10 Interesting Facts You Never Knew About Cork

1. County Cork is the largest County in Ireland,of West Cork lies 'Oileán Chléire' or
and Cork City is Ireland's third largest city afterCape Clear Island as it is also known.
Dublin and Belfast. The area of Cork City is 3,7317. There are many tourist attractions in Cork and
hectares. County Cork covers an area of 7,459one of the most popular is Blarney Castle, here
square kilometres or 2,880 square miles, which isyou will get an opportunity to 'Kiss The Blarney
11% of the Irish State.Stone' - when you kiss the Blarney Stone it is
2. Saint Finbarr is the founder and Patron Saint ofsaid you will get the 'Gift of The Gab' meaning
Cork City. It was he who followed the River Leeyou will speak in a persuasive and interesting way!
from it's beginning in Gougane Barra to Cork City8. Did you know that Cork invented
where he founded a monastery in the 7thsteeplechasing? Yes, steeplechasing was born in
Century where Saint Finbarrs Cathedral now1752 when a member of the Duhallow Hunt Club
stands.challenged his neighbour to race from the church
3. The population of Cork is 480,909, this wassteeple at Buttevant to the church steeple at
taken from the 2006 census.Doneraile. This tradition continues today, but with
4. Cork is known as the "Rebel County" due toalot more at stake than ever!
the high level of rebel activity in the county during9. Fota Island is one of the three bigger islands in
the War of Independence and the subsequentCork harbour and is a wildlife reserve and wildlife
Civil War.park with an arboretum contain rare species of
5. The Irish or Gaelic name for Cork is 'Corcaigh'trees and shrubs. Fota Wildlife Park has over 70
meaning 'a marsh'. Cork City began on an island inspecies of exotic wildlife that includes giraffes,
the swampy estuary of the River Lee.zebras, ostrich and much more that roam
6. The county of Cork has two 'Gaeltacht areas'together in 40 acres of grassland.
where Irish, or Gaelic, is still the spoken language10. Cork Harbour is said to be the second largest
and where Ireland's cultural, social, and linguisticharbour in the world, after Sydney Harbour in
traditions are very much maintained. Along theAustralia. The motto on the coat of arms of Cork
banks of the River Lee lies 'GaeltachtCity is 'Statio Bene Fide Carinis' which means 'A
Mhúscraí', and just off the coastSafe Harbour for Ships'.