Everything about County Cork totally explained
County Cork is the most southerly and the largest of the modern counties of
Ireland. Cork is nicknamed "The Rebel County", as a result of the support of the townsmen of
Cork in 1491 for
Perkin Warbeck, a pretender to the throne of England during the
Wars of the Roses. In more recent times, the name has referred to the prominent role Cork played in the
Irish War of Independence (1919-1921) and its position as an anti-treaty stronghold during the
Irish Civil War (1922-23). Attractions include the
Blarney Stone and
Cobh (formerly Queenstown), the port where many Irish
emigrants boarded for their voyage to the
United States,
Australia,
Canada,
New Zealand, or
South Africa and also the last stop of the
Titanic, before departing on its doomed journey. The city of Cork is the
second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and capital of the
province of
Munster.
The remote western area of the county, known as
West Cork, is a popular destination for tourists, who visit the small villages and islands including
Sherkin Island, Oileán Chléire or
Cape Clear Island and
Dursey Island.
Mizen Head, the "southwesternmost point in Ireland" is also in West Cork, as is
Sheep's Head.
In recent years land in the far west of the county has become in high demand internationally, and large numbers of
EU citizens have settled in the area, along with celebrities such as
Jeremy Irons. West Cork is noted for its rugged natural beauty, fine beaches and distinct social atmosphere.
History
Much of what is now county Cork was once part of the Kingdom of
Deis Muin (South
Munster), anglicised as "Desmond", ruled by the MacCarthy Mór dynasty. After the
Norman Invasion in the 12th century, the McCarthy clan were pushed westward into what is now West Cork and
County Kerry. The north and east of Cork were taken by the
Hiberno-Norman Fitzgerald dynasty, who became the
Earl of Desmond. Cork City was given an English Royal Charter in 1318 and for many centuries was an outpost for
Old English culture. The Fitzgerald Desmond dynasty was destroyed in the
Desmond Rebellions of 1569-1573 and 1579-83. Much of county Cork was devastated in the fighting, particularly in the
Second Desmond Rebellion. In the aftermath, much of Cork was colonised by English settlers in the
Plantation of Munster.
In 1491 Cork played a part in the English
Wars of the Roses when
Perkin Warbeck, a pretender to the English throne, landed in the city and tried to recruit support for a plot to overthrow
Henry VII of England. The mayor of Cork and several important citizens went with Warbeck to England but when the rebellion collapsed they were all captured and executed. Cork's nickname of the 'rebel city' originates in these events. The nickname was later applied to the whole county.
In 1601 the decisive
Battle of Kinsale took place in County Cork, which was to lead to English domination of Ireland for centuries. Kinsale had been the scene of a landing of Spanish troops to help Irish rebels in the
Nine Years War (1594-1603). When this force was defeated, the rebel hopes for victory in the war were all but ended. County Cork was officially created by a division of the older
County Desmond in 1606.
In the 19th century, Cork was a centre for the
Fenians and for the constitutional nationalism of the
Irish Parliamentary Party. The county was a hotbed of guerrilla activity during the
Irish War of Independence 1919-1921. Three Cork Brigades of the
Irish Republican Army operated in the county and another in the city. Prominent actions included the
Kilmichael Ambush in November 1920 and the
Crossbarry Ambush in March 1921. The activity of IRA
flying columns, such as the one under
Tom Barry in west Cork, was recently popularised in the
Ken Loach film
The Wind That Shakes The Barley. The centre of Cork city was razed to the ground by the British
Black and Tans, in December 1920 as were many other towns and villages around the county.
During the
Irish Civil War (1922-23), most of the IRA units in Cork sided against the
Anglo-Irish Treaty. From July to August 1922 they held the city and county as part of the so called
Munster Republic. However, Cork was taken by troops of the
Irish Free State in August 1922 in the
Irish Free State offensive, that included both overland and seaborne attacks. For the remainder of the war, the county saw sporadic guerrilla fighting until the Anti-Treaty side called a ceasefire and dumped their arms in May 1923.
Michael Collins, a key figure in the War of Independence, was born near
Clonakilty and assassinated during the civil war in
Béal na Bláth, both in West Cork.
Language
County Cork has two
Gaeltacht areas where the
Irish language is the primary medium of everyday speech. These are in the north of the county, especially the village of and an island in the west.
Economy
The South-West region comprising of counties Cork and
Kerry contribute
€ 24,877 billion ($39.3 billion USD)(2005 values; 2008 exchange rate) towards the Irish
GDP. The
harbour area to the immediate east of the city is home to a large number of pharmaceutical and medical companies.
Suburbs & Towns
Carrigaline (16,664)
Cobh (12,887)
Mallow (11,195)
Midleton (10,336)
Youghal (7,195)
Charleville (2,984)
Media
Print
The Imokilly People Not in Print anymore (East Cork)
The Carrigdhoun
The Cork Weekly (External Link
) Free paper for Metropolitan Cork incorporating the Douglas Weekly
The Corkman
The Mallow Star
The Douglas Post
The Southern Star
The Vale Star
The Avondhu
Evening Echo
Radio
103FM County Sound
CRY 104.0FM
Cork's 96FM
Red FM
Wildlife
A collection of the marine algae is housed in the Herbarium of the botany department of the University College Cork.
Septs and Families of Cork
Cork was a stronghold for many powerful septs and families of Munster, most of them of Eoghanacht lineage. Common Cork surnames are Ahern, Buckley, Collins, Cronin, Crowley, Daley, Flynn, Foley, Gould, Healy, Horgan, Lee, McCarthy, Murphy, Noonan, O'Callaghan, O'Cronin, O'Connor, O'Donovan, O'Driscoll, O'Keeffe, O'Leary, O'Mahony, O'Riordan, O'Rourke, O'Sullivan, Sheehan and Twomey. Some prevalent Norman-Irish names are Barrett, Barry, Fitzgerald, Kennedy, Walsh and White
Location Grid
Further Information
Get more info on 'County Cork'.
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