Day 2 - Cork & Youghal
This morning, trace the path of the many people who left Ireland during the late 1800s & early 1900s. From Cobh, hundreds of thousands of mostly hungry and penniless Irish men and women left to build a new life, especially in the Famine years of 1844-48. Many thrived and prospered, but many died on the journey in the terrible travelling conditions of the time. It is a pleasant town; its streets climb the steep slope of a hill, the top of which is crowned by the very fine St. Coleman's Cathedral , which has a carillon of 47 bells. Cobh is situated on Great Island, one of the three large islands in Cork harbour which are all now joined by roads and bridges - Little Island and Fota are the others. The harbour is one of the largest and safest anywhere, being capable of taking the largest vessels afloat. The great Transatlantic liners used to come in up to the 1950s. On the quayside there is a memorial to the victims of the Lusitania, many of whom are buried in the old church cemetery. The ship was sunk off Kinsale in 1915 by a German submarine, an action which was responsible for bringing the United States of America into the Great War; the survivors were brought back here. Another unhappy association is with the Titanic, 'the safest liner in the world'. Queenstown was her last port of call on her fateful maiden voyage. The Queenstown Heritage Centre tells the poignant tales of all those who left Ireland, many never to return again.
In the afternoon, travel north to Youghal. Situated on the coastline of East County Cork, there is no town in Ireland that gives you Ireland's past and present more vividly than Youghal (pronounced Yawl or as in "Y'all come to see us now!") For old time charm and modern leisure, Youghal, meaning yew wood, is situated on the main road from Rosslare and Waterford to Cork and lies at the mouth of the beautiful River Blackwater. Youghal’s most famous citizen, who was also once Mayor of Youghal, is Sir Walter Raleigh. His home, “Myrtle Grove”, was built in 1462 is still lived in today. It is also believed that Sir Raleigh planted the first potatoes here. The historic walled seaport town of Youghal adjoins a glorious 5km beach of Atlantic Surf. The coastline from Ballycotton to Youghal has been described as an ornithologist’s paradise. It has been designated by the Irish Tourism Board as an Irish Heritage Port, due to the many historic buildings and monuments within its ancient town walls. From Viking times through Norman times and into the days of Cromwell, Youghal was used as a very conveniently located base from which to "visit" the Southern area of Ireland. The town dates from early Christian times and mirrors all facets of Irish History, blending the heritage of the centuries with a modern seaside holiday resort, and so is steeped in history. It is one of the few towns in Ireland where its 13th century medieval walls still survive. The distinctive Clock Gate spanning the main street was actually a gaol until the middle of the 19th century.
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