COBH, CORK, MARKETS, MORE TITANIC, AND IRISH EMIGRATION!

Regal Princess/Port of Cobh for Cork
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Clouds and sun, 51F

The Regal Princess in the Port of Cobh

Ireland was happy that we returned for another visit! This time the ship docked in Cobh, a port I like much better than Ringaskiddy. It is right in the middle of the Cobh and only steps from the train station.  We decided to hop a train to Cork this time, since two weeks ago we traveled to nearby Blarney Castle.

Cork was half an hour away by train and we had an easy walk into the city center. We do love towns that are easy to navigate and have interesting sites. We feel like professional train “hoppers” since our trip to Germany in June, and all the information signs are in English! We found a woolen shop, bakeries, pubs, barbershops, souvenir shops, restaurants, coffee shops (even Starbucks, and we were relieved to see that it did not carry a Cork mug), and a cathedral.  The streets here were not cobblestone, but you must beware of the bicycle lane-don’t walk in that!

Cork on the River Lee

The Flag of Ireland waves over Cork

Murphy's Pub

Coffee created in Cork

Cork is known for its English Market, a large market with multiple fish, meat, cheese, breads and pastry, vendors.  We have yet to see a market as large as the one in Barcelona, but just as interesting—the smells, the sounds, the people shopping, the whole atmosphere.

Entrance to the English Market in Cork

English Market

English Market 

TK's favorite, Irish Soda Bread

English Market

English Market

TK strolling along at the English Market

Before leaving Cork, we stopped at an interesting coffee shop that seemed to cater to younger people who needed access to the Internet and printers. Computers were available too, but most people had their own laptops.  To our surprise, one of their pastry choices was my beloved sfogiatelle!  We each had a heavenly croissant and shared that petite Italian favorite.

We found our way back to the Cork train station for our trip back to Cobh to explore that great seaside town.  

Waiting for the train back to Cobh

Cobh, probably best known for being the last port of call to the ill-fated RMS Titanic on April 11, 1912, berthed at Queenstown (now Cobh) before she set out across the Atlantic on the last leg of her maiden voyage.  However, Cobh is also known as the departure point for a huge wave of about 2 ½ million Irish emigrants to America, from 1815 to the 1950. 

The Heritage Center, a small museum in the old train station, provided interesting information about the Irish famine and emigration, as well as the Titanic and the Lusitania.  Survivors and victims were brought to Cobh after the Lusitania was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat on May 7, 1915, in the Irish Sea.  This tragedy took the lives of almost 1200 people.

Poster for the Titanic's maiden voyage

Tickets for Sale Here!

Possibly one of the last photos of the Titanic--

taken in Cobh on April 11, 1912

Commemorating the arrival of the USS

Jamestown on 4.11.1847 with food donated

for the famine stricken people of Munster

TK and I enjoyed Millionaire's Shortbread

Shortbread base, with a layer of caramel, 

then chocolate

The city of Cobh

This memorial in Cobh honors those 

victims of the Lusitania

as well as those who helped the survivors

A pub in Cobh, Ireland

with a musician from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Note: This port that has had three names was first called “Cove” in 1750. It was renamed by the British as “Queenstown” in 1849 to commemorate a visit by Queen Victoria to Ireland. In 1921 when the Irish Free State was established, the name changed to Cobh, in its Irish form.   And remember, Cobh is pronounced “cove.”

After a gelato by the sea, we returned to the ship, having walked 7 ½ miles. Trust me, we are grateful for being able to do all this.  And, these are not intense walks, but just plain old walking around.

 Yesterday's sea day was uneventful, only a little rolling --  these big cruise ships have stabilizers that minimize the action.  Hurricane Kirk has apparently hit Spain pretty bad, and the captain has said he is watching the current hurricane situation in the Gulf and Atlantic.  We pray for those who are facing these hurricanes.

We have three sea days now before we arrive in Madeira, Azores. 

TK's Takes:  He thinks Janie can make Millionaire's Shortbread.  He liked the return train trip back to Cobh, the train to Cork was immensely crowded.

TK with his salted caramel gelato