I was too sore from yesterday’s stomping around Blarney Gardens, contorting to kiss the Stone and full from breakfast for 4 to do much today so I went to walk it off in Cork, Ireland’s second largest city. Belfast, Dublin, Derry/Londonderry, Limerick, Galway, Cork, I’ve now hit the 6 largest ones.
A couple of churches, a couple of galleries, a fort, a Uni and a stroll around a busy shopping district gave me a taste of this city. I liked it and will be back.
This morning whilst awaiting the bus to Cork, which comes in half hour intervals, I realized I could see Blarney Castle from the Muskerry Arms.
After the short bus ride to Cork and a visit to the Visitor’s Center I headed for Elizabeth Castle. Along the way I spotted a very dramatic church spire so I decided it required checking out.
St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral belongs to the Church of Ireland and was completed in 1879. Since there was a service going on I could not take photos so the exterior ones will have to suffice.
Due to it’s location in a tightly developed neighborhood, I could not find a good exterior location to take pictures of Elizabeth Fort. Built in 1601, a couple years after Elizabeth I ascended to the throne.
The views of Cork from the fort’s walls were pretty good.
The English Market has been selling food at this location since 1788 and made me wish I was staying in a place with a kitchen
The River Lees runs through the city.
I always get a kick out of these statuesque street mimes. The hold a frozen posture until a few people have stopped to stare, then they always move suddenly which usually results in a scream form one of the passer-byers.
I had read that the Lewis Glucksman Art Gallery was a must see building. Located on the University of Cork campus is is stunning. The exhibits inside were, meh. A series of large photographs, mostly of places in Europe that have been ravished by war in the later 20th century were obviously an attempt to make one think. What they made me think is that I should put together an exhibit of my pictures focusing on a more upbeat theme as I have photos as very bit as good as what were on display.
The Crawford Gallery, on the other hand, was small but filled with good sculptures, plaster casts and paintings.
The plaque on Crawford’s statue is something anyone cold be proud of.
Sean Keating’s “Men of the South” shows a group of men who fought for Independence in 1919 -1921
This is Keating’s “Economic Pressure” depicting the heartbreak of emigration from the Aran Islands.
Daniel MacDonald’s “Eviction Scene”
James Brenan Painted “News from America” in 1875 and was an attempt to show the value of an education as the young girl reads a letter her elders can not.
And “Time Flies” is by William Gerald Barry and shows an elderly woman in the setting sun watching young children
And you see this advert frequently.
I had felt too tired to tackle a trip to Kinsale so I thought a few hours in the city would be easier yet I still logged a bunch of miles.
5.85 miles
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