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Cobh
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Cobh is a pleasant
seaport in County Cork situated about 20km from Cork City. The
locality, which had had several different Irish-language names, was
first referred to as Cove in 1750. It was renamed Queenstown in 1849
to commemorate a visit by Queen Victoria and so remained until the
name Cobh (closer to the Irish spelling) was restored in 1922 with
the foundation of the Irish Free State.
Cobh is located on the southern shores of the Great Island in Cork
Harbour, on slopes overlooking the harbour. On its highest point
stands the Cobh Cathedral, St. Colman's, seat of the diocese of
Cloyne. The Cathedral dates back to 1868 and took approx. 51 years
to complete, it is of French Gothic architecture and at night is
fully floodlight making it a splendid sight from the harbour.
Cobh's long maritime history includes the world's first yacht club,
the Royal Cork Yacht Club established as far back as 1720. The first
steamship to sail across the Atlantic Ocean, the Sirius, sailed from
Cobh in 1838. Cobh was the last port of call for the Titanic on her
fateful maiden voyage and Cobh was where survivors of the Lusitania
were brought ashore after the ship was torpedoed by German U-Boats
off the Old Head of Kinsale in 1915. Victims of the Lusitania are
buried in graves in the Old Church just north of Cobh.
However Cobh is perhaps best known as the main embarkation port of
some 2.5 million Irish emigrants fleeing famine and poverty between
the years 1848 and 1950. Their tale is told in the award winning
exhibition centre, the Queenstown Story, housed in the disused
Victorian Railway by the dockside.
Nowadays Cobh is a vibrant hub of activity and interest. A quaint
town of narrow streets, winding up steep hills, Cobh has a number of
old-fashioned pubs and good quality restaurants. The town is host to
many sailing schools and is an important watersports centre.
Activities include deep-sea angling, shore angling and bird watching
in nearby Cuskinny Marsh and Cork Harbour. There are also harbour
cruises around Haulbowline Island and the former prison of Spike
Island.
The Great Island is one of four major islands in Cork Harbour. The
three largest Fota, Little Island and Great Island are connected to
the mainland by bridge. Fota Island contains Fota Wildlife park
which is home to hundreds of rare animals and birds. Fota also
contains a suberb 18 hole Golf course. Cobh sports a 9 hole course
and Little Island contains an 18 hole course.
The main hub for the arts in Cobh is the Sirius Arts Centre located
on the waterfront. The Maritime Song Festival takes place each year
in May and the Cobh Peoples Regatta is held every year around
August. |
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Cobh Holiday Homes - County Cork, Ireland