
Photo: Cork Kerry Tourism
Southern charm
Cork city is one of the most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities in the world. Listen to the variety of languages in the streets.
It was Saint Finbarre who founded this city with his monastic school around 650 A.D. and the Cathedral which bears his name with its fine rose window and elaborate mosaic pavements is worth the visit.
Many of the streets of Cork were built over open water, and the landing stages of local merchants, where sailing ships from the Levant and Cathay once nuzzled, their anchor chains are still there.
Great Patrick Street is built over a river, hence the pronounced curve. And indeed the steps up to some of the buildings hearken back to when these were landing stages. Much as the hills of the city go up and down, so do the voices of the citizens with their sing-song cadence.
This is a city to enjoy. Whether sitting listening to the soft lilt of the west or the foreign tongues, wandering the streets and looking in the shop windows, or sampling the music of the night in the cellars and pubs. Whatever dream haunts you, this city might just have the answer. Let it wash over you and seep into your bones whether at Mass or sitting on a bench, this city will have something for you.