Cork (county, Republic of Ireland), largest
and southernmost county of the Republic of Ireland, in Munster
Province. The Atlantic coastline of the county is broken by numerous
bays and inlets, including Cork Harbour, on which is situated the
county borough, Cork; Kinsale harbour; and Bantry, Clonakilty,
Dunmanus, and Long Island bays. The Blackwater, Lee, and Bandon are
the chief rivers of Cork. The western part of the county is
mountainous, with much boggy land; the eastern and southern parts are
fertile. Agricultural products include potatoes, turnips, and oats;
other industries in Cork include dairying, salmon and mackerel
fishing, and mining of coal, copper, manganese, barites, sandstone,
and limestone. Area, 7459 sq km (2880 sq mi); population (1991)
410,369.
Cork (city, Republic of Ireland), city in
southern Republic of Ireland, county borough and seat of the county of
Cork, located on the Lee River, at the head of Cork Harbour inlet. It
is the second largest city in Ireland after Dublin. Cork is an
important distribution center for the surrounding agricultural region,
and exports cattle and other products. Industrial establishments
include breweries, distilleries, and factories for the production of
chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Among the notable buildings of the city
are the 19th-century Roman Catholic and Anglican cathedrals, Saint
Mary's (1808) and Saint Finbar (1880), respectively; and Queen's
College, Cork (1849), which has been part of the National University
of Ireland since 1908. The city dates from a religious settlement
founded in AD 622 by Saint Finbar. During the 11th century the Danes
made it a trading station encircled with walls. In 1172 Cork was taken
by King Henry II of England, and in 1649, during the English civil
war, it fell to Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England during the
Commonwealth. The town changed hands once more in 1689 when it was
captured by John Churchill, 1st duke of Marlborough, for the English
crown. In 1920 parts of Cork were burned down by British forces after
Irish nationalists raided a British military convoy. Population (1991)
127,024.
From Encarta 98 Encyclopedia
The major towns in County Cork are: Bantry, Bandon,
Clonakilty, Cobh, Cork City, Fermoy, Kanturk, Kinsale, Mallow,
Mitchelstown, Skibbereen Youghal.
