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Sculpture by Jeanne Rynhart of Annie Moore and her brothers. The sculpture broadly represents the Irish emigration experience. It assumes a place of prominence on the waterfront as Cobh was a significant port of departure for the Irish.

Cobh (Queenstown) is a small seaport town on Great Island in Cork Harbour, County Cork, Southwest Ireland. The town faces the sea in rows of terraces rising up the steep hillside, dominated by a tall and handsome 19th century St. Colman's Cathedral, designed by Pugin.

In the era of transatlantic travel it was the first and last port in Europe. In Jules Verne's novel Around the World in Eighty Days, the protagonists arrived here from New York City. It was the last outbound port of call for the RMS Titanic in 1912. It played a major part in the story of Irish emigration with over 1.5 million emigrants passing through on their way to a new life, mostly in North America.

Originally known simply as "the Cove of Cork" it started life as a small fishing village but began to grow rapidly when the British established naval fortifications in the area during the Napoleonic Wars. In 1849 the town was renamed Queenstown following a visit by Queen Victoria but in 1920, during the Irish War of Independence, the town adopted a gaelicised version of "cove" and Cobh became the town's name.

Get in

By road

Cobh (Pronounced Khov) is on an island in Cork Harbour, connected at the north end by a bridge to Fota Island at Belvelly which is connected to the mainland by another bridge.

By rail

Cobh can be reached by Cork's only suburban railway [1]. By road, Cobh is 20 km from Cork City, crossing the bridge to the island.

By Titanic or other vessels

Cobh remains a modern port of call for large cruise ships; scheduled arrivals in Cobh are listed by the Port of Cork.[2] Bus tours connect to inbound ships at Cobh and Cork to transport cruise passengers locally.[3]

Cobh is 40 km from Kinsale. From there, it takes an hour, and requires taking a €4 car ferry that runs from 07:00-23:45. Unlike the ferry from Cork to Roscoff, France, [4] the ferry to Cobh is poorly signposted.

Cork Harbour Cruises (+353 21 439-1996) also run seasonally from Cork to Cobh.

Get around

There is a limited bus service around the town which is mostly used by older people and those living in outlying estates for shopping.

By taxi

The Taxi Rank is in Pearse Square; it is possible to travel anywhere on the Great Island for around €10 max (2011 price). All taxis have meters fitted and must by law operate them whilst on a journey.

See

  • Titanic Memorial, Pearse Square. "Commemorating RMS Titanic and her last port of call on her maiden and final voyage, April 11, 1912. In special memory of the Irish emigrants and all those who lost their lives in this great tragedy. Ar Dheis De Go Raibh a N-Anamacha. Memorial erected by the Titanic Historical Society, the Irish Titanic Historical Society, and the people of Cobh." 
  • Lusitania memorial, Casement Square. Commemorates a civilian ocean liner sunk by a U-boat attack in the Great War in 1915, with substantial loss of life. 
  • St. Colman's Cathedral. Neo-Gothic structure with great views of the harbour. 
  • The Queenstown Story, ☏ +353 21 481-3591. Local heritage centre that documents the towns emigration and other history, including the Great Famine and Titanic. €6, open daily May to October 10:00-18:00, November to April 10:00-17:00, last entry 1 hour before closing. 
  • Cobh Museum. Located at the entrance to the town in an old Presbyterian Church and completely separate to the nearby heritage centre, Cobh Museum has many interesting local artifacts and some genealogical research information. Open from May to October 12:00-16:00. 

Do

  • Tourist Information Office, ☏ +353 21 481-3301. In the Old Yacht Club on the harbor. Open M-F 09:30-17:30, Sa, Su 13:00-17:00. 
  • Titanic Trail Tours, Carrignafoy, ☏ +353 21 481-5211, +353 87 276-7218 (mobile). Michael Martin leads 75-90 minute tours explaining the Titanic story in Cobh, €9, price includes pint of beer at pub at end of tour, daily at 11:00, June to August also at 15:00, meet at Commodore Hotel, private tours available. There is also a Ghost Trail during Summer. 
  • Titanic Experience, White Star Line Building, 20 Casement Square, ☏ +353 21 481-4412. 09:00-18:00 daily, last tour 5PM. Retrace the footsteps of the last 123 passengers who boarded Titanic at Queenstown via cinematic shows, scene sets, holographic imagery and touch screen technology. €9.50, senior/student €7.50. 
  • Old Church Cemetery (pass the cathedral (follow one-way system if driving), pass Top of the Hill, take first left after Supervalu shopping centre). Old cemetery 1 km north of town. Contains mass graves of Lusitania victims and many other interesting graves including that of the famous boxer, singer and crooner Jack Doyle. 
  • SailCork, East Ferry Marina, Cobh, ☏ +353 21 481-1237. Have fun learning dinghy or cruiser sailing , powerboating or navigation. Enjoyable courses for juniors and adults under the guidance of Eddie English and his crew. 

Buy

  • Parking Discs can be bought in the Tourist Information office or local shops for €.5/hour, maximum of 2 hour parking anywhere in Cobh. The disc zone covers the town centre and some surrounding streets and is marked with signs by the footpath.

Eat

All of the hotels serve food. Good food can also be enjoyed at restaurants.

The Indian Kitchen, serving Indian food is on East Beach near the yellow clock tower. There is a Chinese restaurant, the Hong Kong on West Beach opposite the pier. Takeaways include the Good Food Company and the Ocean Palace Chinese restaurant on Midleton Street at the back of town. The Bella Vista Hotel also operates a Chinese restaurant and takeaway.

  • Gills Traditional Fish and Chips, 7 Midleton Street, ☏ +353 21 481-2637, . Traditional style takeaway Fish and Chips, Chicken and Burgers. 
  • Jacobs Ladder Restaurant and Bar, Yacht Club Quay, Lower Road (at Waters Edge Hotel), ☏ +353 21 481-5566. 12:00-21:00. Bistro, seafood, local produce, outdoor terrace with harbour view, beside Cobh Heritage Centre and Train Station on the lower road by the waterfront. €10-30. 
  • Mimmos Restaurant, 4 Casement Square, ☏ +353 21 481-1343. Italian and traditional restaurant, takeaway, fish and chips. 
  • The Quays Bar & Restaurant, 17 Westbourne Place, ☏ +353 21 481-3539. Full bar, patio, TV, wi-fi, on waterfront dock near rail station. Under €10/person (lunch). 
  • Trade Winds Restaurant, 16 Casement Square, ☏ +353 21 481-3754. Mon-Sat 18:00-22:30, winter closed Monday. Bar, restaurant and patio. Catering service. 

Drink

There are many excellent bars in Cobh to enjoy a drink, whether you prefer a quiet atmosphere or music.

Most of the bars (pubs) are located around Casement Square in the town centre, including:

  • The Mauretania, 14 Casement Square. Corner-sited end-of-terrace curved four-bay four-storey house, built c. 1855 and on historic register, now a small, cosy public house named after the famous ocean liner. 
  • Lusitania Bar, 13 Casement Square, ☏ +353 21 481-4288. Cosy but a bit more spacious, has a maritime feel with lots of photos of old ships and ships paraphernalia. 
  • Ryans Bar, Casement Square, ☏ +353 21 481-1539. 
  • Tarrant's Bar. Founded 2005, live music. 
  • Kelly’s Bar, 19 Casement Square, ☏ +353 86 601-5954. Small, busy bar at Westbourne Place near the Commodore Hotel. Mezzanine, large-screen TVs, popular with sports fans. 

Heading back towards the eastern end of town are three pubs:

  • Connie Doolans Pub, 26 Westbeach, ☏ +353 21 481-4001. Olde-world maritime theme, overlooking the sea. 
  • The Well House, East Beach/Lynch's Quay. Restaurant and bar; for sale as of 2013. 
  • Anchor Bar, 14 East Hill, ☏ +353 21 481-4674. Last pub in town, atop a steep hill with a fine view of Cork harbour. 

The centre of town gets quite busy (and sometimes noisy) on Friday and Saturday nights so if you want a quiet drink and a chat it's better to head to the back of the town, up that mountainous hill, the area is known locally as the "Top of the Hill". Here you will find the following bars:

  • The Quarry Cock, 2 John O'Connell St (About 200m behind the Cathedral), ☏ +353 21 481-1754. Nice "local" bar with lovely pine timberwork. 
  • Jack Doyles, 18 Midleton Street (Just around the corner from the Quarry Cock), ☏ +353 21 481-3886. Popular with sports fans, especially fans of Celtic Football Club which has its local supporters club here. Named after the famous boxer, crooner and Hollywood actor Jack Doyle who was from Cobh. 
  • Gilmores Bar, 4 Midleton Street, ☏ +353 21 481-1965. Old style pub with modern clientele. This was previously in the hands of the Mansworth family for over 100 years. 
  • The Roaring Donkey, Orilia Terrace, Tiknock, ☏ +353 21 481-1739. 17:00-23:30 daily. A lovely old pub, established 1880 at the very top of the hill. Front bar is quite small but widens out at the back. Live traditional music on a regular basis. 
  • The Wolfe Tone Bar, Wolfe Tone Street / Roches Row (A bit off the Top of the Hill to the east of the cathedral). Settled clientele and not many visitors as its hidden away at the back of the town. Cosy bar with a real coal fire and a friendly atmosphere. 

Further afield than these bars you will probably take a taxi. The other bars on the Great Island are:

  • The Village Inn, Newtownmountkennedy, Wicklow (Take the first left after the water ferry on the road into town.), ☏ +353 12819262, . Pub and former coaching inn, 300 years old. À la carte restaurant, Sunday lunch, bar popular with all age groups. Comfortably furnished, open fire and easy laid back atmosphere. Live music, darts, space for events and parties. 
  • Peg's Pub, Carrigaloe, ☏ +353 21 481-3965, . Cosy old style country pub on the main road to Cobh, traditional music Saturday nights, impromptu sessions on Sundays and whenever the local musicians decided to have a get together. 
  • The High Chapperal, Ballymore Village (3.5 km from the town centre), ☏ +353 21 481-1629. Family-oriented country pub, music at weekends, popular with card players. 

Sleep

  • Ard na Laoi, Westbourne Place, ☏ +353 21 481-2742. A friendly place with 5 rooms. single €45-50, double €68, triple €99. 
  • Bellavista Hotel, Spy Hill, Bishop's Road, ☏ +353 21 481-2450. 18 bedrooms, 4 suites, nice harbour views. 
  • Commodore Hotel, Westbourne Place, ☏ +353 21 481-1277, fax: +353 21 481-1672. A grand 150 year old Victorian landmark which housed Lusitania refugees temporarily. single €70-92, double €95-142, triple €150-210. 
  • Waters Edge Hotel, Yacht Club Quay, ☏ +353 21 481-5566. 18 bright rooms and a harbourside restaurant. single €75-100, double €95-142, triple €120-160. 
  • Sheraton Fotaisland Hotel & Spa, Fota Estate, Fota island (Take N25 (E30) to Cobh Interchange (approximately 15 kilometers East of Cork City). Follow R624 toward Cobh for approximately 3 kilometers to the hotel), ☏ +353 21 467-3000. 131 bedrooms, Championship golf course. 

Cope

The town is served by several doctors' surgeries and a number of dentists. For out-of-hours doctors service contact South Doc, Telephone: 1850 335 999. Dr. Cahill's dental surgery provides out of hours dental surgery in case of emergency. Call 087 27 64 755 for out of hours service only.

There are several pharmacies and chemist shops in the town and they operate a 24 hour service by rotation.

Police: The Garda (Police Station) is located about 300 metres west of the railway station on the Lower Road and is open 24 hours a day. The phone number of Cobh Garda Station is 490 8530 or for emergencies dial 999 or 112.

Nearby

Carrigtwohill

  • Barryscourt Castle, Carrigtwohill, ☏ +353 21 488 2218. late May-Sept, 10:00-18:00 daily. Restored 16th century medieval castle with tower house and extensions from several different periods; the Barry family owned much of the land around the area from the 12th to the 17th centuries. Orchard, herb garden, museum and restaurant. Free, tour takes 1 hour.. Barryscourt Castle on Wikipedia 
  • Fota Wildlife Park, Fota Island, ☏ +353 21 481-2678, fax: +353 21 481-2744. A 75-acre (30 ha) park near Carrigtwohill on the main Cork-Cobh railway line, home to nearly 30 mammal and 50 bird species including giraffes and monkeys in an open setting. Fota House and Arboretum with many rare trees and plants. €14.30, students/seniors €9.20. Fota Wildlife Park on Wikipedia 

Go next

  • 50 km to the west is the charming and equally maritime-historic village of Kinsale.
  • The world-famous Blarney Castle is also in County Cork, 6 km north-west of Cork city.
This city travel guide to Cobh is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.

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