Cork. Ireland.

Today Cork was one of the stops on our tour of Western Ireland.

Cork is one of the oldest cities in Ireland. This medieval city extends from South Gate Bridge to North Gate Bridge and is divided by a long Main Street- the North and South Street. The medieval Main Street would have been narrower, messier and smellier, than its current form, but still followed the same route. Many of the lanes and alleyways that led off the Main Street still exist today. The city centre is an island positioned between two channels of the River Lee, which meet downstream at the eastern end of the city centre.

It was and still is, plainly a merchant’s city…

As a librarian I had to pay a passing glance at the city library. Loved the window display:

https://www.newmarketholidays.co.uk/holidays/europe/irelands-beautiful-south-west