May 2019 [by Pat]
Our next port stop was Ringaskiddy, a container port on the southeast coast of Ireland. The cruise ship had arranged shuttle buses into Cork from the port.
Cork, with a population of about 200,000 is the second largest city in the republic and the third largest city on the island.
The city is surrounded by the River Lee.
yk had arranged for a two hour walking tour(12 euros per person, starting from the tourist information office) which gave us a flavor for the city. We had an excellent guide.
The newsboy below is hawking issues of the Echo reporting on the sinking of the Titanic.
One of the oldest buildings in Cork:
After the tour, our guide suggested we visit the art museum(free admission):
Before returning to the ship, we stopped at a pub in the English Market.
COBH
In the late afternoon, the ship sailed across the harbor to the town of Cobh (pronounced cove, population: 12,800) Cobh was the last port of call of the Titanic. It was also the port where the survivors of the sinking of the Lousitania were taken for medical treatment.
St. Colman’s cathedral dominates the town from above.
Cobh was the port from which most of the Irish emigres embarked. Cobh Heritage Center, located at the port, commemorates the emigration as well as the visit from the Titanic. Outside the museum is a statue of Annie Moore and her brothers. She was the first immigrant processed through Ellis Island.
On our way back to the ship we ran into a minstrel troupe and yk made the most of it.
Small Wide World 