When was cork city founded

Just west of the city centre the Lee splits into two channels, each flowing around the city before meeting again in Cork harbour. This means the city centre is an island, bounded by a north channel and a south channel.

The urban centre was built on the lowest crossing-point of the river, where it meets the sea. This situation has given the city a rich maritime history and a strong identification as a port town. In character they are astute, confident, and often rebellious — a trait passed down through generations and remembered in Cork songs and oral tradition.

Corkonians make Cork unique. I still read between the lines of historic documents and archives. I get excited by a nugget of information, which completes a historical puzzle I might have started years ago. I have sat in the library pouring over a book or old newspaper on many an occasion trying to figure out where a piece of information sits in my researches.

I still look up at the architectural fabric of the city to seek new discoveries, hidden treasures and new secrets. I encourage people on my tours to look up and around and always they see something that I have not seen. We all become blind to our home place and its stories. We walk streets, which become routine spaces — spaces, which we take for granted — but all have been crafted, assembled and storified by past residents.

The Luiwee left the lake and as he slid down the Lee Valley towards the ocean he gouged out the two river channels you see to this very day. Of course every mythical story needs a happy ending. Well Finbarr followed the Luiwee to ensure he was gone for good and having seen the great marsh, the surrounding hills, woodlands and the general beauty of the area decided this was a place in which he could settle and so he founded a monastery and Cork was born. After that though came the bad stuff.

Plagues, floods, fire and pestilence and worst of all the Black Death of the 14th century and here Cork really suffered. Cork offers amazing things to do and an excellent array of Cork accommodation. So, whether you are looking for a cheap Cork hostel or one of our award winning 5 star Cork hotels , we have something for you. You must be logged in to post a comment.