On a dull and overcast Saturday morning on 20th February 2016 last, ECCG returned to visit Cork City for a shoot of a different kind – a photo walk of the city.

After meeting up at Kent railway station, we made our way to the city towards the Grand Parade and across the river footbridge and continued along Bishop Street. We took a left turn and ‘clambered up’ the hill onto Barrack Street. This street is steeped in history with a rich cultural heritage and formed the southern approach to the medevil walled city.  The legacy of by-gone days is inherent and the old qualities of the street are still at the heart of many Cork people. The street is highly significant in relation to the military and  social history of Cork.

Elizabeth Fort is one such site off Barrack Street a soldiers barracks which fulfilled necessary military and security functions in earlier centuries.  In subsequent centuries Barrack Street became the focal point from which further residential development spread from the over populated city centre. As we strolled along this street, we felt an historic feel to this street with its many derelict, abandoned and massive decay.

After Barrack street we continued towards St Finbarre’s catherdral and down towards Washington street and headed towards the University of Cork (UCC).

UCC was founded in 1845 with 2 other Queen’s Colleges Belfast and Galway. It became University College Cork under the Irish Universtities Act of 1908. On the site, the Tudor Gothic quadrangle and early campus were built by Deane abd Woodword. The ‘Long Hall’ and the Clock Tower of the UCC quadrangle provided plenty of interest for photographs as well as challenges with serious use of  wide angle lenses in some cases.

After UCC, we headed to the Mardyke area historically left as an open space. The Presentaion Brothers College, the Mardyke and Cork County Cricket Club and Fitzgerald Park are some of the well known landmarks of this part of the city.

Daly’s Bridge, the Pedestrian bridge known locally as the ‘Shaky Bridge’ was built in 1926  and spans the River Lee and is the habitat of much bird life. The pedestrian bridge is made from timber planks and wrought iron supports. While there, we took the opportunity to walk across the bridge and experience for ourselves the ‘shakiness’ of the bridge.

After a brief stop at the Shaky bridge we headed back towards the city via Fitzgerald Park. The park is named after Edward Fitzgerald the city’s Lord Mayor who was instrumental in organising Cork’s International Exhibition. The original pavillion and ornamental fountain from the exhibition era can still be seen today. The Park spans 18 acres with landscaped gardens rich with trees, shrubs as well as many sculptures and a wealth of history with the Cork Museum located on this site. While stopping for a break, the centre piece  of the Park the Sky garden Pod became a subject of interest to photograph. This unusual garden piece won a medal at the Chelsea Flower show and later was transformed from a flying Sky garden to a platform over the River Lee. The Pod is surrounded by a colourful display of plants, shrubs and reflective stainless steel spheres and domes.

In the early afternoon and blessed with no rain, we headed back to the city and Kent Station, stopping momentarily to take shots of various landmarks including a large wall mural at the intersection of North Main street and Paul Street.

An enjoyable day was had by all with a variety of places visited from old to modern day coupled with an education and appreciation of the historical elements to Cork city.

Click here to see a gallery of images from this shoot. Enjoy!

– Noelle Lowney

If you have an interest in photography and would like to find out more about East Cork Camera Group, click the ‘Contact Us‘ link and leave us a message.