|
Cobh,
a mere fishing village 250 years ago, owes its growth to the
Napoleonic War and transatlantic shipping. Cork Harbour was
strategically very important in naval terms and Cobh, then
known as Queenstown, quickly developed to meet the needs of
naval personnel.
The first
steamer to cross the Atlantic, the Sirius, left from Cork
Harbour. As the age of sail passed, the harbour and town played
host to transatlantic liners and its inhabitants became accustomed
to stars of screen and stage and dignitaries of church and
state passing through it.
The Lusitania
was making its approach to Cork Harbour when it was torpedoed
in 1915 and Cork Harbour was also the last port of call of
the ill-fated Titanic.
|
