Famous QUOTES from Ireland’s county CORK

“In Cork we are all very proud, but less sure of what we proud of, exactly.” — Roy Keane (b. 1971), in his biography.
“No matter how far I’ve gone, Devon, London, or beyond, there’s a corner of Cork that’s never left me, a place I return to in my mind.” – William Trevor (1928-2016).
Returned again to the hub that is Cork City and now travelling southward along the coast line, I was at once taken by the ridges of rolling land, enlivened by gilt quadrangles of ripe wheat set in a countryside that was well-treed in its hollows and where the rivers are clear-flowing – Bryan MacMahon 1909-1998), Here’s Ireland (1971).
“I have never seen a West Cork farmer with an umbrella, except at a funeral. His father or grandfather… insulated himself against the vagaries of the heavens with a thick woollen overcoat and slightly greasy flat cap.” — Damien Enright, from A Place Near Heaven
“If cities are sexed, as Jan Morris believes, then Cork is a male place. Personified further, I would cast him as low-sized, disputatious and stoutly built, a hard-to-knock-over type.” — Kevin Barry (b. 1969), novelist and short story writer.
“Cork city is like an island. It’s basically Manhattan.” — Witty local observation on Cork’s self-view as superior and distinct.
Cork is easily the most friendly of Irish cities: shop assistants, waitresses, railway porters, bus conductors, many of them hailing from the rocky west-Cork area, are still vitally interested in you as a human being. They’ll claim kinship with you through your grandmother, express amazement at the fate of your cousin in New York, or sympathize with you on the demise of your alcoholic uncle in Camden Town – Bryan MacMahon 1909-1998), Here’s Ireland (1971).
“There is a stone there /That whoever kisses, /Oh! he never misses/ To grow eloquent. ‘Tis he may clamber/ To a lady’s chamber /Or become a member/Of Parliament.” Francis Sylvester Mahony {Father Prout), The Grows of Blarney
“There’s no rivalry with Dublin. For a rivalry it needs to be somewhat equal, Cork is miles better.” – Sketch by actors Michael Twomey and Frank Duggan, Cha and Miah.
“Cork people think you’re dumb. Unless you’re from Cork. And even then, they are dubious.” — Jarlath Regan.
“Cork’s love affair with itself is justified. It’s the most ridiculously brilliant place I’ve ever been.” — John Bishop.
Cork and Kerry, the two picturesque counties forming the torn toecap of Ireland, are husband and wife. Between the populations of these two counties there exists a type of love-hate conjugal relationship. – Bryan MacMahon 1909-1998), Here’s Ireland (1971).
“Time and patience brings a snail to Cork.” — Noel Purcell.
“Cork is the Rebel County, we’ve been rebelling against Dublin since before it was cool.” – Niall Toibín
Cork and Kerry, the two picturesque counties forming the torn toecap of Ireland, are husband and wife. Between the populations of these two counties there exists a type of love-hate conjugal relationship. – Bryan MacMahon 1909-1998), Here’s Ireland (1971).
One by one the tourists, mostly women, lay on their backs, while the guardians of the stone having first modestly ensured that the ladies’ skirts did not fly above their ears, cajoled them to inch ever downwards, their lips puckered in anticipation of the precious kiss. Some of the visitors screamed and protested; yet they insisted on going through the ordeal. In the end I tried it myself-for the second time in my life; the menacing upside-down appearance of the puny trees far below as one gropes to kiss that infernal rock is not readily forgotten. – Bryan MacMahon 1909-1998), Here’s Ireland (1971).
The approach to Cork by Glanmire is magnificent; a sort of sea avenue up to the town, with beautiful banks on each side, studded over with tasteful villas; gives a note of preparation however, which Cork itself by no means comes up to. – Thomas Moore, Journal, I August 1823
When I complained to an Irish soldier of the length of the miles between Kinsale and Cork, he acknowledged the truth of my observation; but arehly added, that though they were long, they were but names. – Philip Thicknessc, A years journey through France and Spain, 1789
Nor shall I readily forget a visit, or pilgrimage, to the Whitsun Patteran at Ballyvourney village, also in the centre of this Irish Ireland area. Held at Whitsun, and called locally ‘The Fitchin’-it is as medieval a survival as is to be found in Ireland. – Bryan MacMahon 1909-1998), Here’s Ireland (1971).
Mallow, the chief town of this northern area and site of a major sugar-beet factory, was once a spa where Anglo-Irish bucks disported themselves, thus earning for the place a reputation for riotous behaviour as perpetuated by the song, ‘The Rakes of Mallow’. With the turn of the nineteenth century, Mallow redeemed itself in full measure and gave Ireland three men who, each in his own fashion, left his stamp on the Irish people. The balladry of Thomas Davis, leader of the Young Ireland movement and founder of The Nation newspaper, as recited weekly in the forges of the land, roused its hearers to a high pitch of patriotic fervour. As a novelist, Mallow-born Canon Sheehan and sometimes parish priest of Doneraile was well above his hour, but due to the traditional literary fetters imposed by the priesthood he wrote well below his undoubted talent. William O’Brien, also a Nationalist leader on the political field, wrote with incisiveness and had a European outlook on Irish affairs. – Bryan MacMahon 1909-1998), Here’s Ireland (1971).
The Scene of Corke is ever the same: dull, insipid, and void of all Amusement/ The Butchers are as greasy, the Quakers as formal, & the Presbeyterians as holy & full of the Lord as usual: All Things are in status quo: even the Hogs and Piggs gruntt: in the same cadence as of yore. – Earl of Orrery, Letter to Jonathan Swift, 15 March 1737
“The third County hath the name of the City Corke, consisting almost all of one long streete, but well ltnowne and frequented, which is so compassed with rebellious neighbours, as they of old not daring to marry their daughters to them, the custom grew and continues to this day, that by mutuall marriages one with another, in some degree of Affinity.” – Fynes Moryson, An ltinerary, 1617
Fermoy became one of the great bastions of British occupation in Ireland, being capable of housing a garrison of 3,000 soldiers. Consequent upon the withdrawal of British forces from Ireland following the Anglo-Irish Treaty in 1921 and the inevitable economic upheaval this entailed, Fermoy had to do a great deal of rethinking on new economic lines. And to its credit it did-and survived – Bryan MacMahon 1909-1998), Here’s Ireland (1971).
“West Cork: where the rain doesn’t fall, it just hangs around deciding whether to commit.” — Dermot Morgan.
“Cork: the only place where people argue about who’s more Cork – the city or the county – and both sides win.” – Niall Toibín
I found Cobh a town of tears and laughter: a town of greeting and farewell, a place of consolatory proverbs and heartbreak (‘There’s hope from the ocean but none from the grave’). All summer glitter and bright plumage, its porters worked like demons. Looking into the weary faces of the disembarking passengers I thought of their last febrile night on board; spying the first lights of Ireland every manjack of them recites the sentimental poem beginning: T’ anam chun Dia, but there it is, the dawn on the hills of Ireland …. – Bryan MacMahon 1909-1998), Here’s Ireland (1971).
“In Cork, the past is never dead. It’s not even past.” – James Dillon.
“Cork – where every conversation starts with weather and ends with why we’re better than everyone else.” —. Michael Twomey.
We hold Kinsale for Christ and the King of Spain’, was the slogan of the Spaniards. – Bryan MacMahon 1909-1998), Here’s Ireland (1971).
“Born in Cork, raised in Cork, allergic to anywhere else.” — Teeshirt slogan.
“Cork hurling is the best of us, one of the greatest and most beautiful expressions of what we can be.” — Dónal Óg Cusack (b. 1977
I will roam through the African Desert/ Until death summons me to my tomb/ For the sake of that charming fair Helen/ That I met near the town of Macroom.. – Elizabeth Cronin (1879-1956)
Oh, who will plow the field, or who will thrash the corn?/ Oh, who will wash the sheep, and have them neatly shorn?/ The stag that’s in the haggard, unthrashed it may remain/ Since Johnny went a-thrashing against the king of Spain. – Bantry Girls Lament.
Once, in the United States, I was interviewed by a newspaper correspondent in connection with a St Patrick’s Day feature in a local newspaper. ‘Have you ever kissed the Blarney Stone?’ the sweet-voiced reporter asked. ‘Yes!’ I replied. ‘Have you?’ she asked, my wife who smiled and shook her head. Picture my reaction when, on the feast of our national apostle, the interview contained the following item in leaded type: MacMAHON STATES THAT HE HAS OFTEN KISSED THE BLARNEY STONE, BUT NOT HIS WIFE. – Bryan MacMahon 1909-1998), Here’s Ireland (1971).

Famous quotes from Ireland’s counties

Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow

Musicians

Novelists

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County Cork:

Ireland’s county Cork blends historic sites with scenic beauty, with Cork City’s English Market and St Fin Barre’s Cathedral offering cultural and architectural depth. Blarney Castle, home to the famous Blarney Stone, provides historic allure, while the coastal town of Kinsale offers sailing and seafood. Other attractions include the Beara Peninsula’s rugged trails. Cork is Ireland’s largest county by size (7,460 sq km) and third largest by population (584,156). Population peaked at 854,118 in 1841 (when Cork was Ireland’s most populous county) and reached its lowest point, 330,443 in 1961. In terms of hospitality, Cork is Ireland’s second most visited tourist county with around 1,228,000 international visitors per year.

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