Cobh

Cobh has no meaning in Irish, it's just the Gaelicisation of Cove, because of its position on the harbour of Cork. Before the Irish War of Independence, it was called Queenstown. It was renamed in 1920. Thus accounts of the Titanic tragedy in 1912 and the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915 use the Victorian era name. Today Cobh thrives on the cruise ship business. This specimen was in port that day.

Cobh is linked to the Titanic because it was the last port of call and where some Irish migrants to the US boarded. Only a third of the 144 survived. Note that the Titanic didn't actually enter Cobh port; the passengers were taken by tender to the liner.

This display on the embankment dates from the centenary commemoration in 2012.

It was a choice between Cobh and Monkstown on the other side of the channel for my last night having a rented car. Both were close enough to Cork where I had to return the car by 1100 in the morning.

These are some of the neatest houses I've seen in Ireland, between the rail line and the channel.

The railway footbridge from the road to the shore.

View of the houses, rail line and road, from the footbridge.

Pleasure craft in the marina.

One of the stately homes on the embankment.

Probably the train or port operations building, made to look like a ship.

Well I'm sure they have enough lifeboats for the number of passengers these days.

This statue commemorates Annie Moore, who on 1 January 1892 was the first immigrant to pass through the newly inaugurated Ellis Island facility in New York. She is in charge of her two brothers, on their way to reunite with their parents.

The Cobh train terminus. Aside from the Irish and Ukrainian flags, the other three are of countries that received a large number of emmigrating Irish. The second billboard echos a newspaper headline when the true extent of the tragedy was known.

The posh Commodore Hotel.

The rotunda at Kennedy Park.

The esplanade. The evening weather was pleasant. No rain at least.

This was the actual quay side office of the White Star Line, to which the Titanic belonged. Now it's a small museum, the Titanic Experience Cobh.

This was taken just over a minute before, so probably the service entrance to the museum on the quay.

The line fell into decline during the Great Depression and was eventually merged with its rival, the Cunard Line.

The Titanic Memorial is across the street from the museum.

Nearby is the Lusitania memorial. Survivors and fatalities of the sinking were brought to Queenstown. Many are buried in the Old Church Cemetery.

Not as frequently visited now but less risky back then, the Cunard quayside offices.

On the high ground overlooking the town is St. Colman's Cathedral which is the tallest church in Ireland.

A view of the town and harbour.

The Deck of Cards houses, so called because they resemble a card deck in the shape of a house when viewed from certain vantage points.

Another, less photogenic, view. To be honest I can't see the resemblance, but maybe I have no imagination.

Maybe this looks better?

A pleasant little park on the street.

I headed down towards water level, eventually reached my accommodation and had a quiet evening.