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Cork city is Ireland's second largest city and has always been an important seaport. The Gaelic name for Cork is Corcaigh, which means ‘marsh’. The city began on an island in the swampy estuary of the River Lee and gradually climbed up the steep banks on either side of the river.
Today the river flows through Cork city in two main channels, so that you find yourself constantly crossing bridges. Some of the main streets are built over channels where ships nuzzled their anchor-chains a century ago. In some areas of the city, you will see large gateways at street level, under steps leading to a higher main door. These were once boathouses, in the days when merchants arrived at their warehouses by water.
As the hilly streets go up and down, so do the voices of the citizens. They have a characteristic sing-song cadence, beloved of national comedians, and Corkonians are regarded as the most talkative of all the Irish.
St. Finbarr is the founder and patron saint. He founded a monastery in the seventh century where St. Finn Barre's Cathedral now stands. From this beginning, Cork grew into an extensive and wealthy establishment, which attracted the attention of the Viking sea-pirates. They raided and burned the infant city, but returned in later years to settle and trade. The Anglo-Norman invasion in 1172 resulted in both the Danish lords and local McCarthy chiefs having to submit to Henry II. Despite (or because of) this Cork has always had a reputation for independence and stubborn resistance, and the county is known as ‘The Rebel County’.
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