We spent our last day in Ireland in Cobh and its wonderful
surroundings. On our way to the city we have been accompanied by a huge group of dolphins.
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| Steffie Wiegand |
Cobh is after Sydney the second largest natural harbour of the
world. The harbour was first named Cove, what means bay.
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| FriedaPhoto |
From 1850 to 1920 it
was renamed in Queenstown, after Queen Victoria had visit the city. After the
foundation of the republic of Ireland it was renamed again into Cobh, that’s
nothing else than a Gaelicisation of the English name Cove. Today Cobh is well-known
as the harbour of Cork.
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| Steffi Wiegand |
Cobh gained notoriety between 1848 and 1950 when 2.5 million
persons of only 6million Irish people left Ireland to emigrate to North America
as there was a huge famine in Ireland, especially on the countryside. Some
monuments in Cobh are built to memories this terrible time.
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| Steffi Wiegand |
At the 11th of April 1912 Cobh, at this time
still called Queenstown, has been the last port of call for the RMS Titanic.
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| Steffi Wiegand |
An 8 hour excursion drove passengers through the wonderful surroundings
of the county of Munster. The first stop has been in Blarney Castle, a medieval
stronghold near Cork at the river Martin. Here passengers had the time to enjoy
the castle and the nice garden around it.
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| FriedaPhoto |
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| FriedaPhoto |
After a nice homemade Irish lunch in Blarney city passengers
left for Kinsale, a little picturesque harbour city nearby Cork. In former
times Kinsale has been an important harbour town. Today the economy of the city
is based on tourism.
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| FriedaPhoto |
Another excursion went to Cork city and a whiskey distillery.
What would be Ireland without its famous and tasty whiskey?
The city of Cobh offered us a special musical treat before
we left. The tenor Ryan Morgan gave us an impressive performance in the Observation
Lounge and the Cobh Brass and Reed Band was playing at the pier when we had to leave
Cobh and Ireland. That has been a magnificent farewell.
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| Steffi Wiegand |
The day ended with MV FRAM’s famous crew show.
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| Steffi Wiegand |
