Have you ever felt a cold sweat running down your back ? No ? This means you haven’t read this article yet…
Ireland is fascinating but also sometimes terrifying... Today, you are going to discover the hidden side of the city of Cork.
We start with the river Lee, this river which crosses Cork. According to the writings, it was dug by the tail of a snake... It dates back to the time of Saint Finbarr. When he arrived to set up his monastery, the lake was occupied by an enormous snake, which, having had it to itself, was unhappy with the arrival of the saint. This snake sowed terror. One day while Finbarr was celebrating mass, the serpent provoked him by snatching the chalice from his hands. Finbarr was angry, and as he prayed, he called upon the power of God to sustain him. God answered his call and banished the serpent from the lake forever. As the snake left, it waved its giant tail as it advanced and its anger and strength were such that it dug a deep valley as it advanced. The water from the lake flowed into the valley and this is how the river Lee was formed. We can find traces of this legend in certain places like the chapel in UCC campus ! The ground is covered with a long mosaic which represents a river flowing with many fishes. Following it, this mosaic ends with the head of a snake and the river is none other than its giant tail !
If this story didn't make you shiver then it's time to move on to... the visit of the old prison of Cork.
Located on the heights of Cork, a little away from the city, the atmosphere of the place is like the decor : impressive and a tad gloomy.
Good to know : The access to the jail costs 8.50 € for students. After paying, you will receive a map of the place with explanations (several languages are available) and a path to follow. For an additional 2 € you can have an audiophone (these are available in several languages) which immerses you in the atmosphere of the prison via sound effects. However, you have the same content with the map that you received at the beginning.
Barely entered the prison, you are impressed by the calm of the place. The visit immerses you in another universe. Life-size wax figures, sound atmosphere and explanatory panels on the daily life of prisoners take you back to the time when the jail was still in use.
Wax figures are numerous and it is easily to feel like if they are real !
You learn more about the life of the prisoners, their diets and the punishments inflicted. And if you still don't feel like a prisoner, don't panic ! You have the opportunity to become one ! The jail gives you the possibility, for the duration of an experience, to enter a cell and close the door behind you... A terrifying experience because nothing prevents the door from remaining closed on you...
Once you have visited the interior, you can tour the building and discover the trail left by the prisoners when they exercised.
Did you know ? The prison closed its doors in 1923 and welcomed a few years later, in 1927, the Irish radio station : Radio Eireann. Several rooms in the prison are dedicated to the history of this radio.
Did you feel safe in your cell ? Yes ? And if I told you now that Cork City itself is unsafe…Blackrock Castle is a testament to that insecurity.
Blackrock castle dates from the 16th century. It was built where Cork gully widens. It was to be used for the surveillance of this sea pass. Indeed, the geographical position of the city of Cork makes it an easy target for people coming from the sea and more particularly for pirates ! Cork Harbor provided them with an easy place to stop and plunder. So the castle contained defensive equipment such as cannons pointed in the direction of the gully.
On a clear day, one might thinks that surveillance is easy. However, be aware that the weather in Ireland is often misty or foggy. So imagine a castle on the edge of the water and surrounded by mist. Imagine, soldiers posted inside trying to see possible attackers. Because on their surveillance depends the security of an entire city !
Good to know :
You can enter the castle courtyard and access the viewpoint, the gift shop and the coffee shop. If you wish to do the visit, you will need to book your ticket online. Entrance for thr castle costs 5 € and you will benefit from a guided tour in two parts. A part dedicated to the history of the place which will take you to the top of the tower (around a hundred steps to climb) and a part dedicated to astronomy in a mini-planetarium.
I hope that reading this post has allowed you to discover the hidden side of the city of Cork.
My next and last post will talk about meetings and international…
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