Cork City: An Introduction

Cork City is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland. The population of the city including suburbs is over 274,000 people. The name of the city is derived from the Irish word corcah which means ‘marshy place’ which is a reference to its location along the banks of the River Lee. County Cork is often referred to as the ‘rebel city’ due to its role during the Irish War of Independence and during the Civil War. In 1491 some townsmen of Cork tried to overthrow the King of England which is tributes to the nickname of the Rebel County.

The River Lee which flows though Cork City forms an island on which the centre of Cork is situated. The River Lee rises in the Shehy Mountain range before flowing eastwards though Cork City and into the sea. Cork Harbour is a natural harbour and the river estuary of the River Lee and is one of the largest inland harbours in the world today.

The history of Cork City dates back to 984, but even before this time St Finbarr had set up a monastic settlement in the area during the 6th Century. The city was constantly under attack by the Vikings or Norsemen and had to be constantly rebuilt. During the War of Independence the city centre of Cork was burnt to the ground by the ‘black and tans’ who were a particularly vicious English brigade.

If you visit Cork, there is no shortage of places of interest to visit. Combing many places of interest with a vibrant cultural life, a strong tradition and interesting architecture gives Cork City an interesting mix that can not be found in any other Irish city.

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