Cobh (Irish: An Cóbh, pronounced "cove"; derived from English the cove) is a pleasant seaport in County Cork. The locality, which had had several different Irish-language names, was first referred to as Cove ("the Cove of Cork") 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 south shore of the Great Island in Cork Harbour, (reputed to be the second largest natural harbour in the world), on slopes overlooking the harbour. On its highest point stands the Cobh Cathedral, St. Colman's, seat of the diocese of Cloyne.
It was from Cobh that hundreds of thousands of mostly hungry and penniless Irish men and women left to build a new life in the US, especially in the Famine years of 1844-48. Many thrived and prospered, but many died on the journey in the terrible travelling conditions of the time.
There is also a memorial to the Lusitania in Cobh - the sinking of which in 1915 brought the US into World War 1. Cobh was also the last port of call for the ill fated Titanic.
These pleasure grounds, set in a 780 acre estate on Fota Island, are proof of the T and M principle in gardening. Time and money can achieve wonderful results, and the Smith-Barry family had both. In 1820, John Smith-Barry had father and son Rich ...
Since its official opening on June 1st 1997, the Old Head Golf Links has become one of the most talked-of courses in world golf. It is built on a 220-acre diamond of land, jutting out over two miles into the Atlantic Ocean. The promontory i ...
Set in 12 acres of mature beech woodland and rhododendron gardens in the rolling hills of the Lee Valley, Patricia Wiese and John Kehely's impressive house was built in the mid-18th century, although its present elegant Italianate style only date ...
Desmond Castle was built by the Earl of Desmond c. 1500 as a Customs House and was used for this purpose until 1641 when it was converted into a naval prison, following the construction of a new Customs House. The prisoners kept in the Castle wer ...
Ireland’s most famous country house (modestly described as ‘a large family farmhouse’ in their Blue Book entry) is a place that may not immediately come to mind as a wedding venues, but the Allen family’s fine creeper-clad ...
A selective companion guide to our famous broad-based online collection, the ‘glovebox bible’ includes a uniquely diverse range of Ireland's greatest places to ...
There are currently no comments
Leave a comment
Not a member? Register for your free membership now!
Or leave a comment by logging in with: