Discover Cork

Book excerpt: Cork, capital of the Rebel County, has enjoyed a long and illustrious history, and is unique among Ireland's cities in that it has experienced every phase of Irish urban development. It is a city of hills and bridges, churches and steeples, nestled around the two branches of the River Lee. Part One explores the history of Cork including its origins as an early Christian monastic centre; the creation of a Viking port and an Anglo-Norman walled town; its transformation through Georgian and Victorian times to the twentieth century and beyond. Part Two visits Cork's most interesting buildings and landmarks, including Shandon Church, Elizabeth Fort, St FinBarre's Cathedral, Red Abbey, SS Peter and Paul's Church, the Mardyke and Fitzgerald Park, Holy Trinity Church, and St Patrick's Hill. The first book of its kind on Cork, Discover Cork is a beautifully presented and detailed exploration of the history and geography of the city.