Cork Ireland Cruise Port Guide

7th Century with the founding of a monastery by St. Finbarr on a small alluvial island in the River Lee. In fact, Cork's ancient Irish name literally means 'Marshy Place.' Today, St. Finbarr's Cathedral now stands on this very spot.

The monastery and the settlement which grew up around it flourished despite several Danish raids, and later were incorporated into the fortified base the Danes developed here.

After King Henry II arrived in Ireland in 1172, the town was captured several times, recovered, then retaken, with the English and the Irish alternating as its masters. The Druids, Celts, and Vikings also passed through this area. In 1284, Cork was surrounded by a new circuit of walls which was pulled down in 1690 after four centuries of war and destruction.

During the Civil War in 1921, large areas of the city were damaged by fire. As a result of this history of war and destruction, Cork unfortunately has no medieval buildings left standing and boasts only a few remnants from the 18th Century. In addition, the central area between the two arms of the river takes its architectural character from the churches and other buildings of the early 19th Century. The fronts of these houses are frequently color washed, and the quays along the river are tree-lined.