Recommendations for Cork Ireland

I stayed at The Address in Cork . I think it was originally a school or a military hospital. It’s a beautiful old building and the rooms at the front look out over Cork city . And very central to everything.

There is a useful guide to Cork on here with recommendations for places to stay, visit, etc. compiled by someone who used to live in the area:
travel.sidewalksafari.com/things-to-do-in-cork-city/

As mother was Irish and my father had a brother who lived in Leap, Co Cork so they retired there from 1972-1990. There should be still a hotel in Glandore that looks out to a small harbour. I enjoyed driving around the Ring of Kerry and the boat ride around the small islands before one reached the far west of Cork. Shibberean also has good accommodation. This town was the worst place that was hit by It was in this town where the potatoe famine

Excuse ending, the message went before I had completed it, so hope you can understand where I was just correcting what I had written

One further place which is quiet and not far from a golf course is The Abbey Hotel in Roscommon where, a few years ago, my older son took his wife to stay

Have you thought of booking a day trip on the Paddy Wagon, they run coach trips from and round Cork etc,

Last suggestion.
If you want a place nearer to Cork Kingsale was popular

You must go to Cobh for the info on Titanic and emigration
Cork and the area is delightful

Thanks again for all the recommendations. I have booked the Hotel Isaacs for a good price (they also guarantee £10 less than any of the booking agencies!) Will spend the rest of the weekend researching the other suggestions! I'm looking forward to a lovely visit!

Honestly, skip trying to do everything right in the city center and make sure you take a quick trip out to Cobh if you have even half a day, walking along those colorful waterfront houses and checking out the Titanic history exhibit was easily the highlight of my whole trip down there.

For 3 days on your own, Cork city is a nice base since the buses and trains out to Kinsale and Cobh are easy. The English Market is lovely first thing in the morning and the Farmgate café upstairs does a good lunch. Shandon bells are great fun, you get to ring them yourself. For an evening, Sin É on Coburg Street has traditional music most nights and is very friendly to solo travellers. Cobh is a short train ride and the Titanic Experience there is very moving. Kinsale makes a lovely day out too, as others said