County Cork
County Cork
Contae Chorcaí | ||
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Vehicle index mark code C | | |
Website | www | |
County Cork (Irish: Contae Chorcaí) is the largest and the southernmost county of Ireland, named after the city of Cork, the state's second-largest city. It is in the province of Munster and the Southern Region. Its largest market towns are Mallow, Macroom, Midleton, and Skibbereen. As of 2022[update], the county had a population of 584,156, making it the third-most populous county in Ireland. Cork County Council is the local authority for the county, while Cork City Council governs the city of Cork and its environs. Notable Corkonians include Michael Collins, Jack Lynch, Roy Keane, Sonia O'Sullivan, Cillian Murphy, and Graham Norton.
Cork borders four other counties:
The county is known as the "rebel county", a name given to it by King Henry VII of England for its support, in a futile attempt at a rebellion in 1491, of Perkin Warbeck, who claimed to be Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York.
Political and governance
The local government areas of county Cork and the city of Cork are administered by the
For elections to
Geography
Cork is the largest county in Ireland by land area, and the largest of Munster's six counties by population and area. At the latest census in 2022, the population of the entire county stood at 584,156. Cork is the second-most populous county in the State, and the third-most populous county on the island of Ireland.
County Cork is located in the province of Munster, bordering Kerry to the west, Limerick to the north, Tipperary to the north-east and Waterford to the east. The county shares separate mountainous borders with Tipperary and Kerry. The terrain on the Kerry border was formed between 360 and 374 million years ago, as part of the rising of the MacGillycuddy's Reeks and Caha Mountains mountains ranges. This occurred during the Devonian period when Ireland was part of a larger continental landmass and located south of the equator.[10][11] The region's topography of peaks and valleys are characterised by steep ridges formed during the Hercynian period of folding and mountain formation some 300 million years ago.[10]
Twenty-four historic baronies are in the county—the most of any county in Ireland. While baronies continue to be officially defined units, they are no longer used for many administrative purposes. Their official status is illustrated by Placenames Orders made since 2003, where official Irish names of baronies are listed.[citation needed] The county has 253 civil parishes.[12] Townlands are the smallest officially defined geographical divisions in Ireland, with about 5447 townlands in the county.
Mountains and upland habitats
The county's mountains rose during a period mountain formation some 374 to 360 million years ago and include the Slieve Miskish and Caha Mountains on the Beara Peninsula, the Ballyhoura Mountains on the border with Limerick and the Shehy Mountains which contain Knockboy (706 m), the highest point in Cork. The Shehy Mountains are on the border with Kerry and may be accessed from the area known as Priests Leap, near the village of Coomhola. The upland areas of the Ballyhoura, Boggeragh, Derrynasaggart, and Mullaghareirk Mountain ranges add to the range of habitats found in the county. Important habitats in the uplands include blanket bog, heath, glacial lakes, and upland grasslands. Cork has the 13th-highest county peak in Ireland.
Rivers and lakes
Three rivers, the
Land and forestry
Like many parts of Munster, Cork has fertile agricultural land and many bog and peatlands. Cork has around 74,000 hectares of peatlands, which amount to 9.8% of the county's total land area. Cork has the highest share of the national forest area, with around 90,020 ha (222,400 acres) of forest and woodland area, constituting 11.6% of the national total and approximately 12% of Cork's land area.[13] It is home to one of the last remaining pieces of native woodland in Ireland and Europe.[14]
Wildlife
The hooded crow, Corvus cornix is a common bird, particularly in areas nearer the coast. Due to this bird's ability to (rarely) prey upon small lambs, the gun clubs of County Cork have killed many of these birds in modern times.[15] A collection of the marine algae was housed in the herbarium of the botany department of the University College Cork.[16] Parts of the South West coastline are hotspots for sightings of rare birds, with Cape Clear being a prime location for bird watching.[17][18] The island is also home to one of only a few gannet colonies around Ireland and the UK. The coastline of Cork is sometimes associated with whale watching, with some sightings of fin whales, basking sharks, pilot whales, minke whales, and other species.[19][20][21]
Coastline
Cork has a mountainous and flat landscape with many beaches and sea cliffs along its coast. The southwest of Ireland is known for its peninsulas and some in Cork include the Beara Peninsula, Sheep's Head, Mizen Head, and Brow Head. Brow Head is the most southerly point of mainland Ireland. There are many islands off the coast of the county, in particular, off West Cork. Carbery's Hundred Isles are the islands around Long Island Bay and Roaringwater Bay.
Cork Harbour (Celtic Sea) | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sea Temperature | 11.4 °C (52.5 °F) | 10.7 °C (51.3 °F) | 10.5 °C (50.9 °F) | 12.2 °C (54.0 °F) | 12.9 °C (55.2 °F) | 15.8 °C (60.4 °F) | 18.1 °C (64.6 °F) | 17.9 °C (64.2 °F) | 17.4 °C (63.3 °F) | 16.0 °C (60.8 °F) | 13.7 °C (56.7 °F) | 12.3 °C (54.1 °F) | 14.1 °C (57.4 °F) |
Bantry (Atlantic Ocean) | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Sea Temperature | 11.6 °C (52.9 °F) | 11.2 °C (52.2 °F) | 11.0 °C (51.8 °F) | 12.1 °C (53.8 °F) | 12.8 °C (55.0 °F) | 15.6 °C (60.1 °F) | 17.6 °C (63.7 °F) | 17.5 °C (63.5 °F) | 17.3 °C (63.1 °F) | 15.8 °C (60.4 °F) | 13.8 °C (56.8 °F) | 12.2 °C (54.0 °F) | 14.0 °C (57.2 °F) |
History
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1600 | 21,889 | — |
1610 | 34,250 | +56.5% |
1653 | 54,250 | +58.4% |
1659 | 63,031 | +16.2% |
1821 | 730,444 | +1058.9% |
1831 | 810,732 | +11.0% |
1841 | 854,118 | +5.4% |
1851 | 649,308 | −24.0% |
1861 | 544,818 | −16.1% |
1871 | 517,076 | −5.1% |
1881 | 495,607 | −4.2% |
1891 | 438,432 | −11.5% |
1901 | 404,611 | −7.7% |
1911 | 392,104 | −3.1% |
1926 | 365,747 | −6.7% |
1936 | 355,957 | −2.7% |
1946 | 343,668 | −3.5% |
1951 | 341,284 | −0.7% |
1956 | 336,663 | −1.4% |
1961 | 330,443 | −1.8% |
1966 | 339,703 | +2.8% |
1971 | 352,883 | +3.9% |
1979 | 396,118 | +12.3% |
1981 | 402,465 | +1.6% |
1986 | 412,735 | +2.6% |
1991 | 410,369 | −0.6% |
1996 | 420,510 | +2.5% |
2002 | 447,829 | +6.5% |
2006 | 481,295 | +7.5% |
2011 | 519,032 | +7.8% |
2016 | 542,868 | +4.6% |
2022 | 584,156 | +7.6% |
[27] |
The county is colloquially referred to as "The Rebel County", although uniquely Cork does not have an official motto. This name has 15th-century origins, but from the 20th century, the name has been more commonly attributed to the prominent role Cork played in the
In 1491 Cork played a part in the English Wars of the Roses when Perkin Warbeck, a pretender to the English throne spread the story that he was really Richard of Shrewsbury (one of the Princes in the Tower), landed in the city and tried to recruit support for a plot to overthrow King Henry VII of England. The Cork people supported Warbeck because he was Flemish and not English; Cork was the only county in Ireland to join the fight. The mayor of Cork and several important citizens went with Warbeck to England, but when the rebellion collapsed they were all captured and executed. Cork's nickname of the 'rebel county' (and Cork city's of the 'rebel city') originates in these events.[28][29]
In 1601 the decisive Battle of Kinsale took place in County Cork, which was to lead to English domination of Ireland for centuries. Kinsale had been the scene of a landing of Spanish troops to help Irish rebels in the Nine Years' War (1594–1603). When this force was defeated, the rebel hopes for victory in the war were all but ended. County Cork was officially created by a division of the older County Desmond in 1606.
In the early 17th century, the
: 54–57In the 19th century, Cork was a centre for the
During the Irish Civil War (1922–23), most of the IRA units in Cork sided against the Anglo-Irish Treaty. From July to August 1922 they held the city and county as part of the so-called Munster Republic. However, Cork was taken by troops of the Irish Free State in August 1922 in the Irish Free State offensive, which included both overland and seaborne attacks. For the remainder of the war, the county saw sporadic guerrilla fighting until the Anti-Treaty side called a ceasefire and dumped their arms in May 1923. Michael Collins, a key figure in the War of Independence, was born near Clonakilty and assassinated during the civil war in Béal na Bláth, both in west Cork.
Irish language
County Cork has two
).There are 14,829 Irish language speakers in County Cork, with 3,660 native speakers in the Cork Gaeltacht. In addition, in 2011 there were 6,273 pupils attending the 21
Anthem
The song "The Banks of My Own Lovely Lee" is traditionally associated with the county. It is sometimes heard at GAA and other sports fixtures involving the county.[33]
Media
Several media publications are printed and distributed in County Cork. These include the
Places of interest
Tourist sites include the
West Cork is known for its rugged natural environment, beaches and social atmosphere, and is a common destination for British, German, French and Dutch tourists. [citation needed]
-
St Finbar's church, Gougane Barra. 6th century site
-
Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork city. Founded in 1879 on a 7th-century site[39]
-
Timoleague Friary, West Cork. Founded 1240[40]
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Kilcrea Friary, mid-Cork. Founded 1465[41]
Economy
The South-West Region, comprising counties Cork and Kerry, contributed €103.2 billion (approximately US$111.6 billion) towards the Irish GDP in 2020.[42]
The
Demographics
Leading population centres | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rank | City/Town | Population (2022)[44] | Cork Carrigaline Cobh | |||
1 | Cork | 224,004 | ||||
2 | Carrigaline | 18,239 | ||||
3 | Cobh | 14,148 | ||||
4 | Midleton | 13,906 | ||||
5 | Mallow | 13,456 | ||||
6 | Youghal | 8,564 | ||||
7 | Bandon | 8,196 | ||||
8 | Fermoy | 6,720 | ||||
9 | Passage West-Monkstown | 6,051 | ||||
10 | Kinsale | 5,991 |
The city of Cork forms the largest urban area in the county, with a total population of 224,004 as of 2022. Cork is the second-most populous city in the Republic of Ireland, and the third-most populous city on the island of Ireland. According to 2022 census statistics, the county has 13 towns with a population of over 4,000. The county has a population density of 77.8 inhabitants per square kilometre (202/sq mi). A large percentage of the population lives in urban areas.
In the 1841 census, before the outbreak of the Great Famine, County Cork had a recorded population of 854,118.[45] By the 2022 census, Cork city and county had a combined population of 584,156 people.[46]
As of the 2022 census, ethnically the population included 78.5% White Irish people, 9.9% other White background, 1.4% Asian and 1.1% Black. In 2022, the largest religious denominations in Cork were: Catholicism (71%), Church of Ireland (2.3%), Orthodox (1.2%), and Islam (1.2%). Those stating that they had no religion accounted for 15.7% of the population in 2022.[47]
Transport
Cork's main transport is serviced from:
- Air: Cork International Airport
- Rail: Iarnród Éireann's InterCity, Commuter and Freight rail services
- Sea: Port of Cork at Cork Harbour
People
Common surnames in the county include Barry, Buckley, Callaghan, Connell, Connor, Crowley, Lynch, McCarthy, Murphy, O'Leary, O'Sullivan, Sheehan, Walsh, and Fitzgerald (the latter with a Norman derivation).[48][49][50]
References
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- ^ Local Government Arrangements in Cork – The Report of the Cork Local Government Committee (September 2015), section 2.1
- ^ "Report of the Expert Advisory Group on Local Government Arrangements in Cork". gov.ie. Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. 17 May 2017. Archived from the original on 28 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
Area (Cork County: 7,467.91 km2 / Cork City: 39.61 km2
- ^ "Census 2022 - Summary Results - FY003A- Population". 30 May 2023. Archived from the original on 25 August 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
- ^ "Ireland's most popular tourist counties and attractions have been revealed". TheJournal.ie. 23 July 2017. Archived from the original on 15 October 2017. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
the southwest, comprising Cork and Kerry, has the second-largest spend by tourists [after the Dublin region]
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- ^ a b Bourke et al. 2011, p. 3.
- ^ Site Management Plan.
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- ^ C. Michael Hogan. 2009. Hooded Crow: Corvus cornix, GlobalTwitcher.com, ed, N. Stromberg Archived 26 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine
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- ^ for post 1821 figures 1653 and 1659 figures from Civil Survey Census of those years Paper of Mr Hardinge to Royal Irish Academy March 14, 1865 Archived 20 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine For a discussion on the accuracy of pre-famine census returns see J. J. Lee "On the accuracy of the pre-famine Irish censuses" in Irish Population Economy and Society edited by JM Goldstrom and LA Clarkson (1981) p54 in and also New Developments in Irish Population History 1700–1850 by Joel Mokyr and Cormac Ó Gráda in The Economic History Review New Series Vol. 37 No. 4 (November 1984) pp. 473–488.
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