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County Cork
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| Attractions: Beara Peninsula Blarney Castle Drombeg Stone Circle Kinsale |
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| Co. Cork Corcaigh Prov. Munster Republic of Ireland |
| Major cities: Cork, Mitchelstown, Mallow, Bantry, Skibbereen, Youghal, Midleton, Cobh, Kinsale, Macroom |
| Surface: 7,457 km2 Population: 448,181 |
County Cork is the most southern county and its climate is dictated by the warm Gulf Stream and dominating southern winds. In this mild climate palm trees and bamboo is flourishing. The subtropical vegetation is just one aspect from the refreshing scenery this county has to offer the visitor.
It is worthwhile to drive along the coastline of County Cork to experience the gradual changing of the landscape from rather calm in the east to rugged in the east. The majority of Cork's must-see attractions are well within range of this route.
City and shopping lovers have to visit Cork, the third largest town of Ireland after Dublin and Belfast and the European Capital of Europe in 2005. Cork is renown for its festivals, including some of Ireland's best film and jazz festivals. We found the attractiveness of Cork rather shallow. When there is no festival and you are done shopping it is just a large town with no distinctive character. In all fairness we have to admit that we have visited Cork twice in 2004 and the city was obviously preparing itself in anticipation of the flood of tourist in 2005.
The seasoned disaster tourist might want to visit the Cobh. Cobh, then known as Queenstown, was the last port of call of the RMS Titanic when she commenced her maiden, and at the same time her last, voyage to New York on 11 April 1912. The more average tourist will be pulled towards Blarney Castle, the utter tourist magnet of County Cork, which is located within a stone's throw from Cork.
Instead of the town of Cork to spend the night we highly recommend Kinsale. Kinsale offers places to eat, nightly entertainment and, for the day after, a variety of things to do both in the town as within walking distant from the town.
Kinsale can be seen as gateway to west Ireland and when continuing the coastal road to the west you will notice the scenic changes. Just when you are starting to realise that this landscape is craving for megalithic structures a small signpost to the Timoleague Stone Circle appears. The better known Drombeg Stone Circle, which is situated a bit further down the road, not only offers a stone circle, but also an ancient cooking place, or fulacht fiadh.
The unsurpassed highlight of your visit to County Cork would be the Beara Peninsula. The Beara Way is in fact a fulfilling alternative of the highly-praised, thus overcrowded, Ring of Kerry.
Rebel County
Throughout history the people of County Cork have established a solid reputation of being recalcitrant and until the Civil War the county acted more or independent. In 1499 the English seemingly reconciled themselves to this situation and decided to name the county Rebel County. Although intended to be derogatory the name was embraced and caressed by people of Cork.
Nowadays County Cork is still a bit of an outsider. There is a group striving for the recognition of Cork as the real capital of the Republic of Ireland and an even smaller group has devoted itself to establish the Peoples Republic of Cork. These groups are completely harmless and non-violent. There is absolutely no risk that they spoil your visit.
In relation with the designation Rebel County you should be familiar with at least two names: Terence MacSweeney and Michael Collins.
Terence MacSweeney was an active member of the Irish Volunteer Force (IVF) and was elected Lord Mayor of Cork after his predecessor, Tomás MacCurtain, was killed by the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) in March 1920. In August 1920 he was arrested in Dublin and charged with making a seditious speech. Immediately after being sentenced MacSweeney went on a hunger strike which lasted 74 days until he perished on 25 October 1920.
Two sites in County Cork are connected with Michael Collins. The first is Sam's Cross, a small hamlet between Rosscarbery and Clonakilty, where Collins was born on 16 October 1890, and the second is Beal na mBlath, the village where he was killed in an ambush on 22 August 1922.
Whereas Terence MacSweeney is generally recognised as rebel, Michael Collins rebellious status is disputed. Collins' supporters emphasis his long and indeed impressive record of service in the Irish Republican movement. He took part in the Easter Rising under Joseph Plunkett, but his military career peaked during the War of Independence. The highlight of Michael Collins' career was that he, according his supporters, forced the British to sign the Anglo-Irish Treaty. By this treaty it was agreed that Ireland would be divided in Saorstát Éireann, or the Irish Free State, in the south and Northern Ireland. Opponents of the division, known as Irregulars, considered Michael Collins and his supporters, the so-called Freestaters, traitors to the Republican objective of a 32 county Irish Republic. The opponents rose in arms and started the Civil War.