic beach on the south coast of Ireland. Safe for swimming and offers an amazing view from the beach. Lots of yachts, boats, and tankers come past in the distance as it’s near the entrance to Cork port. To access the beach, you need to park up at the Car Park and walk down a long lane to the beach. There is a long steep walk up and down from the parking park. Do not forget to check the tides, as the beach gets small at high tide.

Garryvoe Beach

  • Km from Cork City: 34 km (Drive Time – 40 Minutes)
  • Direction: EAST – Take the N25 via Midleton, Castlemartyr, Ladysbridge.
  • Nearest town: Ladysbridge 2km
  • Public Transport: 240 bus

A very large sand and stony Blue Flag Beach. Life guards present in Summer Season. Gets extremely busy on fine weekends. Lots of parking along the beach front. Good childrens playground on beach front. Fast food vans are there on fine weekends.

Garryvoe Beach – Photo @stayatsentio

Youghal Beach

  • Km from Cork City: 48k  (Drive time – 50 Minutes)
  • Direction: EAST – Take N25 via Midleton, Castlemartyr, Killeagh
  • Nearest town: Youghal – 300 metres
  • Public Transport: 40 bus & 260 bus

An extremely long and popular Blue Flag Beach. Was one of the main beach areas for Cork City residents in the 50’s and 60’s when a train ran from the city right to the beach. Lots of parking on the main road.

Youghal Beach – Photo @shanahan55

Courtmacsherry Beach

  • Km from Cork City: 50km (Drive time – 50 minutes)
  • Direction: WEST – Take N71 via Half Way, Bandon, Timoleague
  • Nearest town: Courtmacsherry – 500 metres
  • Public Transport: 239 bus (Not all services)

Inchydoney Beach

  • Km  from Cork City: 50km (Drive time – 55 minutes)
  • Direction: SOUTH – Take N71 via Bandon, Clonakilty
  • Nearest town: Clonakilty 4km

Located 4km southeast of the delightful village of Clonakilty and 50km southwest of Cork City, Inchydoney Beach is popular amongst tourists and locals alike. It’s arguably one of the best known beaches in West Cork and it’s a fine place for a stroll or a paddle.

Incydoney Beach – Photo @corkdrones

The Warren Beach

  • Km from Cork City: 58km (Drive time – 1 hour 15 mins)
  • Direction: WEST – Take N71 via Bandon, Clonakilty, Rosscarbery
  • Nearest town: Rosscarbery 2km
  • Public Transport: 237 bus. 20 minutes walk from Rosscarbery.

Owenahincha Beach

  • Km from Cork City: 58km (Drive time 1hour 15 mins)
  • Direction: WEST – Take N71 via Bandon, Clonakilty, CastlefrekeVery nice sandy beach in quite a rural location.

    Owenahincha Beach – Photo @mplaice

Check out here for even more beaches in West Cork.

Student Experiences on YouTube

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Listen to past and current students of our school as they share their experiences in Ireland, including their courses, teachers, the challenges and successes they’ve faced.

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How to Open an Irish Bank Account

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Consider a Digital Account

  • Both Revolut or Money Jar now have Irish IBANs starting with IE (for some employers in Ireland this is important).
  • You can use this digital account to show proof of having €4680 (€6665 from June 30th 2025) if you like. You can make an electronic transfer from one account to this new digital account.
  • You cannot lodge cash to these accounts. You can only make online transfers.
  • You can open a digital account within minutes!

Open a Regular (traditional) Irish Bank Account

Students can now open accounts using the AIB App. Search for the AIB Banking App on your phone.

If you get into difficulty with registering your details on the App you are welcome to visit the AIB Branch on South Mall, Cork city centre (2 minutes walk from the school). 

Here’s a step-by-step guide to opening an account on the AIB Mobile Banking App:

Step 1: Download AIB App

Download the AIB Mobile Banking App from the App Store or Play Store. Select the option to “Become an AIB customer”.

Step 2: Verify email address

Enter your e-mail address. We’ll send a unique code to your inbox that is required to continue

Step 3: Provide some personal details

We’ll ask you to enter your personal details and present you with the account suitable for you, then…

Step 4: Complete a video call

We will connect with you to a video call with an agent, so you’ll need your photo ID and stable internet connection. Our agent will guide you, for example getting you to hold up your passport so we can check your identity. 

Step 5: Provide some more details

 After the video call, we need a few more details from you in order open your account so don’t go anywhere. Follow the steps on screen all the way to picking a branch and register for our internet banking service.

Step 6: Almost there… 

Your account will then be opened, but before you can begin to use your account you will need to prove your address. 

Step 7: Wait for letter

To prove your address, we will send you a letter to the provided postal address that you’ve given us. This letter will contain a unique identifier code which you will then need to enter into the app. Your account wont be active until you do this! 

Step 8: Enter code from letter

Once you have entered the code, you’re good to go and you can lodge money to your new current account and transact online(this may take 24hours after code entry). We will send a debit card in the post and a PIN separately.

Acceptable types of photographic ID includes:

Language school students should choose a basic account. This may cause an issue for students if they select a student account in error, as the app will not allow them to continue. They should instead start again and choose a basic account, they will be able to complete the account opening.

Any students who find themselves unable to open an account via the mobile app can visit the AIB South Mall Branch.

To open an account in branch they will need to make an appointment and provide the following:

Documents AIB might request:

  • Original School Letter (signed and stamped)
  • Original Bank Letter (signed and stamped)
  • This letter is different to your school letter. It must include your address in Cork, your address abroad and the school AIB bank account number)
  • Medical insurance document with address in Cork
  • Passport
  • Irish mobile number

If you follow all the steps without issue you could have a bank account open within 2 weeks.

Teffi on Online Classes

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Teffi from Germany first started online classes with us in the Summer of 2020 at B1 Intermediate level. Just over 6 months later she is now at C1 Advanced level and continues to study with CEA online. Read Teffi’s story…

I always wanted to learn English in another country but I am a full-time student in Germany. My friend recommended an online course that I could take during my lockdown time.

The best thing that could happen to me during the pandemic is CEA’s online course and so I signed up for the course. 

At the beginning I was very sceptical if the online course could do anything. But it convinced me otherwise. I had also had English for a long time in my school days, but the lessons could not be compared to the current course.

I enjoyed every minute of the class and to be honest it was my highlight of the day because you always learn something new and the style of teaching was different.

The teachers were all very nice, helpful and each had different styles which I really liked.

As I don’t speak much English outside of the classroom at the moment, the course is definitely good to get to grips with the language. The online course allowed me to focus on listening comprehension and speaking. 

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View from Teffi’s hometown in Germany.

Congratulations Teffi! Wishing you all the best with your language progression.