Cobh is approximately 20km from Cork City, approximately a 20 minute ride by bus, train or taxi. Cobh is a pleasant town which was originally a fishing village, but is now a prosperous town offering everything that would be expected from a modern town. Cobh is built on the Southern coast of The Great Island, with its streets climbing the steep slope of the hill, which is crowned by the spectacular St. Colmans Cathedral.

The Cathedral dates back to 1868 and took approx. 51 years to complete, it is of French Gothic architecture and at night is fully floodlight and is a splendid sight from the harbour. The Great Island is one of four major islands in Cork Harbour. The three largest Fota, Little Island and Great Island are connected to the mainland by bridge. Fota Island contains Fota Wildlife park which is home to hundreds of rare animals and birds. Fota also contains an 18 hole Golf course. Cobh sports a 9 hole course and Little Island contains an 18 hole course.

The harbour is one of the largest and safest in the world being capable of taking the largest vessels afloat. The port regularly plays host to ocean going liners and cruise ships and was the last port of call for the ill-fated Lusitania and Titanic. The Lusitania was sunk off the coast of Kinsale by a German torpedo in 1915, an action which was to result in the United States of America becoming involved in World War I. In the town centre there is a memorial to the victims of the Lusitania many of whom are buried in the Old Church Cemetary not far from the town Centre.

Brief History of Cobh.....

1176 some 5 years after the invasion of Henry the 2nd of England saw the effects of occupation reaching the port and its local population.

In the 7th century the area was graced by religous monks who settled for a time and contemplated all things spiritual.

When Queen Victoria visited Ireland for the first time in 1849 she stopped at Cove. With her permission the town was renamed Queenstown.

Cobhs history is entwined with great ships, majestic liners and adventurous tales of the sea. As Irelands most stategic port of call for transatlantic liners, it became the foremost port of emigration witnessing Irelands sorrowful release of its treasured sons and daughters to brighter and better things in the New World.

Many famous ships graced Cobh's shores. From the age of Sail through to the great age of Steam and into the present age of Diesel. These included the paddle steamer 'Sirius' , which in 1838 became first ever ship to cross the Atlantic from the Cork Harbour to New York without the aid of sail.

The Lusitania which was torpedoed in May 1915 with the loss of 1198 lives. The packed troop ships that sent young men and women to conflicts such as the American War of Independence, the Boer War the Crimea War and the First World War

Cobh was the last port of call of RMS Titanic which anchored at the mouth of the harbour on April 11th 1912. It was from here that the ship weighed anchor for the last time and sailed west towards her tragic fate in the icy waters of the North Atlantic. One hundred and twenty three passengers left form Cobh.

(property of CobhOnline.com)