Today, as it is time for a walk, I bring you exploring the city of Cork and its history...
The city of Cork is located southwest of Dublin and crossed from a river called Lee. And the first thing we notice when we walk around in the city, there are its bridges ! Because, there is not one, nor two, nor three but 29 bridges ! At this moment, we are struck by the resemblance to Venise. Though Venise owns a few 438 bridges...However, even if the number of bridges is different, Cork is often compared to Venise !
The number of bridges in Cork is explained by its localisation. The city was built on top of a marsh. What’s more, the name of the city comes from a Gaelic word "Corcaigh" which means marshy place. It refers to the initial geographical position of the city alongside the river Lee. But Cork and Venise also have something else in common : both were been built on top of marshlands ! To top it all, the heart of Cork city is located on an island in the middle of the river Lee much like Venice which is also on islands.
After learning more about the geography of Cork, I was struck to notice that, scattered here and there throughout the city, there are historic buildings such as cathedrals and forts. They merge with modern buildings in a shifted and unexpected way.
While most of them can be visited as monuments, other are used in a different way... For instance, I learned that here, some churches are turned into venues for events in the evening ! I also saw a dentist's office in an old chapel !
For lunch, I stopped at the English Market. If you want to combine the pleasant as well as the useful, you must go to the English Market. You can discover a historic building and do your shopping at the same time ! An iconic place situated in the heart of Cork City, it is a covered market that has been trading since 1788. It is now one of the oldest municipal markets in the world. It is renowned for the quality and range of its products from local fish and seafood to European delicacies as well as items from award-winning producers.
The stallholders, the produce and the atmosphere make this a unique shopping destination. Take time to appreciate its architecture and its inside fountain before trying a fresh product !
Good to know :
It is open every day except Sunday.
While continuing my wanderings, a strange orange building draw my attention.
It is the Crawford Art Gallery. Located in the heart of Cork city, it holds a national collection of sculptures, paintings and exhibitions. The building itself is a real marvel because it dates back to 1724 and will celebrate its 300 years old next year ! It is one of the most historic buildings in the city. At the beginning, it was used as a customs office when Cork was a major trading port. Subsequently, around 1830, it radically changed its function and became a government school and then an art school. It was only in 1979 that it adopted the function we know today and became the Crawford Art Gallery.
Leaving the Crawford Art Gallery, I crossed a bridge and I got at the Shandon neighbourhood. It has quite the history due to its numerous religious buildings. Over here, I was very astonished to discover a museum entirely dedicated to... butter !
The Butter museum touches upon Cork's past as a European center for the butter trade. It recalls Ireland's dairy heritage : the lush green pastures and mild local temperate climate that have long placed butter, milk and cheese at the center of the island's wealth.
Good to know :
Some days, it is also possible to attend a live demonstration of the stages of butter making.
Butteris a real flagship product for the Bretons and it is too for the Irish !
Though umpteen buildings participate in the city's history, there are still more to discover...
I was able to see many times throughout my day plaques on houses, on bridges, above shops, on street corner, in gardens and parks. But what are they used for ?
These plaques are historic commemorative plaques of Cork city. They are an important part of the city's heritage. They often go unnoticed but they celebrate historic events, identify and highlight important built heritage landmarks and commemorate the contribution made by people from Cork in their respective fields.
To sum up, a special location, historic buildings, commemorative plaques and more : Cork's history can be found on every street corner !
But let's put the past to the side and now let's focus on the present...
Today, Cork is the second largest city in the country and the third most populated city !
Numerous Irish people especially Cork inhabitants consider Cork as the "real" capital of Ireland. This is due to the role that its citizens played during the war of Independance.
There is another detail that tells the story of Ireland and its neighbors. Indeed, though Ireland is part of the European union, it is not part of the Schengen space. This space allows the free circulation of goods and persons within the European Union. That is why when you get to Ireland, you must show your ID. This is something you don't do, when you go to Germany from Belgium for instance. Not being part of the Schengen space implies taxes on imports and exports. That is why you find mostly Irish products in supermarkets that is to say local products exempt from all taxes !
On my next post, I will probe what shapes the Irish identity...
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