Cobh...., Ireland

Cobh on the SE coast is a lovely place for a short weekend visit. Lots of history (Irish emigration port, last port of call for the Titanic, resting place for many victims on the Lusitania). The town is very quaint, tiny streets (including the famous Deck of Cards street) and small pubs with very friendly locals.

Lots of surrounding countryside and Fota wildlife park nearby. We stayed in a lovely hotel -the Waters Edge- but there are quite a few other options. Nearest airport is Cork and Cobh is about 30 mins in a taxi, cannot remember exactly what we paid but it wasnt too expensive.

Some links below if you want to research.

http://visitcobh.com/news/?page_id=2
www.titanic-trail.com/map.htm
www.watersedgehotel.ie

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Cobh (say it Cove) has been known as Queenstown and was spelled Cove at one time. It's the harbor where many emmigrants, mostly poor and starving shipped off to the New World. Some found the life there as difficult as what they left. Others secured a place in society and some went on to settle lands throughout America and other parts of the world.

The Cobh Heritage Centre walks you through its history, not only is it famous for the port of emmigration but the Titanic made a stop here as well as the doomed Lusitania. In front of the centre is a statue of Annie Moore and her brothers who were the first persons to be processed through Ellis Island on January 1st, 1892 as they entered America.

There is also a genealogy research service in the Heritage Center
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This was a port stop on a Transatlantic cruise from Miami, Florida. We chugged in here during the night and arrived before dawn. An elderly gentlemen had passed away as we made the five day journey across the Atlantic and the cruise line wanted to transport him off the ship without notice, however our tablemates caught them as they loaded him into a waiting ambulance. What a way to go - on the go!!

This sea port has a lot of history for us Americans. It was often the last port before our ancestors came to America from Europe. It used to be called Queenstown, but now is Cobh. Titanics last port of call before sinking.

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Cobh is a little town about 25 km from Cork. It is known as the country's main emigration port. Between 1844 and 1950 two and a half million Irish people emigrated from here to North America. Especially the years of Great Famine (1844-1848) were the time of mass exodus.
A very interesting Heritage Centre arranged in an old railway station tells us the story of people who were so determined to seek a better life that they decided to leave their native country. Many of them died on their way to that better world because of appaling conditions on so called 'coffin-ships'.
In front of the centre we can see a statue of Annie More and her little brothers. This 15-year-old girl was the first person to be processed in Ellis Island when it opened in 1892.
The port of Cobh, (or rather Queenstown as it was called between 1848 and 1922 to honour Queen Victoria) is connected with some famous ships. One of them is Titanic. Queenstown was its last port before the ship met its tragic end.

Before our visit to Cobh I had seen some photographs of that place. In one of them there were colourful houses along the waterfront and behind them a slim tower of a church. This beautiful view of St. Colman's cathedral dominating the town will stay in my memory for a long time.

Cobh is one of the most interesting cities you will ever visit. Its one of the cleanest cities you will see, and one of the most colorful. The list is enless what to see in Cobh.
Start your visit at the Cobh Heritage Center and there you will learn, that this was the last place that the Titanic docked before going across the Atlantic for her last voyage. The pier is still there that was used, its not in good shape and unfortunately nothing is being done to preserve it.
Another interesting fact about Cobh, in 1915 the Lusitania was sunk close to Cobh and some of its survivors were brought to Cobh.
Cobh was also an imigration point for families who left Ireland during the Great Potato Famine.
There is a great hotel, the Commodore Hotel, originally built in 1855 and once visted by Queen Victoria, the hotel was used in assisting the survivors from the Lusitania.
A stop at St. Colman's Catheral is a must. Taking 47 years to build (1868-1916) the Catheral houses 49 bells.
Coph has a number of pubs, restaurants and shops to make this one of the most interesting towns in Ireland.

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Cobh is a charming, brightly-coloured little town with a seaside atmosphere. It's fun to wander around its steep streets and admire the views. St. Colman's Cathedral is worth a look, and admission is free. Also be sure to check out the excellent Queenstown Story exhibit which details Cobh's maritime history, including emigration to America and Australia, and the Titanic and Lusitania disasters.

If you are traveling by car, you will need parking "discs" for most areas of Cobh. These are inexpensive (I think it was 1 euro for 2 hours) and can be purchased from local shops.

Cobh is just 20 minutes by train from Cork and espescially at sunset a very charming and alive town with steep streets,nice restaurants,pubs and a the huge St. Colman's Cathedral.
Cobh was also the last port of call of The Titanic and a guided Titanic Trail Walk is offered in Cobh!

Cobh Island, as it used to be is no longer an Island. It also used to be known as Queenstown.
Here the Titanic set sail as did The Lusitania, the sinking of which, helped bring America into World War One.
This town has so much to see. It is only a short drive,by Aussie Standards fromthe City of Cork, and well worth spending some time in. There is a beautiful Cathedral called St Colemans and an assortment of old buildings and ofcourse museums to the Titanic and The Lusitania all of which are well worth viewing.My favourite thing is the beautiful views and thisamazing street of old houses,locally ,they are known as the "Pack of Cards", that look as if they should be in Scandinavia.Try to take the time to go to Cobh, you wont be dissappointed.