About Cobh, Ireland

Cobh, known from 1849 until 1920 as Queenstown, is a tourist seaport town on the south coast of County Cork, Ireland. Cobh is on the south side of Great Island in Cork Harbour and is home to Ireland’s only dedicated cruise terminal. Tourism in the area draws on the maritime and emigration legacy of the town – including its association with the RMS Titanic. Facing the town are Spike Island and Haulbowline Island, and on a high point in the town stands St Colman’s Cathedral, one of the tallest buildings in Ireland and seat of the diocese of Cloyne.

Plan and Book:

Overview

Dominated by a mighty neo-gothic cathedral, Cobh – pronounced “Cove” – lies on the Great Island, one of three islands in Cork harbor linked by roads and bridges. The small town is the gateway to County Cork and has one of the world’s largest natural harbors.

Originally called Queenstown to commemorate a visit in 1849 by Her Majesty Queen Victoria, Cobh has a sprinkling of brightly colored houses and steep, winding streets leading to the center. However the center itself is quite flat with a waterside park and varied selection of bars, shops, cafes and restaurants. Monuments — to sporting legends, Antarctic explorers, emigrants and Maritime tragedies, including the sinking of the Lusitania and the Titanic — are everywhere you look.

This town has a sad history. It was the last port of call of the Titanic on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York in 1912; a museum opened in 2012 to commemorate the voyage’s centenary. It was also where many victims and survivors from the Lusitania tragedy were brought ashore. For thousands of mostly penniless emigrants, Cobh was the last sight of their homeland as they left to build a new life, especially in the famine years of 1844 to 1848. Although some thrived and prospered, many more died on the journey in the terrible traveling conditions of the time.

Cobh developed as a popular seaside resort in the early 19th century, and the town’s fame was further boosted in 1838 when the first transatlantic steamer, Sirius, crossed to America in 18 days.

Nowadays, Cobh is always busy with visitors; about 60 cruise ships call on the port each year.

Attractions and Activities

Tourism is a large employer in Cobh. Large cruise liners visit Cobh each year, mainly during the summer months, although many of the tourists are transported out of Cobh by bus to other tourist destinations. In all, almost 100,000 cruise liner passengers and crew arrive in the town each year when their ships berth right in the centre of the town at Ireland’s only dedicated cruise terminal. Tourist attractions are focused on the maritime and emigration legacy of the town and include the Queenstown Story at the Cobh Heritage Centre, Titanic Experience, Titanic Trail walking tour, Cobh Museum, Cobh Road Train, Spike Island tours and St Colman’s Cathedral. The town has remained largely unchanged since RMS Titanic departed from Cork Harbour in 1912, with the streetscape and piers still much the same. Facing the town are Spike Island and Haulbowline Island. The latter is the headquarters of the Irish Naval Service, formerly a British naval base.

The Sirius Arts Centre is a hub for the arts in Cobh and is located on the waterfront. It hosts cultural events and music concerts both in-house and around Cobh.

The Cobh Peoples Regatta is held every year around August, and a cultural highlight of the summer.[citation needed] The event includes on-stage performances from local musicians and performers as well as a pageant to decide the ‘Regatta Queen’. The festival typically ends with a fireworks display over the harbour, and attracts up to 20,000 people.

Surrounding Area

Cork

With a population of around 200,000, Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the third largest on the island of Ireland once Belfast in the north is included. Cork is situated on the banks of the River Lee in the south of the country. The River Lee flows from West to East, and outside of the centre, hills rise steeply to the Northside, while the Southside is that bit flatter but still hilly in parts. St. Anne’s Church watches over Shandon, just to the North of the river. The University is about 2km to the west of the centre. Cork has a small city centre and is entirely walkable. Most visitors will most likely be staying, eating, drinking and touring in the city centre and would not need to use public transport. Cork Vision Centre, housed in a former church on North Main Street, has a large scale model of the city, hosts artistic exhibitions and has plentiful free tourist info which should help your understanding. Free admission.

Blarney Castle

The world-famous Blarney Castle is also in County Cork, 6km north-west of Cork city. Blarney Castle is an old ruin famous for the Blarney stone that supposedly gives the gift of eloquence to all those who kiss it. You have to bend over backwards on the top of the castle to kiss it. It is all very touristy, you can even buy a certificate to prove you kissed the stone. But the surroundings are really nice. It is situated just on the periphery of Blarney village which is a few miles outside Cork City.Though it’s believed a settlement was established here as early as the 10th Century, the castle was built around 1446 for the MacCarthy Chieftains of Munster. The MacCarthys had influence over Blarney and Munster throughout the many centuries of Anglo-Irish conflict until the defeat of the old Irish nobles by the forces of King William of Orange at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. At this point, the Lord of Blarney was exiled and the castle was abandoned. Outside of the castle walls, the surrounding gardens are particularly beautiful. The castle sits on 60 acres of parklands, including six different garden exhibits. You can go there on buses from Cork or take the Blarney sightseeing bus from the bus station in Cork. There are Taxi ranks located at tne train station, Airport and throughout the city.

Kinsale

50 km to the west is the charming and equally maritime-historic village of Kinsale. Kinsale is situated in the estuary of the river Bandon, nestling among hills that hide it from the open sea. Because of its situation it is a historic port and is still very popular with pleasure sailors and anglers. Two forts guard the approach to the sea and one of the most significant battles in Irish History was fought here. The battle was in 1601 and was fought when an Irish army had traveled from the north of Ireland to relieve an English siege on the town that was held by the Spanish. Against the odds the Irish lost the battle, and this defeat marked the end of the ancient Gaelic aristocracy in Ireland. In addition to its visual charms, the town has become a home of good food, especially seafood, and holds an annual festival to celebrate.

Charles Fort, a kilometre south of town in Summercove, is a 17th century star shaped fort, which is very well preserved and has seen very little military action. James Fort, 3 km south of town on Pier Road, is an older fort and is on the other side of the river and in much poorer condition. On the west shore of the bay. Desmond Castle, on Cork Street, was built circa 1500 by the Earl of Desmond as a custom house, this is a well-preserved tower house. The Castle is known locally as the French Prison following a fire in which 54 French prisoners died in 1747. The building was later used as an auxillary workhouse during the Famine.

Barryscourt Castle

Barryscourt Castle is a medieval castle near Carrigtwohill about 8 km from Cobh. It was the seat of the Barry family who owned much of the land around the area from the 12th to the 17th centuries. It features a tower house and extensions from several different periods. Open to public during summer months, the ground floor contains an exhibition on the history of the Barry family and Barryscourt Castle.