Cork

Other non-nationals come from Poland, India, America and Latvia, as well as "the old E.U." countries such as France, Germany and the United Kingdom. Sevens is slowly on the up and, with a population of almost 30 million people, the country has some potential talent to pick from. This is due to the exchange programmes on offer for Chinese students in universities in China. Most notable was their 15-12 win over Australia in the 2003 Hong Kong Sevens tournament. The largest group of foreign students comes from China, Shanghai in particular. Rugby has always been popular in Kenya especially with the Annual Tusker Sevens tournament but only recently has the country began to be noticed on the international circuit. There is also a very large community of students from abroad, especially countries where Cork has twinned cities. Kenya is now beginning to be a force to reckon with in Rugby.

Other 3rd level institutions include Griffith College Cork (incorporating Skerry's College) which has been offering courses since 1884 and various other colleges. The Kenyan Ministry of Sports has tried to stop the defections, but they have continued anyway, with Bernard Lagat the latest, choosing to represent the USA. The Cork College of Commerce is the largest post–Leaving Certificate College in Ireland and is also the biggest provider of Vocational Preparation and Training courses in the country. Lately, there has been controversy in Kenyan athletics circles, with the defection of a number of Kenyan athletes to represent other countries, chiefly Bahrain and Qatar. It also incorporates the Cork School of Music and Crawford College of Art & Design as constituent colleges. A retired Olympic and Commonwealth Games champion, Kipchoge Keino, is Kenya's most famous sportsman. Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) offers a variety of third level courses in Mathematics, Computing and IT, Business, and Engineering (Mechanical, Electronic, Electrical, and Chemical) and is one of the few places in Ireland were nautical studies are available. The Marathon world record holder, Paul Tergat, and the current women's Boston Marathon champion, Catherine Ndereba, are the among the best-known and most respected athletes in Kenya.

The university was named "Irish University of the Year" in 2003–2004 and 2005-2006 by the Sunday Times. Kenyan athletes continue to dominate the world of distance running, although competition from Morocco and Ethiopia has somewhat reduced this trend. University College Cork (UCC), one of Ireland's seven universities, offers a wide variety of courses in Arts, Engineering, Law, Medicine and Science. Kenya has regularly produced Olympic and Commonwealth Games champions at various distances, especially the 800 m, the 1,500 m, the 3,000 m steeplechase, the 5000 m and the 10,000 m races. Cork is an important educational center in Ireland. But the country is chiefly known for its dominance in middle-distance and long-distance athletics. The Midleton branch is scheduled to be reopened in 2008. Kenya is active in several sports, among them football (soccer), cricket, boxing and many others.

New stations will be provided at Carrigtohill on the Midleton branch and at Kilbarry, Monard and Blarney on the Dublin line as part of the plan, along with the already operational Mallow station. Main article: Culture of Kenya. In November 2005, the Irish government announced the reopening of the railway line between Glounthaune (on the Cobh line) and Midleton as part of the country's 10 year development plan. See also: List of cities in Kenya, Maasai. It is recommended for travel to Fota Island wildlife park, arboretum, golf club and Cobh Heritage Centre. Others include Hinduism, Jainism & the Bahá'í Faith. The east of the city is also a scenic route connecting several islands in Cork harbour with the city centre. Religious affiliation: Various Protestant 38%, Roman Catholic 28%, Muslim 6%, Traditional Religions 22%.

This railway line provides essential transport for the thousands of commuters to the city every day from the eastern suburbs. Ethnic groups: Kĩkũyũ 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 15%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Ameru 6%, other African 12%, non-African (Asian/Desi, European, and Arab) 1%. The Cork City Suburban Railway also departs from Kent Station with services to the east of the city including Little Island, Fota and Cobh. Ethnically split opposition groups allowed the regime of Daniel arap Moi, in power from 1978 until 2002, to be re-elected for four terms, with the election in 1997 being marred by violence and fraud.
. During the early 1990s, clashes killed thousands and left tens of thousands homeless. Direct InterCity services are also available to Kerry, with direct services to Killarney and Tralee (2 daily), although most services to Kerry involve a change at Mallow. Tension between the various groups accounts for many of Kenya's problems.

Irish Rail plans to upgrade this line to an hourly service in 2006. Kenya is a country of great ethnic diversity. The main line from Cork to Dublin, which is Ireland's busiest rail line, has eight direct departures daily and a number of connecting services. Main article: Demographics of Kenya. From here, services to all over Ireland can be reached. Source http://www.kenyaspace.com. Cork's Kent Station is the main train station in the city. The number of foreigners coming to Kenya has increased as attested to by the airlines operating in Kenya.

. Tourism has grown tremendously since 2003. project which reconstructed the street with a pedestrian focus. Another key foreign exchange earner is tourism. Local road improvements include the Patrick St. Chief among Kenya's exports are: flowers (horticulture), fruits and vegetables, tea, and coffee. 2004 saw the opening of the N22 Ballincollig dual carriageway bypass, which links to the Western end of the Cork Southern Ring road. The effects of HIV/AIDS has largely offset the previous high population growth which was caused by a high birth rate and reduced infant mortality due to better health care.

The 21st Century saw the opening of the N8 Glanmire to Watergrashill dual carriageway bypass and the N8(M8) Rathcormac to Fermoy motorway bypass is currently under construction. Considered by some to be long-term barriers to development are: electricity shortages, the government's continued and allegedly inefficient dominance of key sectors, corruption, the foreign debt burden, unstable international commodity prices, poor communication infrastructure and the effects of HIV/AIDS, which is having its effect on the most productive group of the population. Other projects at this time include the N20 Blackrock bypass and the N20 Cork to Mallow road projects. A new economic team was put in place in 1999 to revitalize the reform effort, strengthen the civil service, and curb corruption, but wary donors continue to question the government's commitment to western establishment ideas of sound economic policy. Also in the 1990s work progressed on the Cork to Middleton dual carriageway and the N8 Glanmire bypass dual carriageway. Embassy by Al Qaeda in 1998—damaged the tourist industry, and Kenya's Enhanced Structural Adjustment Program lapsed. Work continued through the 1990s on extending the South Ring Road with the opening of the Jack Lynch Tunnel under the River Lee being the most significant addition. Political violence—namely the bombing of the U.S.

Shortly after, the first sections of the South Ring Road which is of dual carriageway standard were opened. Growth slowed in 1997–1999 however. The Cork South Link road (a dual carriageway), built in the early 1980s, linking the Kinsale road roundabout with downtown was the first of many major improvements. Kenya's GDP grew 5% in 1995 and 4% in 1996, and inflation remained under control. The Cork area has seen improvements in roads infrastructure in recent years, especially with regards to National roads. This resulted in a weak currency which hindered economic improvement. A connecting bus service is available to the city centre from the ferryport. dollars.

Direct sea links are available to Roscoff (France) with Brittany Ferries and Swansea and Pembroke (Wales) with SwanseaCork Ferries. One of the unintended consequence of freeing foreign exchange control was that it allowed a gold-and-diamond export scam in which the Kenyan government lost over 600 million U.S. Cork Ferryport is situated at Ringaskiddy, 16 km SE via the N28. With the support of the World Bank, IMF, and other donors, the reforms led to a brief turnaround in economic performance following a period of negative growth in the early 1990s. This service is most benifical when trying to avoid traffic on the Great Island (Cobh). In 1993, the government of Kenya implemented a program of economic liberalization and reform that included the removal of import licensing, price controls, and foreign exchange controls. The River Lee Ferry, serving Rushbrooke to Passage West, links the R624 to R610. Some argue that this slow economic growth is because of poor management and uneven commitment to reform; others insist that it is due to falling commodity prices and poor access to Western markets.

This service departs from St Patrick's Quay rather than Parnell Place Bus Terminal. The economy is only now beginning to show some growth after years of stagnation. AirCoach also run a daily service to Dublin and Dublin Airport departing every 2 hours. Kenya's main economic strengths include tourism and agriculture. There is also a daily Eurolines bus service that connects Cork to Victoria Bus Station in London via South Wales and Bristol on an overnight sailing from Rosslare. Main article: Economy of Kenya. Hourly services run to Killarney, Waterford and Limerick/Galway and there are frequent services to Dublin. Climate varies from tropical along the coast to arid in interior.

Long distance buses depart from the bus terminal in Parnell Place to destinations throughout Ireland. The highlands are the site of the highest point in Kenya: Mount Kenya, which reaches 5,199 m and is also the site of glaciers.
. The Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa. This is especially popular with students and commuters from not just the far suburbs but also the surrounding towns in County Cork. The highlands are bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west. There is also a Park and Ride facility in the south suburbs, that allow easy access into the city centre. From the coast on the Indian Ocean the Low plains rise to central highlands.

These suburban services include the Cork International Airport shuttle bus (Route Numbers 226 and 249). Kenya covers an area of 582,646 km². Buses to the outer suburbs, such as Ballincollig, Glanmire and Carrigaline are provided from the city's bus terminal at Parnell Place in the city centre. The government supervises administration of districts and provinces, which are:.
. The Nairobi Area* has special status and is not included in any district or province. There are also several city bus routes including Route Numbers 1 and 19 that provide orbital services across the Northern and Southern districts of the city respectively. The division is then subdivided into location (Mtaa) and then sub location (Kijiji).

Routes connect the city centre to the principal suburbs, colleges, shopping centres and places of interest. The provinces (Mkoa) are subdivided into districts (Wilaya) which are then subdivided into divisions (Tarafa). Cork City's public transportation is provided by the national bus operator Bus Éireann. Local administration is divided among eight provinces each headed by a presidentially appointed Provincial Commissioner.
. The reshuffle has drawn mixed reactions from different quarters with a number of nominees rejecting their appointments citing party policy and the opinion of constituents. The airport plays a vital role in the development of Cork City, County and other surrounding areas and increased services to mainland Europe continue to develop daily. His new line up excluded members who had opposed the constitution in the referendum but retained some allies from the official opposition party KANU and loyalists, notably absent was former Transport minister Chris Murungaru who has been accused of corruption in the past.

The airport is currently building a second terminal that will be able to handle up to five million more passengers anually. The president reconstituted his cabinet in a televised broadcast on 7th December. The airport continues to grow and a total of 2.730 million passengers used the airport in 2005, which makes it the second busiest airport in Ireland. The defeat however created a political vacuum, as Kibaki responded to calls from the Orange Democratic Movement (supporters of the NO vote) for his resignation, by dissolving his cabinet. More than 10 scheduled airlines fly to over 50 destinations with over 50 flights a day. The president never actively involved himself in the referendum process and instead insisted on letting Kenyans make an independent decision free from political influence. It is situated on the south side of Cork City in an area known as Ballygarvan. Research by independent observer groups indicated that the majority of voters were oblivious of the proposed constitution's content owing largely to the tribal voting lines that leaders propagated and partly to a failed civic education program.

Cork Airport is one of Ireland's main airports and gateway to the South of Ireland. After a long-lasting public debate, the people of Kenya rejected the government-supported draft constitution with a 57-43 majority in the historical November 21st referendum. Since then, Cork has developed links with several other cities in the areas of culture, education, tourism, science and economics:. The right-leaning NAK favours a centralized Presidential system, while the left leaning LDP -led by Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka- favor a parliamentary system with Prime Minister. Cork City Corporation began its first twin/sister city program with Coventry in 1969. Constitutional reform is being delayed by disagreement amongst the coalition members. Also, Cork's suburbs have a number of modern industrial estates, with reasonably good road links and relatively modern telecommunications to attract both local and foreign investment from Europe, the United States, and Japan. Kenya is in the process of rewriting its post-colonial constitution and its subsequent amendments that gave the president nearly unlimited powers and immunity from the law accounting for many of Kenya's current problems with corruption.

The City of Cork is home to one university and a few colleges, providing a skilled and trained workforce. He was also the former Secretary General of Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), Kenya's first lecturers' union. Cork International Airport also allows easy access to continental Europe and with good rail links for domestic trade. Kilemi Mwiria, who received his doctorate in Education from Stanford University. Cork's deep harbour allows ships of any size to enter, bringing trade and easy import/export of products. The coalition consists of some of the brightest minds in Kenya such as Dr. Much of Cork's economic success is due to a few main reasons, such as transport and a well educated workforce. The NAK and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) formed the NARC coalition that currently governs Kenya.

centres of the city. In December 2002, Kenya held democratic and open elections and elected Mwai Kǐbakǐ as president from the National Alliance Party of Kenya (NAK) as president. But technology has replaced the old manufacturing businesses of the 1970s and 1980s, with people now working in the many I.T. Kenya has had a multi-party system since 1991 via constitutional amendment, with politicians frequently "crossing the floor" or setting up new political parties and coalitions to achieve their political aims. Henry Ford's grandfather was from Cork, which was a main reason for opening up the manufacturing facility in Cork. The judiciary is headed by a High Court, consisting of a chief justice and High Court judges, and judges of Kenya's Court of Appeal (no associate judges), all appointed by the president. And for many years, Cork was the home to Ford Motor Company, which manufactured cars in the docklands area before the plant was closed. The attorney general and the speaker are ex officio members of the Assembly.

It is also home to the Murphy's Irish Stout brewery and the Beamish and Crawford brewery which have been in the city for generations. The president appoints the vice president and cabinet members from among those elected to the National Assembly. Cork is also the European headquarters of Apple Computer where their desktop computers are manufactured and their European call centre is hosted. Kenya has a unicameral National Assembly consisting of 210 members elected to a term of up to five years from single-member constituencies, plus 12 members nominated by political parties on a proportional representation basis. The most famous product of the Cork pharmaceutical industry is Viagra. Kenya is a republic; the President of Kenya is both the chief of state and the head of government. and Swiss company Novartis being big employers in the region. Main article: Politics of Kenya.

Its main area of industry is pharmaceuticals, with Pfizer Inc. The elections, judged free and fair by local and international observers, marked a turning point in Kenya's democratic evolution. Cork City is at the heart of industry in the south of Ireland. In 2002, Moi was constitutionally barred from running, and Mwai Kǐbakǐ, running for the opposition coalition "National Rainbow Coalition" — NARC, was elected President.
. In democratic but flawed multiparty elections in 1992 and 1997, Daniel arap Moi won re-election. and Grand Parade. Several contentious clauses, including the one allowing only one political party were changed in the following years.

Other shopping areas in the city centre include Oliver Plunkett St. This was seen as the climax of a very undemocratic regime and it led to widespread agitation for constitutional reform. metre after Dublin's Grafton Street. The election held in 1988 saw the advent of the infamous mlolongo (queueing) system where voters were supposed to line up behind their favourite candidates instead of secret ballot. and is the most expensive street in the country per sq. This event led to the disbanding of the entire Airforce and a large number of its former members were either dismissed or court-martialled. Patrick St. The attempt was quickly suppressed by Loyalist forces led by the Army, the General Service Unit (GSU) — paramilitary wing of the police — and later the regular police, but not without civilian casualties.

Cork's main shopping street is St. The abortive coup was masterminded by a lowly ranked Airforce serviceman, Senior Private Hezekiah Ochuka and was staged mainly by enlisted men in the Airforce. Others are available in the city centre, with plans and excavation work on-going for the development of two more large malls, expanding the capacity of the city centre, to rival that of the suburbs. The 1983 elections were held a year early, and were a direct result of an abortive military coup attempt on 01/08/1982. Shopping centres are all over the suburbs in places such as Blackpool, Douglas, Wilton and Mahon Point [2] to name just a few. Daniel arap Moi retained the Presidency, being unopposed in elections held in 1979, 1983 (snap elections) and 1988, all of which were held under the single party constitution. For the lower budget, other high street stores are also available. At Kenyatta's death in 1978, Daniel arap Moi became President.

Most of the major department stores stock the latest fashions from the catwalks of Paris and Milan including Chanel and Armani. A year later, Kenyatta became Kenya's first president. The retail trade in Cork City is developing quickly with a mix of both modern, state of the art shopping centres and family owned local shops providing unique and often hand-made crafts. Despite British hopes of handing power to "moderate" African rivals, it was the Kenya African National Union (KANU) of Jomo Kenyatta, that formed a government shortly before Kenya became independent on 12th December 1963. Other local newspapers are also printed in the city, but are less well known. The first direct elections for Africans to the Legislative Council took place in 1957. Today, the shouts of the vendors selling the Echo can still be heard all over the city. The capture of Dedan Kimathi on 21 October 1956 in Nyeri signified the ultimate defeat of the Mau Mau and essentially ended the military offensive.

It also prints the famous Evening Echo, which for decades has been connected to the Echo Boys, who were poor and often homeless children from the 1930s and 1940s that had the job of selling the newspaper. By the end of the emergency the Home Guard had killed no fewer than 4,686 Mau Mau, amounting to 42% of the total insurgents. Cork is also home to one of Ireland's main national newspapers, the Irish Examiner (formerly the Cork Examiner) with its headquarters situated in Academy Street in the city centre. The Home Guard formed the core of the government's anti-Mau Mau strategy as it was composed of loyalist Africans, not foreign forces like the British Army and King's African Rifles. Cork is home to the RTÉ Vanbrugh String Quaret. May 1953 also saw the Home Guard officially recognized as a branch of the Security Forces. Matthew Street in the city centre and South Coast TV also broadcasts from Cork, providing a regional television station for the South of Ireland. The operation effectively placed Nairobi under military siege, and the occupants were screened and the Mau Mau supporters moved to detention camps.

Cork is also home to two television stations; RTÉ Cork broadcasts from its television centre in Fr. Operation Anvil opened on 24 April 1954 after weeks of planning by the army with the approval of the War Council. There are also local stations such as Corks 96FM [1], 103FM County Sound, CUH FM, Cork Campus Radio and Red FM. The capture of Warǔhiǔ Itote (General China) on 15 January 1954 and the subsequent interrogation led to a better understanding of the Mau Mau command structure. The city's FM radio band is impressively crowded: as well as RTÉ Radio 1, 2FM, Lyric FM, Radio na Gaeltachta (all run by RTÉ), and Today FM. The situation did not improve for lack of intelligence, so General Sir George Erskine was appointed commander-in-chief of the colony's armed forces in May 1953, with the personal backing of Winston Churchill. For more information, please visit the Cork 2005 European Capital of Culture website. In January 1953, Major General Hinde was appointed as director of counter-insurgency operations.

One of the key projects was the Cork Caucus. The governor requested and obtained British and African troops, including the King's African Rifles. Cork was the European Capital of Culture for 2005. From October 1952 to December 1959, Kenya was under a state of emergency arising from the Mau Mau rebellion against British rule. The new Lewis Glucksman Gallery opened in the Autumn of 2004 at UCC, was nominated for the prestigious Stirling Prize in the United Kingdom, and building is about to commence on a new €60 million School of Music building. A massive exodus to the cities ensued as their ability to provide a living from the land dwindled. Recent additions to the arts infrastructure include splendid modern additions to Cork Opera House and the Crawford Art Gallery. To protect their interests, the settlers banned the growing of coffee, introduced a hut tax, and the landless were granted less and less land in exchange for their labour.

The local synagogue on South Terrace, near Shalom Park and the other traditional Jewish areas of the City like Monray Terrace attract large gatherings on a weekly basis. The area was already home to over a million members of the Kĩkũyũ tribe, most of whom had no land claims in European terms (but the land belonged to the ethnic group), and lived as itinerant farmers. It has everything from traditional Moroccan restaurants, Turkish sweet shops, Polish Bars, Chinese food stores and stalls selling kosher food for the local Jewish community. By the 1930's, approximately 30,000 settlers lived in the area and were offered undue political powers because of their effects on the economy. This can be seen in the type of markets, restaurants and shops that are in Cork. During the early part of the 20th century, the interior central highlands were settled by British and other European farmers, who became wealthy farming coffee. Cork has a diverse community, with many people coming from all over the world. It is believed that the Nandi were the first tribe to be put in a native reserve to stop them from disrupting the building of the railway.

Highlights include:Corcadorca Theatre Company, where Cillian Murphy (from Batman Begins) got his start; Cork Film Festival, a major supporter of the art of the short film; The Institute for Choreography and Dance, a national contemporary dance resource; the Triskel Arts Centre; Cork Jazz Festival. Although this was also resisted by some tribes, notably the Nandi led by Orkoiyot Koitalel arap Samoei for ten years between 1895 to 1905, these did not stop the British building the railway. The Cork School of Music and the Crawford College of Art & Design provide a constant throughput of new blood, as do the active theatre components of many courses at University College Cork (UCC). This followed the building of the Kenya-Uganda railway passing through the country. Music, theatre, dance, and film all play a prominent role in city life. Incipient imperial rivalry was forestalled when Germany handed its coastal holdings to Britain in 1890. Cork's cultural life is surprisingly vibrant, considering its population of 186,239. However, most historians consider that the colonial history of Kenya dates from the establishment of a German protectorate over the Sultan of Zanzibar's coastal possessions in 1885, followed by the arrival of the Imperial British East Africa Company in 1888.

The cross-continent European walking route E8 trail starts at Cork, ending 4700 km away in Istanbul, Turkey. There followed a period of Portuguese rule centered mainly on the coastal strip ranging from Malindi to Mombasa. The origins of the market can be traced back to 1610, but the present building dates from 1786. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to explore Kenya, with Vasco da Gama having visited Mombasa in 1498. The English Market, accessible from Grand Parade, Patrick Street, Oliver Plunkett Street and Princes Street, is a covered market for fish, fruit, meat, spices and luxury foods. Recent finds near Kenya's Lake Turkana indicate that hominids such as Homo habilis and Homo erectus lived in Kenya from 2.6 million years ago. Fitzgerald's Park, to the west of the city, is worth a visit — as are the grounds of University College Cork, through which the River Lee flows. Fossils found in East Africa suggest that protohumans roamed the area more than 20 million years ago.

The cost of this new building was provided by the British Government in the 1930s as a gesture of reconciliation. Main article: History of Kenya. The City Hall, another splendid building of limestone, replaced the previous one destroyed by British forces on December 11th 1920 during the War of Independence in an event known as the "Burning of Cork" . . The bells of Shandon may be rung by members of the public. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the North, Somalia to the East, Tanzania to the South, Uganda to the West, and Sudan to the North-West, with the Indian Ocean running down the South-East Border. The clock tower on the church is known by locals as The Four-faced Liar, as from the base of the building, each clock face appears to show a different time. The Republic of Kenya, or Kenya (IPA: /ˈkɛnjə/), is an East African Country.

Cork's most famous building, also accessible to the public, is the church tower of Shandon dominating the North side of the city, with the North and East sides faced in red sandstone, and the West and South sides in the predominant stone of the region, white limestone. National parks (Kenya). Across the river is Ireland's longest building, the Mental Hospital built in Victorian times. Music of Kenya. Many of its buildings are in the Georgian style, although the modern County Hall tower is the tallest building in the Republic of Ireland. List of writers from Kenya. The old financial centre, is the South Mall with several banks whose interior derive from the 19th century, and are very deserving of a visit, particularly Allied Irish Banks which was once an exchange. List of Kenyans.

Grand Parade, another part of the route, is a tree-lined avenue, home to many offices and financial institutions. List of cities in Kenya. As the main shopping street, it boasts striking buildings along its broad avenue (much of which is given to pedestrian use). Western. The main street, Patrick Street, was remodelled in the years up to 2004. Rift Valley. Cork city in general boasts some good quality architecture, capable of rivalling that of Dublin or Belfast. Nyanza.

The modern Cork Opera House is one of the few such venues in Ireland. North Eastern. There are two cathedrals in the city:. Nairobi Area*. Placenames today still tell of the routes, such as Tramway Terrace in Douglas. Eastern. This was only a temporary measure though and the final tram in Cork ran on September 30, 1931. Coast.

The trams started running again in April, 1931. Central. However, after a few weeks of closure, it was realised that the Irish Omnibus Company did not have enough capacity to cope with demand. The final day of operation of the trams was supposed to be March 31, 1931. Increased usage of cars and buses in the 1920s led to a reduction in the numbers using the trams.

This was designed to be the same gauge as the Muskerry Railway, although the two never shared traffic. The gauge of the tramway was two feet, eleven and a half inches. The routes were: Blackpool-Douglas, Summerhill-Sunday's Well and Tivoli-Blackrock. In December 1898, an electric tram system began operating in the city.

However, the company ceased trading in 1875 after Cork Corporation refused permission to extend the line. These ideas were put into practice in 1872 by the Cork Tramway Company. His plan was to link the city's railway termini with horse-drawn trams. A proposal to develop a horse-drawn tram was made by an American, George Francis Train, in the 1860s.

Historically, there have been two tram networks in operation in Cork. There are no tram services operating in Cork although the Cork Area Strategic Development Plan suggests it as one among a number of solutions for dealing with traffic congestion in Cork. The only rail projects currently under consideration are an enhanced suburban service along the current lines, and a connection towards Youghal (probably only as far as Midleton). All that remains of the once-extensive public transport system is the line to Dublin (also serving Mallow, County Kerry and Limerick) and that to Cóbh.

West Cork trains terminated at Albert Quay, across the river from Kent Station (though an on-street rail 'system' connected the two for rolling stock and cargo movement). Other rail routes terminating or traversing Cork city were the Cork, Blackrock and Passage railway, lines to Macroom and Blarney, as well as the famous Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway connecting Bantry, Skibbereen, Clonakilty and many other West Cork towns. This also connected to the East Cork seaside town of Youghal, until the 1980s. The town of Cóbh, on Great Island, east of the city, is also connected — though the route originally had its own terminus perpendicular to the current station.

Originally terminating on the city's outskirts at Blackpool, the Glanmire tunnel now connects it to the city centre terminus (nowadays actually a through station) of Kent Station. The main route, still much the same today, is that from Dublin. It has boasted a total of perhaps 8 stations at various times. Cork city was one of the most rail oriented cities in Ireland.

During the Irish Civil War, Cork was for a time held by anti-Treaty forces, until it was retaken by the pro-Treaty National Army in an attack from the sea. The centre of Cork was gutted by fires started by the Black and Tans in the War of Independence, part of the British government policy of reprisals at the time; it was also the site of some fierce fighting between Irish guerrilla leaders and British forces. This resulted in the area known as "Scott's Plains" being renamed "Peterborough" as a tribute. In 1825, over 1800 Irish residents departed from Cork to emigrate to Peterborough, Ontario, Canada assisted by Peter Robinson (who organized the scheme on behalf of the British Government).

The title of Mayor of Cork was established by royal charter in 1318, and the title was changed to Lord Mayor in 1900. The city was at one time fully walled, and several sections and gates remain. Over the centuries, much of the city was rebuilt, time and again, after numerous fires and attacks by Vikings or Norsemen. However, Cork has its beginnings in a much earlier monastic settlement, founded by St Finbar in the sixth century.

Cork's city charter was granted by King John in 1185. . (Dublin was a foreign stronghold for most of its history.). It is usual for Corkonians to refer to Cork as the "true capital of Ireland".

Cork has a reputation for independence running from the times of Viking invasions to the Irish Civil War, which has given it the nickname of "the Rebel County". The city's name is derived from an Irish word corcach meaning "marshy place", referring to its situation on the River Lee. The county (excluding city) has a population of 326,767 (CSO 2002). The city proper has a population of 123,062; this increases to 186,239 if the suburbs of the city in the Cork County Council area are included.

The city is a major Irish seaport — with quays and docks sited along the broad waterway of the Lee on the city's East side. The River Lee flows through the city, an island in the river forming the main part of the city centre just before the Lee flows into Lough Mahon and thence to Cork Harbour, one of the world's largest natural harbours. The principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city of the province of Munster, it is situated slightly inland from the southern coast proper, located at 51°54′N 8°28′W. Cork (Corcaigh in Irish) is the second city of the Republic of Ireland.

Suburban. National. Long Distance. Suburban.

City. St Finbarre's Cathedral is Church of Ireland. St Mary's Cathedral, commonly called the North Cathedral, is Roman Catholic.