[CORK] Ireland’s Maritime Haven

With a maritime history spanning over a thousand years, Cork is set in a beautiful soft coastal environment where the land, the people and their culture will allow you to discover a quirky way to stimulate your senses.

Cork was founded 14 centuries ago, on islands in an estuary, where the River Lee joins the world’s second-largest natural harbour. Now waterways circle the city-centre, crossed by 22 bridges and hilly neighbourhoods climb the river banks, stacked with colourful houses.

Cork’s importance as an international trading port dates back to the 11th century when Vikings established the first permanent town on the southern banks of the River Lee. The invading Anglo-Normans further developed the settlement and Cork was granted its first city charter in 1185 giving rise to a walled port city, into which trading ships sailed via the main harbour-facing gate.

Cork’s maritime origins are exemplified in its coat of arms featuring a ship sailing through the King’s Old Castle and Queen’s Old Castle, which flanked the main gate and the city’s motto, ‘Statio Bene Fide Carinis’ which is Latin for, ‘A safe harbour for ships’.

Thanks to its deep water harbour, the city of Cork experienced a commercial boom in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. 

As an important provisioning centre for the Royal Navy, ships carrying textiles, salted beef and salted butter left Cork for destinations as far away as the Caribbean.

By this time, Cork’s Butter Market had grown to become the largest in the world. This maritime trading heritage, on which Cork was built, can be read in the streets and buildings as one strolls through the modern city today. 

Cork is the biggest county in Ireland and is part of both the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland’s Ancient East. 

With over 1000km of coastline there’s a mesmerising amount of experiences to be had.