February 5, 2020 – Cork Spring

Cork City, West End

Being from the US, the cities that Cork most reminds me of geographically are New York and Pittsburgh. All have rivers running through their hearts, which bracket or surround a densely built island or peninsula. Pittsburgh and Cork’s rivers are eminently walkable, with footbridges that are at most a few hundred yards apart. Manhattan’s East River can be crossed on foot, but the bridges are higher, farther apart, and traverse a greater span.

Today, we walked over to Cork’s west end, where the River Lee splits into its north and south branches on its way around the island that is the city center.

We passed through University College of Cork, and i am surely not the first person to ask which is it, then, a university or a college?

*Memorial to volunteers who were executed at the site of the university by the British during the war for independence in 1921.*

The walking trail continues past the university to the branching of the river.

The Atkins Hall Apartments, formerly an insane asylum, now luxury apartments. Rumor has it that some of the apartments are haunted. We considered staying there, but decided it was too far (about 40 minutes) to be walking into town each day.

*In the foreground, the Old Cork Waterworks. Background, St. Kevin’s Asylum, also converted to apartments but, if my eyes don’t deceive me, no longer in use as the result of a fire.*

These buildings made me chuckle.

Street art in Cork City

First in a series.

On our first visit here, I was impressed by the extent of street art around town. We’ve only been here five days, so I haven’t yet had the chance to learn any of the history of the People’s Republic of Cork, but my guess is that it’s probably 2 or 3 core members, with a surrounding, ever-changing cast of supporters. That is, assuming they’re still active. Some of their artwork does seem relatively recent.

Not everything I’ve been able to photograph is theirs, but they are rather ubiquitous.

And they clearly have access to some large printing equipment.

My general impression is that the politics are more implied than baldly stated, but that’s not always the case.

Then, of course, there’s always Phil Lynott. His image was everywhere last time we were in Ireland. I imagine before we leave, i’ll have a whole gallery of Lynott mural photos.