Cobh Ireland

Cobh (pronounced Cove, which is what it means in Irish) is located in Cork Harbor on the south shore of Great Island, not far from Cork City.

One of the major trans-Atlantic ports of Ireland, Cobh was the departure point for 2.5 million Irish people who emigrated to North America between 1848 and 1950.

In 1912 (Cobh was called Queenstown at the time), the city was the last port of call for the Titanic on her tragic maiden voyage. Also notable is the fact that the first steamship to sail from Ireland to England put out of Cobh in 1821.

The Lusitania was sunk by a German U-boat off the coast of Kinsale, to the Southwest of Cobh; survivors were taken to Cobh, and over one hundred who died are buried in the Old Church Cemetery, north of the town. Cobh was renamed Queenstown in 1849, following a visit made by Queen Victoria. It reverted to its original name in 1921.

Look for the Cobh Heritage Center. It describes itself as "A Dramatic Exhibition of the Origins, History and Legacy of Cobh, A Unique Irish Port Town." The statue you see in front is of Annie Moore and her two brothers, who left Cobh for a new life in America; Annie was the first emigrant to ever be processed at Ellis Island. Inside the Centre you'll discover the story of the exodus from Ireland of 6.5 million people from 1848 to 1950. Exhibits include re-creation of conditions on board early emigrant vessels and a convict ship leaving Cobh for Australia in 1801. Grim reminders of a grim history.

We fell totally and completely in love with Cobh. Our first stop was the stunningly beautiful St. Coleman's Church, a Gothic Revival cathedral that sits above the city. It commands an incredible view of the harbor and the sea, and the inside is just as exquisite. It took 47 years to build this magnificent church (1868-1915), and it is built in the form of a Latin Cross in the style of French Gothic architecture. When you enter, look for the pamphlet to help you through your self-tour.

The town itself is filled with wonderful little shops, many with the colorful doors that mark so much of Ireland. While I wandered, my husband waited for me in front of the Titanic Bar, striking up a conversation with a local lad who claimed he'd visited the U.S. West Coast as a merchant marine seaman. When I met them, he graciously invited us into the bar so we could meet his mates. He told us that the bar had originally been the town's center for disbursing "the dole." One of the good citizens down on his luck bought a sweepstakes ticket and won a great deal of money. So, he bought the building and turned it into a bar. I don't really know if that's the true story or not, but we had a wonderful time hearing it, and of course, sharing a couple of pints with the gentleman telling the tale.

I hope you have the time to visit this beautiful and interesting place that carries so much of the history of Ireland.