There is an incredibly comprehensive interactive map available from Ordnance Survey Ireland that includes the all of Ireland, not just Cork. You may zoom in for an up-close look at exceedingly fine detail. The map includes historic map overlays (see the checkboxes on the map page) that vividly depict townlands, highways, towns, residences, fields, and estates, among other features. There are a few churches and cemeteries featured. Numerous overlays are included. Church Documents [edit | source edit]
Architectural Remarkable
Elizabeth Fort, which recently reopened to the public, borders the River Lee adjacent to St Fin Barre's Cathedral. The fort has been functioning in some capacity since 1601 and has an extraordinarily complex history. It was constructed by Cromwell in 1649 to protect the city walls from cannon and subsequently fell under siege by the Williamites, who fought for the Dutch prince William of Orange. The siege lasted four days and culminated in the city's fall. It has since been utilized as a temporary detention center for convicts on route to Australia, as well as a food storage facility during the Great Famine. Until 2013, the Garda (Irish Police) utilized the Fort as a station, but no more. You are free to tour the fortifications, which have information stations chronicling the fort's illustrious past.
On the last day of a wonderful vacation in Ireland, we visited Cork Heritage Park. It was a pleasant location to relax and have lunch, but rather disappointing in other ways. The children's play area was in desperate need of renovation, the animal area resembled a construction site with few animals, and the facilities were filthy. We didn't even bother with the museum since at this time, someone approached us and informed us that we should have paid to enter the park (no one was at the gate upon entering), and we immediately left, as we couldn't believe they would charge for access to a park with no particular features. At the very least, we now understand why we were the only ones there on a bright Saturday afternoon.
Several major thoroughfares were constructed over waterways where ships nuzzled their anchor chains a century ago. Along the South Mall, enormous entrances are located at street level, behind stairs leading to a higher main entrance. These were previously boathouses for merchants who came by water to their warehouses. As the mountainous streets ascend and descend, so do the people' voices. Corkonians have a distinctive sing-song cadence that is appreciated by national comedians, and they are considered as the most chatty of the Irish.
Introduction to the English Market
Since 1788, the English Market has been the envy of foodies across Ireland. Far from being English (the market is called for its Protestant beginnings), here is the place to pick up traditional fare like as drisheen and pigs' trotters, but the market's around 55 booths also sell bread, fish, cheese, and fruit and vegetables. The market has survived fire, civil war, and an unsuccessful effort to rename it, but it took a failed attempt to replace it with a parking lot in the 1980s for the people of Cork to realize that their culinary capital was worth preserving! The English Market remains prospering today, having been dubbed the "best covered market in the United Kingdom and Ireland" by chef Rick Stein. Visit the Farmgate Caf for delectable cuisine prepared using market ingredients.
