New History of Cork

A New History of Cork tells the story of the ‘beautiful city’ by the River Lee, from its foundation by St Finbarr through the Middle Ages and Victorian times, up to the years of the Celtic Tiger. It shows how Cork grew in stages from humble origins beside a great marsh to become the vibrant, confident and prosperous little metropolis that we know and love today.

Despite the famed attachment of Corkonians to their beautiful city, Cork’s history is not generally well known. Its past is frozen in the popular mind in black and white photographs from the end of the nineteenth century. Dynamic growth over the years means that the physical traces of the older Cork have either been swept away, or lie buried under the buildings and streets that we see today. This book offers vivid impressions of the long story of Cork, which try to reflect the richness and depth of its history over fourteen centuries. It tells a fascinating story that is sure to interest native Corkonians and visitors alike.