Ringmeen in Cobh in County Cork, Munster, Ireland — Irish South-West ((Éire) North Atlantic Ocean)
An Cóbh
⎯⎯⎯
Cobh
| — | Past Tracks | — |
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, May 15, 2026
1. An Cóbh / Cobh Marker
Rí an Óipiam agus an tAspal
In 1847, ghabh an USS Jamestown cuan i gCorcaigh agus 800 tonna bia agus éadaí ar bord aici. Daoine ar fud Mheiriceá a thug na soláthairtí sin d’Éirinn agus iad ag iarraidh cur i gcoinne an ocrais, an ghalair agus an bháis a bhí ag bualadh na tíre go dona le linn an Ghorta Mhóir. Ba é Black Ben Forbes captaen na loinge cogaidh sin. Ceannai as Bostún ab ea é a rinne a shaibhreas mar thrádaláí óipiam. Chuaigh Forbes ar chamchuairt naoi lá ar fud Chontae Chorcaí. Bhí duine nach mbeifea ag súil leis mar threorái aige, an tAthair Tiobóid Maitiú, nó ‘Aspal na Measarthachta’. Bráthair Caipísinéach ar leith ab ea éisean ar éirigh leis, ar chuma éigin, a thabhairt ar leath de na daoine fásta in Éirinn éirí as an ól faoin mbliain 1845. Fuair an tAthair Maitiú bás ag 18 West Beach ar imeall an uisce sa Chóbh in 1856.
The Opium King and the Apostle
In 1847, the USS Jamestown pulled into Cork Harbour with 800 tons of food and clothing. The supplies had been donated by citizens across the USA eager to help relieve the hunger, disease and death that was devastating
this page online
[Gaeilge:]
Cad is Ainm Ann?
Tugadh “Queenstown” ar an gCóbh tar éis don Bhanríona Victoria a theacht i dtír ón luamh Ríoga ar feadh scaithimh in 1849. Bin ainm an bhaile uaidh sin go dtí 1920 nuair a ghlac Comhairle Uirbeach an Chóibh mionn dúseachta do Dháil Éireann agus do Phoblacht na hÉireann nó gur tugadh “An Cobh” air an athuaír. Bhí chabhlach fairsing scriostóirí Meiriceánacha loinnaithe anseo sna 18 mí dheireanacha den Chéad Chogaidh Domhanda. Bá mhór an chabhair iad chun dul i ngleic le bagaírt U-bháid na Gearmáine agus chun bíoga trádála agus longa trúpaí a thionlacan go sábháilte idir Éire, Sasana agus an Fronta Thiar.
What’s in a Name?
[Gaeilge:]
Cloig an Easpaig
Sa bhliain 1914, d’ordaigh an tEaspag Browne, Easpag Chluana, clogra 16 chlog don ardeaglais nuathógtha sa Chóbh. Bhí sé ar cheann de na tionscadail tógála ba mhó i stair na hEaglaise Caitlicí Rómhánaí in Éirinn. Chuir Taylor’s of Loughborough, an teilgcheárta Shasanach, ina luí ar an easpag 42 clog a ordú i ngeall ar fhoirfeacht an Chóibh mar amfaitéatar. Cé go raibh an clogra réidh faoin mbliain 1915, ní leomhfadh aon long thrádála iad a iompar trasna Mhuir Éireann mar gheall ar an mbagairt ó U-bháid na Gearmáine. Ach tháinig siad go dtí an Cóbh nuair a chuir Aimiréal Sir Lewis Bayly, an t-ardoifigeach i gCuan Chorcaí, roinnt long chogaidh ar fáil chun iad a thionlacain isteach sa chuan go sábháilte. Cuireadh 7 gclog eile leis an gclogra ó shin.
[English:]
The Bishop’s Bells
In 1914, Bishop Browne of Cloyne ordered a carillon of 16 bells for the newly completed Cobh Cathedral, the greatest construction project in the history of the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland. Taylor’s of Loughborough, the English foundry, then persuaded the bishop to bump up the order to 42 bells because Cobh is such a perfect amphitheatre. Although the carillon was ready by 1915, the threat from German U-boats meant that no merchant ships were willing to transport it across the Irish Sea. The day was saved when Admiral Sir Lewis Bayly, the senior officer in Cork Harbour, provided a naval escort to bring the bells safely to Cobh. A further seven bells have since been added to the carillon.
[Gaeilge:]
An Bhean Mhór Inste Scéil
Sa bhliain 1912, chuaigh an RMS Titanic ar ancaire 7 muirmhíle amach ón gCóbh agus phioc sí suas 123 paisinéir nua. Trí lá go leith ina dhiaidh sin, bhuail an só-línéar in aghaidh cnoc oighir agus chuaigh go tóin poill. Cailleadh 1,517 duine. Bhí an t-óstach Éireannach-Airgintíneach Violet Jessop ar an lucht inste scéil. Seacht mí roimhe sin, bhí sí ar bord an Olympic, línéar farraige móire eile, nuair a bhuail sí faoi long chogaidh. Cad é do bharúil ach nach raibh Jessop ar bord an Britannica freisin nuair a bhuail sí mianach agus chuaigh go tóin poill in 1916. An uair sin, thug Jessop sciuird chuig a cábán agus fuair sí a scuab fiacla sular léim sí san uisce. Mhínigh sí ina dhiaidh sin gurbh é sin an rud ba mhó a chuir aiféala uirthi a fhágáil ina diaidh ar an Titanic.
[English:]
An Experienced Survivor
In 1912, the RMS Titanic dropped anchor 7 nautical miles out from Cobh and collected 123 new passengers. Three and a half days later, the luxury liner struck an iceberg and sank with the loss of 1,517 lives. Among the survivors was the Irish Argentine stewardess Violet Jessop. Seven months earlier, she had been on the Olympic, another ocean liner, when it collided with a warship. Amazingly, she was also on the Britannica when it hit a mine and sank in 1916. On that occasion, she zipped to her cabin and grabbed her toothbrush before plunging into the water. She later explained that the toothbrush was the item she most regretted leaving on the Titanic.
[Gaeilge:]
Curadh an Domhain
In 1969, phós bean a rugadh sa Chóbh, Mary Shealy, oifigeach cabhlaigh darbh ainm John O’Sullivan. Ba as Baile Átha Cliath dósan agus ba chúl báire le Cobh Ramblers é. Sonia, an iníon ba shine acu, ní dheanfadh aon ní gan an eiliméadar idir Scoil Náisiúnta Naomh Muire agus a teach féin a chur di ar cosa in airde, go háirithe ag am lóin nuair teach, mbeadh mála scoile le hiompar aici. Thaitin sé chomh mór sin léi go ndeachaigh sí le Cumann Lúthchleasaíochta an Bhaile Mhóir/an Chóibh agus chrom sé traenáil. Ainm an lúthchleasaí mná is fearr i stair na hÉireann atá ar Sonia O’Sullivan anois. Bhuaigh sí an Bonn Airgid sa rás 5000 méadar ag Cluichí Oilimpeacha Sydney in 2000, ba Churadh an Domhain í 3 huaire agus bhí an churiarracht dhomhanda aici sa rás 2000 méadar. Bhí cáil uirthi as an ruathar rábach a thugadh sí roimpi ar an stráice baile. Ba sheanchleás aici sin ón am a scaoileadh sí faoin scoil ag an nóiméad deireanach agus í faoi dheifir mhór.
World Champion
In 1969, Cobh-born Mary Shealy married John O’Sullivan, a Dublin-born naval officer who played goalkeeper for the Cobh Ramblers. Sonia, their eldest child, loved running to and from St Mary’s National School, 5 kilometres away, especially at lunchtime with no schoolbag to carry. She enjoyed it so much that she joined the Ballymore-Cobh Athletics Club and began to train. Sonia O’Sullivan went on to be the greatest female athlete in Irish history, winning Silver in the 5000 metres at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and becoming a three-time World Champion and the world record holder over 2000 metres. She was renowned for her dramatic kick in the final stretch, a trick she learned when she left home for school at the last minute and needed to hurry up.
[Gaeilge:]
Go Raibh Gáire Do Chairde Mar Cheol Leat
Agus 107 scannán curtha amach acu, bhí Stan Laurel agus Oliver Hardy ar na leathbhádóirí grinn ba mhó cáil i stair na bpictiúrlann. In 1953 chuir ardphleidhcí seo an stáitse chun seoil ó Nua Eabhrach d’fhonn camchuairt dheireanach na hÉireann agus na Ríochta Aontaithe a thabhairt. Cad é mar ionadh a bhí orthu, ar shroicheadh an lóibh dóibh, nuair a chonaic siad na sluaite bailithe ar feadh na cé rompu. Agus cad é mar thógáil croí a fuair siad ar chlos chlogra ardeaglais Naomh Cholmáin dóibh, mar ba é a n-amhrán féin, an Cuckoo Waltz, a bhí á bhualadh amach go hard na spéire. Sos ná stad ní dhearna siad nó gur tháinig siad chomh fada le fear buailte an chlogra féin, Staf Gebruers. Croí mór isteach a fuair seisean ó Hardy, fear a raibh toirt nár bheag ann. Is é a déarfadh an dís ina dhiaidh sin nár ghliondar croí acu go bualadh na gclog an lá úd sa Chóbh.
Comedy Gold
Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy were one of the best known comedy duos in cinematic history, starring in 107 films together. In 1953, the slapstick stars sailed from New York to begin one last tour of Ireland and the UK. Cobh was their first port of call. Already stunned by the thousands who lined the pier to greet them, the two were greatly moved to hear the Laurel and Hardy theme — the “Cuckoo Waltz” — booming out from the gorgeous carillon bells of St Colman’s Cathedral. On landing, they visited a deaf woman, the carilloneur, and the 22-stone Hardy gave him a bear-hug.
Illustrated by Derry Dillon ©
Turtle Bunbury Histories
turtlebunbury.com
Erected by Iarnród
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, May 15, 2026
2. An Cóbh / Cobh Marker
The marker is located on the platform of Cobh rail terminal.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Notable Places • Waterways & Vessels • Women.
Location. 51° 50.93′ N, 8° 18.035′ W. Marker is in Cobh, Munster, in County Cork. It is in Ringmeen. It can be reached from the intersection of Lower Road and Westbourne Place, on the left when traveling west. The marker is located inside Cobh rail terminal. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4 Lower Road, Cobh, Munster P24 V577, Ireland. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is on the Atlantic Ocean, in the North Atlantic Region, on the Atlantic Arc, in Europe, on the Island of Ireland, on the Celtic Fringe, in the European Union, in Atlantic Europe, on one of the British Isles, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 150 Bliain - An Cóbh / Cobh 150 (here, next to this marker); The History of the Cobh – Cork Railway Line (here, next to this marker); The Cobh Line / Cobh – Cork Railway – A Vital Transport Lifeline (a few steps from this marker); Rising of 1798 / Éirí Amach 1798 (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); The Deepwater Quay (about 120 meters away); Annie Moore / Áine Ní Mhórdha (about 120 meters away); Annie Moore Statue (about 120 meters away); Dealbh Annie Moore / Annie Moore Statue (about 120 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cobh.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 13, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 30 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 13, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
