Cork City
Cork City - in Irish Corcaigh
- The second city of the Republic of Ireland has a population of over 136,000
people. Like Venice the city is built upon the waters, and cork centre is built
on an island in the river Lee, just upstream of cork Harbour.
The two chanels of the river Lee which embrace the city centre are spanned by
many bridges, and this gives the city a distinctive continental air. However it
is often said of Cork city it has all the amenities of a large city, but still
manages to retain its pleasant atmosphere and extreme friendliness.
Cork is a City of a remarkable charm, and the visitor cannot fail to be
captivated by its hilly streets, bumpy bridges, peaceful backwaters and
inconsequential air.
St. Finbarres Cathedral
St. Finbarres was designed by William Burges for a competition in 1862 and built between 1865 and 1876. It's splendid spires can be seen from many parts of the city. Burges met with strong opposition from disappointed competitors. His work was criticised on the grounds that it could not fit a large enough congregation and contained structural defects. The cathedral's 12th century French appearance was considered out of character with the reformed faith and highly unsuitable for the services of a Protestant Church. The principal objection was that the competition rules only allowed for costs of 15,000 pounds whereas Burges's design would cost at least 30,000 pounds. Burges was unperturbed and replies that no cathedral in the proper sense of the word was ever known to be executed for under 15,000 pounds. In fact, the total cost came to what was then a staggering 100,000 pounds
The University buildings in Cork are probably the most successful example of 19th century University architecture in the country. They were designed by Sir Thomas Deane, assisted by Benjamin Woodward. The main buildings were ranged about three sides of a quadrangle, with the lecture rooms in the West Wing; the towered entrance, examination hall and library in the North Wing, and the residents of the President and Vice-President in the East Wing.
This scheme is almost the same to the present day. The Aula Maxima in the North Wing is still used for examinations and conferrings. The lecture theatres in the West Wing are still used. The rest of the buildings around the quadrangle are used by administration. The presidents garden behind the East Wing was originally walled off but is now open to students. The Library has been replaced with a modern 4 storey above basement complex which also comprises large lecture theatres, banks and shops. This compels is named in honour of the famous mathematician George Boole who was a lecturer in Mathematics in the College. There is a new student building being completed at the city side of the Presidents garden at the moment.
The college opened in 1849, but as late as 1903 a guide book pointed out that `as the godless colleges have never found favour with the Roman Catholic authorities, Queen's has never attracted a great number of students. The establishment of the National University of Ireland in 1908 effectively overturned the original concept of providing non-denominational education, and University College Cork subsequently flourished as a de facto Catholic institution.
Shandon Steeple
Shandon steeple is located just off Shandon street on the north side of Cork City and can be seen from many points in the City.
Blarney Castle
Blarney castle, which lies about four miles to the north-east of Cork City, is one of the most famous buildings in Ireland. This is chiefly due to the stone embedded in the upper walls which is said to give the power of eloquence to those who kiss it. It is not known how this belief began, but it may have grown from the antics of the Chief of Muskerry in Queen Elizabeth's time, Cormac MacDermot MacCarthy, whose silvery tongued excuses enabled him to stay on terms with both sides without definitely committing himself to either. This caused the Queen to describe his talk as `All Blarney'.
There had long been a belief in the
magical power of stones in Ireland, and most Chieftains or Kings were installed
while sitting on a particular stone. Although the original one may have been
removed by then, belief in the power of the Blarney Stone was well established
by the first quarter of the 19th century. At this time, Father Prout added a
verse to Millikin's then famous song about `The Groves of Blarney' when he
wrote:
There is a stone there, whoever
kisses;
Oh! he never misses to grow eloquent,
'Tis he may clamber to a lady's chamber,
Or become a member of Parliament
The building of the castle is attributed to Cormac Láidir (the Strong) MacCarthy in 1446. The MacCarthys like many Munster families of Gaelic origin, claim descent from Owen son of the legendary King of Munster Olioll Olum. Their family name derived from Carthach, whose grandson Dermot was King of Cork at the time of the Welsh/Norman invasion in 1177. Cormac Láidir was a great builder, possibly the first of the family to recognise that the family needed to have strong permanent bases if the continuing advance of the Norman families was to be held, and if the lands being regained by the MacCarthys were to be theirs on a permanent basis. As well as Blarney Castle, he built the castle and friary of Kilkrea.
Cormac was murdered in Carrignamuck Castle by his brother Owen and the latter's sons in 1494 and is buried in Kilcrea abbey in the place normally reserved for the founder of such an establishment - close to the high altar, and, in this case in the north-east corner.
The present ruin is in two parts - a slender peel tower (16ft by 14ft) which is the earliest part and a much larger mass (60ft by 36ft, 5 storeys; 66 - 85 ft in height) which was then attached to it around the end of the 15th century. The peel tower contains what became known as the `Earl's bedroom', the winding stairwell, and a kitchen; the `stone' is in the new, or larger part. The battlements, with enormous corbel stones, seem to be of an even later date - possibly the late 16th or early 17th century. The castle walls range in thickness from 12ft at the base to 8ft at the third storey.
There are two caves in the foundation rock - one natural and the other, partly at least, artificial. This latter was used as a dungeon and still retains a massive iron door. Inside remain some of the bolts and massive iron rings. A small window gives light and overall one feels that it would not have been pleasant to have been a prisoner of the MacCarthys.
The castle is set just south of where the Martin joins the Blarney river, and therefore immediately south of the village. It is in pleasant pastoral countryside, and the view from the top of the castle of a rich and fertile undulating countryside, knotted with beautiful trees is rewarding in itself: even if you do not have the courage to kiss the stone.
Cork City From the air.
Here are some useful links that contain information regarding Cork City and Cork County.
Cork Heritage Park. Cork Corporation. West Cork Information. Cork City Map. Cork City Movable Map Cork City Guide.
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