Cohb is along Ireland’s southern coast. Given its large natural harbor, it serves the entire area, including Cork. After a day in Guernsey in the English Channel, the Caribbean Princess docks in Cobh to give passengers access to Cork, Blarney Castle, and the rest of southern Ireland. After time in Cork, we spent our remaining time wandering Cobh.
Although the area’s history goes back to 1000 BC, Cobh was first called Cove, but from 1849-1920 it was known as Queenstown, then the name change to Cobh (which is Gaelic for cove).
The first striking figure that is more than obvious is St. Coleman’s Cathedral (Roman Catholic) – a neo-Gothic structure towering over the waterfront.
Embed from Getty ImagesA statue of Annie Moore and her brothers greeted us at the dock. Annie Moore was the first person admitted into the US through the new emigration center at Ellis Island on January 1, 1892. Besides the Moores, between 1848-1959 over 2.5 million emigrated from Cobh in their search for new lives in new lands.
The town square is a short walk from dock – and an ominous statue greets visitors – the Lusitania Memorial Monument. On 7 May 1915 a German u-boat sunk the RMS Lusitania as it was en route to Liverpool – 1198 died and 700 survived. Because Cobh (then called Queenstown) was a base for British and American naval forces, rescuers brought survivors and recovered dead bodies to Cobh – therefore 167 are buried in Cobh.
Three years before the Lusitania disaster, Cobh was the final port-of-call for the RMS Titanic (123 passengers boarded). The Titanic Experience is an attraction located in original White Star ticket office. When we arrived, tickets were sold out, but we heard good comments about it.
Up the hill we went to see the cathedral. The barricades are for a balls-racing-down-the-hill event, a fundraising effort we unfortunately missed.
It took 47 years to build (1868-1915) St. Coleman. An outstanding structure with a grand organ having 2,468 pipes and a tower including a 49-bell carillon.
The plaza around St. Coleman provides excellent views of Cobh and the harbor region.
Because of its maritime heritage, here’s a song by the Clancy Brothers & Tommy Maken about Cobh meeting the needs of sailors. Next stop: Dublin, Ireland
Beautifully poignant
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So many things I’ll have to go back and see! I love your picture of the houses, the one with the barricades in front. It’s a great shot.
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Carrie,
Cobh is an interesting little place loaded with history. Fortunately for us, I had a few extra hours before boarding. Cobh’s setting is awesome!
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What a quaint, queer, colourful town!
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Lenora,
Cobh is a popular stop for cruise ship … but I imagine most cruisers go elsewhere missing this little treasure. Then again, we went to Cork first.
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I’m just pea-green here over your travels! Enjoy, and keep posting so I can see what I missed on my own abbreviated trip across the Pond.
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Debbie,
Thank you … glad you enjoy my reports. I try find a balance between information and photos – but not too much of either. If all goes as planned, I hope to have another post Wednesday night (US Eastern time), then again on Saturday. Dublin is next!
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What an interesting place to stop off, Frank. That organ is a real beauty. I would love to hear it played. 🙂
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Sylvia,
Having a huge cathedral in a relatively small town was a shock. Unfortunately, nobody was playing the organ when during our visit. 😦 … but maybe next time! 🙂
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I love places like this – full of surprises architecturally and so quaint and comfortable looking. And I enjoy the music too! Great post Frank!
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Pauline,
Cobh was definitely an unexpected surprise. Such an interesting setting … and ties the two ship disasters was very odd. Glad you enjoyed the post … thanks for coming along.
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OMG! I can’t believe I recognize that song by the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem. Could be because I am almost half Irish.
A lovely and quaint place! The statue of Annie Moore and her brothers is an interesting bit of history, as is the bit on the Titanic. When my Grandma passed they found old newspapers she had saved. One was a complete front page: Titanic Sinks. Or, so I am told. I don’t know whatever happened to it. Apparently 2 of the other front pages she saved were the ends of WWi & WWII. The WWII front page just said, The War Is Over. The back page was the Lord’s Prayer.
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Resa,
LOL … that’s too funny about the song!
Before seeing the statue, I never heard of Annie Moore. My paternal grandparents went through Ellis Island, but it was closed by the time my mother came to the US. Great history with your grandmother … thanks for sharing!
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A lovely place, overlooking the water, and with such interesting history, too. Thanks for sharing, Frank!
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What a fascinating place to visit, Frank. So much history. I have never heard of Annie Moore, and it pleases me to learn of her!
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Debra,
I didn’t know Annie Moore before this trip – but hey – someone had to be the first. 😮
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Thank you for the lovely stroll through Cobh and all of the historic information.
This is my type of vacation. I always enjoy learning about the history and cultures
of the places I visit. The cathedral is magnificent in the photo. I can imagine it being
awe-inspiring to view in person. Great captures in each photograph.
I hope you get to go back and see the titanic exhibit. Is the rumor true about the Blarney stone?
Isadora 😎
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Isadora,
Cobh is definitely quaint and in a beautiful setting. What’s the rumor about the Blarney Stone?
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I’m not sure of the exact tale but …. if you kiss the Blarney Stone you’ll find love. ??? Could be an old wives tale. LOL
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Maybe so … but not sure. Then again, we didn’t go there … but several readers commented that it is a wonderful place to visit. Keep in mind that getting to the actually stone for kissing isn’t easy.
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I found my Prince (52 years ago) already.
I will leave the Blarney Stone for future romantics. 😊They can also have the pot of gold to help them get started on a happily-ever-after. 😎
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😀
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