THE STREETS OF CORK EXPLORING THE REAL CAPITAL OF IRELAND

My most recent visit to Cork is May 2022. I visited in September but my activities were constrained because of Covid-19 restrictions and unfortunately, because of travel restrictions I had not option but to cancel my 2019 visit to the city.

Cork is a city in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and in the province of Munster. With a population of 119,230, it is the second largest city in the state and the third most populous on the island of Ireland. The greater Metropolitan Cork area (which includes a number of satellite towns and suburbs) has a population exceeding 300,000. In 2005, the city was selected as the European Capital of Culture.

The city is built on the River Lee which divides into two channels at the western end of the city. The city centre is located on the island created by the channels. At the eastern end of the city centre where the channels re-converge, quays and docks along the river banks lead to Lough Mahon and Cork Harbour, which is one of the world's largest natural harbours.

The city's cognomen of "the rebel city" originates in its support for the Yorkist cause during the English War of the Roses. Corkonians often refer to the city as "the real capital" in reference to the city's role as the centre of anti-treaty forces during the Irish Civil War.

In August 2005 I visited Cork city for a week with the intention of getting some really good photographs of ships and liners using my new Sigma DSLR. I discovered afterwards that all the liners now visit Dublin at a rate of two or three per week. It rained every minute of every day stopping only when I boarded the train to return to Dublin. I only got one photograph and this is it. There is no doubt about it this cat is in control and he is the boss.

Anyway, as I really like cats I was really pleased with this very expensive photograph.