Cork Ireland

Day 100/Ireland 33

Travelled: to Cork by train from Cobh 24mins. Tickets via website discounted €7pp all day return. Depart every 1/2 hour (1hour off peak).

Stay: Cobh dedicated motorhome parking €10/24hr

We took the 8:30am train from Cobh, arriving in Cork just before 9am.

 We made our way to the Old English Market which had been trading here since 1788 and has survived through many difficult periods including the Famine, revolutions, wars, fire and economic decline. It has retained its old world charm and traders are selling all the items you would expect.

 We then went to have a look at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, consecrated in 1870. We admired the external facade but could not go inside as the mass was on. 

Just around the corner was Elizabeth Fort which was built in the 17th century to reinforce English dominance and to protect the city. It has had many uses through the years until 2013 - a military barracks, a convict depot for women who were to be transported, a food depot during the Famine, an RIC station and a Garda station. 

Irish fighting the English.

The Gruesome side of war....



Views from the fort.

We popped our heads into St Anthony’s made of red brick with copper domes. Inside there were some beautiful mosaic murals. 

At the Butter Museum we learnt that Cork once had the worlds largest butter market and it is Ireland’s most successful food export. 

The interior of St Mary’s Cathedral was bright and modern only having been refurbished in 1996, but still managed to retain some original characteristics.

 St.Peter St. Paul also had a lovely interior and quite different once again. 

We finished our day at the Crawford Art Gallery which was once the city’s custom house. We gazed at some interesting artwork from some famous painters and subjects. There was also an exhibition on the Irish immigration to Jamaica in the 1830’s which had mixed success. 

We wondered a little more around town and then took the train back to Bluey.