Cobh, which is pronounced Cove, is a quaint little fishing village on an island in Cork's city harbor. It also happens to be Titanic's last port call in 1912. I wanted to take my husband and girls to Cobh because it also served as an embarkation point during Ireland's mass emigrations. If you claim Irish heritage, there's a pretty good chance that your ancestors left Ireland through Cobh, so I wanted them to get a good look at where their ancestors left the Emerald Isle for America.
If you search for photos of Cobh, the most photographed part of the town would be their gorgeous St. Colman's Cathedral. You'll usually find it pictured high on a hill behind a row of brightly painted homes, which would be their version of San Francisco's Painted Ladies. Since I didn't have more than a few hours in Cobh, I decided to take a few up close snaps of its beauty instead of trekking halfway across town for a wide landscape shot.
The cathedral is a real stunner in person, so I decided that I'll do a new post tomorrow to show you around the inside to keep things short here today. To get to the cathedral and harbor, you'll park in town then end up walking down a steep (and when I say steep, I mean it's ankle sore STEEP!) hill. Going down isn't too bad, but the trek back up is brutal! However, to get to explore this charming little village is totally worth it.
There are a lot of little cafes and shops to explore around town, but my favorite part was hanging out on the pier and staring out across the water. It's so peaceful there!
While we didn't have the time to go, I hear the Titanic museum and discovery center is well worth a visit.
At the Titanic Experience, you'll get a 30 minute guided tour explaining the last port of call that Titanic would make and more information on the passengers who boarded and disembarked. I believe the entrance fee is quite inexpensive, at under $15 per person, it is definitely worth the cost.
We did take some time to walk the streets in town, which are stunning in the spring and summer as they are lined with huge pots of bright and colorful flowers.
While we didn't buy any souvenirs, we did stop for ice cream at Scoops. Mariah couldn't wait to try the Maltesers flavor since we don't have that flavor of ice cream in the US. It was definitely all she hoped it would be!
If you're headed to Cork, I insist you carve out some time to explore Cobh. I've always wanted to retire on the beach somewhere, but this sleepy fishing village stole my heart and I've started rethinking my retirement plans since our visit.
Be sure to come back tomorrow for an inside look at St. Colman's Cathedral.
Big city or small fishing village. Which do you prefer?
Looks like a setting for a romantic movie. Gothic churches are always gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteIt really would be a perfect film location!
DeleteWow! I love the architecture, what a beautiful place to visit!
ReplyDeleteIt really is lovely there!
DeleteWhat a beautiful town! I love the quaint, small town feel of the village in the pictures. I never heard of Maltesers. What does it taste like?
ReplyDeleteI think they are like Whoppers? I didn't have any and Mariah about bit my head off when I tried to take a bit of hers LOL
DeleteI love it. I love all the photos you shared.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary!
DeleteOh that is EXACTLY what I imagined Ireland to look like. Someday I want to take a trip over there to see it in person.
ReplyDeleteYou must go, Robin! It's such a beautiful country!
DeleteSeems like a real find of a town that I had never heard of until now. I do not get to europe too often butI hope to see Cobh someday.
ReplyDeleteI hope you do Melissa. It's so quaint and peaceful there.
DeleteOh my goodness, Cobh is definitely charming! I would probably spend all day cafe-hopping and enjoying great food!
ReplyDeleteThat's the fun thing about Ireland. So many little towns like this, you could spend days doing exactly that and never get bored.
DeleteI would be ALL about the Titanic stuff. It has always fascinated me. I hope to get here one day.
ReplyDeleteI'm sad we didn't have time to do Titanic. Maybe next visit I'll carve out a few extra hours and squeeze it in.
DeleteThat fishing village is so cute! I love all the colors.
ReplyDeleteI'd have to say smaller places is what I like. BUT there's something about the subway, and being able to get around easily in bigger cities that's handy!
I agree about ease of transport in bigger cities, but I'd just buy me a bike in a small town like this. Ireland has so many colorful towns. As as artist, you would love it there, I'm sure!
DeleteWow. That cathedral sure is quite the sight. Such a quaint little spot by the looks of it indeed. Never knew that was from where the Irish set sail to over here. Never heard of that ice cream flavor either, but that's no surprise lol
ReplyDeleteI thought you had that kind of ice cream in Canada? But, since you're food boring, it doesn't surprise me if they do have it but you just don't know about it LOL
DeleteCobh is nothing short of adorable and looks as if it's straight out of a fairy tale. All of the bright pops of color really puts a smile on my face.
ReplyDeleteThe colors! It's so hard to be sad with all of those fun pops of color everywhere!
DeleteOMG, that first picture alone had me sold! Those colors, the sheer beauty! Looks like a great trip, thanks for the recommendation!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mitch :)
DeleteIreland is on my bucket list of places to visit. You photos are so stunning. Looking forward to visiting one day.
ReplyDeleteThank You, Tasheena!
DeleteIreland is my end-all be-all bucket list item. Perhaps one day I'll make it there! I don't know what it is about Ireland, but I've always been drawn to it.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a magical country. I really hope you are able to explore it some day!
DeleteGorgeous city and awesome photos, Theresa. Makes me want to fly there right away..Ireland is indeed in our bucket list
ReplyDeleteI would not have been able to leave. What a charming place. I have Ireland on my list, as my ancestry is about 66% Irish.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome, Terri! With your ancestry, I'm sure it's high on your list of places to visit.
DeleteWow, these photos are so beautiful. I would love to go there someday. What an amazing vacation that would be.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kathy!
DeleteIt looks like such a quaint and lovely town! I've always wanted to live in a town like that.
ReplyDeleteIt would be a dream for me to move to an Irish town some day.
DeleteAfter our big road trip this summer my next adventure is going to be Ireland. I've wanted to visit there my whole life.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome, Rena! I hope you have as much fun there as we did!
DeleteLooks like an adorable Irish town. The trek up looks like it worth it. Would love to explore it.
ReplyDeleteWow that is such a beautiful place! I still need to take my trip to Ireland.
ReplyDeleteWow, what an incredible place. I would love to visit soon, I have always wanted to! Bookmarking this to refer to, thanks!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a nice place
ReplyDeleteWOW! That cathedral is stunning and that ice cream looks absolutely delicious! Definitely spots worth checking out, I'll be adding them to my bucket list!
ReplyDeleteI have always wanted to visit Ireland! You took beautiful pictures! I hope I can visit Ireland next year!
ReplyDeleteWow! What a beautiful cathedral! I'd love to visit - The city looks like it was created just for a movie!
ReplyDeleteYou'll probably have grandchildren by the time you decide to retire and you won't want to be so far away. Just a guess. :) It is beautiful though, and I'd have loved to stroll those streets. One thing that stuck out, besides how gorgeous it all is, is can you imagine sailing from there to the USA back in the day?? Oy!!! You know I love to travel, but that's not a trip I'd have wanted to take.
ReplyDeleteI bet you're right, but Mariah wants to move to the west coast (it's not for us) and who knows where Allison will end up. I still think we'll end up in North Carolina some day.
DeleteMan, getting there by plane was not fun. I can't imagine sailing from there to here, especially with my motion sickness. Oy! is right!
The Titanic Experience is a place I'd like to check out.
ReplyDeleteHi, Theresa! The fishing boats and lobster traps look just like those at home in Nova Scotia, but the village and cathedral are very different from a typical Bluenose fishing village. I asked my husband Terry if he had ever been in Cobh, since his mother's people come from nearby. Yes he has ~ but only to a pub. And his youngest sister worked in a restaurant there on the weekends while she attended university during an exchange year. Thanks to your photos, I really want to go! Take care!
ReplyDeleteThat is so neat that Terry has been there. It's such a charming city, overall. I am sure he had a lovely time in the pub. I do hope you get to Cobh some day, Louise. You won't regret the visit!
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