Airport Information tel 021/431 3131.

Banks Branches of the Allied Irish Bank and Bank of Ireland on Patrick St, North Main St, Bridge St and Western Rd.

Bike rental Aidann Quinlan, 55 Barrack St (tel 021/431 3133); CycleScene, 396 Blarney St (tel 021/430 1183).

Bookshops Collins, Carey's Lane; Eason's, 113/115 Patrick St; Keogh's Books, 6 MacCurtain St; Liam Russell, Oliver Plunkett St; Mercier Bookshop, 4 Bridge St; Waterstones, 69 Patrick St.

Bureau de change At the tourist office and at Sheila's Hostel .

Buses Bus Eireann station, Parnell Place, alongside Merchant's Quay (tel 021/450 8188) for local and intercity buses. Several private bus companies also operate from Cork.

Camping equipment The Tent Shop, Rutland St, off South Terrace, offers camping gear for sale or rent.

Car rental Car Rental Ireland, Monahan Rd (tel 021/496 2277); Great Island Car Rentals, 47 MacCurtain St (tel 021/450 3536 or 481 1609).

Ferries to France operate from Ringaskiddy, about ten miles from Cork. Brittany Ferries, 42 Grand Parade (tel 021/427 7801), sail to Roscoff (April-Oct once weekly); Swansea-Cork Ferries, 52 South Mall (tel 021/427 1166), operates a ten-hour crossing, four-six days a week according to season. Ringaskiddy Ferryport: Brittany Ferries (tel 021/437 8401); Swansea-Cork (tel 021/437 8036).

Gay information Linc, 34 Princes St, above Rossini's restaurant (tel 021/422 2773, www.explode.to.corklesbians ): Cork's lesbian resource centre, with a drop-in night on Thurs (8-10pm), and discos on first Saturday of the month. The Other Place cafe, 8 South Main St: gay cafe and bookshop.

Hospital Cork University Hospital, Wilton Rd (tel 021/454 6400).

Hurling and gaelic football For fixtures phone 021/496 3311.

Internet access   Plaza 2000 , 65 North Main St (tel 021/427 2344, plaza@iica.net ); Jumpin' Jack's Cellar Bar , Sheres St (tel 021/427 3000, leevale@indigo.ie ); Sheila's hostel ( sheilas@iol.ie ); webworkhouse.com, 8 Winthrop St (tel 021/427 3090, mail@webworkhouse.com ).

Laundry 14 MacCurtain St, next door to the Everyman Palace theatre (Mon-Sat from 9am, last wash 8pm).

Left luggage At the Bus Eireann station (May-Sept daily 9am-6pm; Oct-April Mon-Fri 8.35am-6.15pm, Sat 9.30am-6.15pm).

Music The Living Tradition, 40 MacCurtain St (tel 021/450 2040), sells a great range of Irish and world music on CD and cassette, as well as sheet music and traditional instruments such as bodhrans and tin whistles.

Pharmacy Denis O'Leary, 8 Grand Parade (tel 021/427 4563); Phelan's Late Night Pharmacy, 9 Patrick St (tel 021/427 2511).

Post Office Oliver Plunkett St and MacCurtain St.

Swimming pool Douglas Swimming Pool, Douglas Rd (tel 021/429 3073).

Taxis ABC (tel 021/496 1961); Blue Cabs (tel 021/439 3939); Taxi Co-op (tel 021/427 2222).

Trains Iarnrod Eireann's travel centre is at 65 Patrick St. For all enquiries, call 021/450 6766.

Travel agents USIT have two offices in Cork: at 10-11 Market Parade (tel 021/427 0900), and UCC Student Travel, near The Boole Library, University College (tel 021/427 3901).