I took a ferry over to Dublin a few years ago, and stuck my thumb out. I was hoping to get to Galway, but the way things worked out, I ended up on an estate full of smack-heads in the south of Dublin.

The next day, I got to a tiny village between Naas and Dublin, and a day or so later, with my cardboard sign saying "Cork, Galway or Waterford" looking increasingly dog-eared and bedraggled, as I did, I ended up in Waterford, and had a great time, playing my guitar in a Waterford Waterfront bar.

I never got to Cork, unfortunately, but quite a number of the people I spoke to on my travels descibed it as "Stab City"

so take from that what you will. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.