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Cork City is Ireland's third city (after Dublin and
Belfast) and has
always been an important seaport. It began on an island
in the swampy estuary of the River Lee (the name Corcaigh
means a marsh), and gradually climbed up the steep banks on
either side.
Today the river flows through Cork city in two main
channels, so that you find yourself constantly crossing
bridges and hence Cork City's coat of arms bears the motto
'A Safe Harbour for Ships'.
Some
of the main streets are built over channels where ships
nuzzled their anchor-chains a century ago. Along the South
Mall, you will see large gateways at street level, under
steps leading to a higher main door. These were once
boathouses, when merchants arrived at their warehouses by
water.
As
the hilly streets go up and down, so do the voices of the
citizens. They have a characteristic sing-song cadence,
beloved of national comedians, and Corkonians are regarded
as the most talkative of all the Irish.
 St. Finbarr is the founder and patron saint. He founded a
monastery in the seventh century where St. Finn Barre's
Cathedral now stands, and it grew into an extensive and
wealthy establishment. It attracted the attention of the
Viking sea-pirates who raided and burned the infant city,
but returned in later years to settle and trade. The
Anglo-Norman invasion in 1172 resulted in both the Danish
lords and local McCarthy chiefs having to submit to Henry
II, but Cork has always had a reputation for independence
and stubborn resistance: it came to be known as "Rebel
Cork".
The best way to
see the city of Cork and sample the flavour of its life, is to walk. There
is a signpost Walking Tour, so get the accompanying booklet and
set off to explore the hilly streets and meet the people.
St.
Finn Barre's Cathedral
 is
a splendid triple-spired example of French-gothic architecture. It
stands where the saint established his monastic school about 650
AD. Among its most striking features are the fine rose window, the
mosaic pavements and the elaborate carving throughout.
Walk along the Western Road to Tudor-Gothic University College
with its attractive riverside quadrangle, and visit the Honan
Chapel there. It is modeled on Cormac's Chapel at Cashel, and has
a superb interior including stained-glass windows by Sarah Purser
and Harry Clarke.
Make your way up the North Main Street where the Cork
Vision Centre is located, then over North Gate Bridge
and climb up Shandon Church, the tower of which you will have
noticed dominating the north side of the city from its lofty
hill-top position. Two sides of the tower are faced with red
sandstone, two with white limestone - "Partly coloured like
the people, red and white is Shandon Steeple" goes an old
doggerel. Its peal of eight bells, cast in Gloucester in 1750,
have become famous, and you may play them yourself, from
"music" cards supplied. Your rendering of Danny Boy or
Ave Maria will drift gently down the hill and over the river, to
be heard all over the city. Corkonians depend on Shandon clock for
their time, and its fish weather-vane for their weather forecast.
Visit a few of the churches: St Mary's Cathedral, north of
Shandon, with its notable carvings; the graceful
Father
Matthew Memorial Church, St. Mary's Dominican Church
where is preserved the "miraculous" statuette of Our
Lady of Graces.
 Walk
up a bit of Patrick' s Hill, if you have the legs for it, just to
feel the steepness. Then maybe up Summer Hill or Wellington road
which runs parallel till you come to St. Luke's Cross and
Montenotte, the latter the former residential area of the
Merchants of Cork, from here you can look down over the port and
harbour, and the river widening away to the south passing
Blackrock Castle and on towards the sea. The
Cork Heritage Park at Blackrock is well worth a
visit.
Back on "the flat" of the city again, See the
 City
Hall, a fine modern building nicely reflected in the
river. Visit the Markets,
The
English Market with openings off Princes
Street, Patrick Street and the Grand Parade, a covered market for
fish, fruit, meat and vegetable, on the Coal Quay (pronounced
Kay), the open-air market which is as much part of the
folk-culture of Cork as is Shandon. The
Crawford Gallery in Emmet Place houses an interesting
sculpture collection, including some Rodin bronzes and a fine
collection of paintings. In the Grand
Parade you will find the Berwick Fountain,
The
National Monument, and Bishop Lucey
Park, which you enter through magnificent gates, which have been
relocated from the old entrance to the Corporation yard in
Anglesea Street. Exit the park at the South
Main Street. Here you will see
Beamish
& Crawford Brewery where Beamish Stout is brewed
and exported all over the world.
You will hear Corkonians refer to "the statue" (it may
sound like "de statcha" in some voices). They will be
talking about the monument to Father Theobald Matthew, 19th
century Apostle of Temperance. Unpopular as you might expect his
cause to be in a place like Ireland, in fact it became a national
crusade. His status at the end of Patrick Street, near Patrick's
Bridge, is Cork's best known landmark
The Old Gaol
in Sunday's Well has been restored and is one of the many
Visitor
Attractions in Cork. It tells the story of the everyday life
in the Gaol in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Some of the
original cells have been restored and an Audio Visual programme
has been provided.
Looking for Night Entertainment try the Cork
Opera House for a wide range of Music Events and Plays and
also the Everyman Theatre on MacCurtain Street or for more
information on nights clubs and take in some of Cork Citys
traditional Irish pubs
here.
For
Cork County Visitor Attractions please click here.
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