Irish Pride

When you travel somewhere you typically prepare yourself to see places of particular renown. But there are always surprises, aren't there? Our host Cheri had never gotten around to visiting the town of Cobh (pronounced Cove) in County Cork. So on this trip we all got to say 'Gee Whizz' together. See that decaying pier down there? Look familiar at all?


Well it turns out that is where the final passengers hopped on transport boats to board the ill fated Titanic. I'm trying to picture unsinkable Molly Brown standing there. This is also the last port of the Lusitania, the Canard Lines Passenger ship sunk by a World War One German U-boat. Most of the passengers on board were Americans. There was only one survivor out of nearly a thousand passengers and crew. Many believe it was the last straw that drew the U.S. into the war.

The 1800s were not kind to Ireland. There was economic strife, the Potato Famine, and political unrest. As a result a huge number of Irish immigrated to the United States. People tracing their roots often argue over who was first or second. But there is one immigrant who defies discussion. She is 14 year old Annie Moore who left Cobh on a passenger ship in 1892 becoming the first Immigrant processed through the Ellis Island facility in New York. Those are her two younger brothers with her in the sculpture. We can only guess they were immigrants number two and three.

There is also a sculpture of Annie by herself at Ellis Island.

Some other unexpected notes about the town of Cobh. Prepare to experience the complete color spectrum as you walk along the streets and avenues. You would have to be color blind to not find your way home.

And one other thing. Be in SHAPE. While not in number, but in hiking grade? The hills in Coph put San Francisco to shame.

Back in County Kerry, yet another surprise. Here on Valentia Island in the Ring of Kerry, looking West, the Atlantic Ocean just overwhelms your vision. I can't imagine the Vikings thinking this would be a fun trip. I relate it to the experience of pioneers reaching the Rockies here in Colorado. There are no roads, there are no planes, no trains, no hiking or biking trails, no skiing warming huts. "What was I thinking? Put me on the first stagecoach back to Missouri."

But there is something even more imposing that boggles the imagination here. To speed up communication between the U.S. and Europe, some crazy visionaries said why don't we just lay a cable across the Atlantic so we can send each other telegraph messages? (Some of you will have to ask a great grandparent to explain TELEGRAPH.) The first attempt in 1857 didn't work. But somebody was determined. Four more shots at it and in 1873, the deed was done. And then in 1881 President Buchanan and Queen Victoria had themselves a little "Dit Dah" chat. And we thought texting was a brand new idea, didn't we? Do you suppose that is why we have so many Victorian facades on homes in our older neighborhoods?

As you look at all the surprise links we share, this Big Old World just keeps getting smaller and smaller, doesn't it.

Note: Ireland has 5, count them, organized political parties. What fun, huh?