|
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.
 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".
 
|
