History

Recent History

Cork has survived history's pummelling and now thrums with vitality. The renaissance of the city has been given further impetus by its nomination as European Capital of Culture in 2005. A flurry of activity has been launched to meet the profile of European culture capital, not least the Cork Main Drainage Scheme to modernise the city's sewage disposal system. Pedestrian areas and street furniture have been added to the city's main drag, St Patrick's St, to complement the existing Georgian gems of Grand Parade and South Mall. The city's population, with a strong element of mainland Europeans, is growing rapidly as new service industries seek people with language skills, and general regeneration is attracting new services and a bunch of new leisure and cultural interests.

Modern Day History

Cork's deep-seated Irishness ensures that it played a key role in Ireland's struggle for independence. A mayor of the city was killed by the Black and Tans in 1920 and his successor died in a London prison after 75 days on a hunger strike. The English were at their most brutal in Cork, destroying much of the city centre. Ever a prey to its own turbulent political factions, Cork was also a regional focus of the destructive civil war that followed independence in 1921.

Pre 20th Century History

The city's recorded history dates from the seventh century with the founding of a monastery on what may be the site of St Finbarr's Cathedral. In the 12th century the settlement had become the capital of the Kingdom of South Munster, but by 1185 Cork was under English rule. Thereafter it passed back and forth, surviving Cromwell but succumbing to William of Orange. The prosperity of the 18th century was undone by the famine of the following century, which bled county and city of its native people, either by death or emigration.