Stories / myths in Cork?

funnydoggy

Has anyone heard any myths/conspiracy theories/stories about people in Cork, or about Cork itself?


For instance -- there's a story that my grandad likes to tell that there are underground IRA tunnels throughout the city. Not sure if fact or what but always fun to think about !

shtpEdthePlum

funnydoggy wrote: »

Has anyone heard any myths/conspiracy theories/stories about people in Cork, or about Cork itself?

For instance -- there's a story that my grandad likes to tell that there are underground IRA tunnels throughout the city. Not sure if fact or what but always fun to think about !

There are souterrains running between Ucc, St Annes asylum and loads of other places in Cork
https://cora.ucc.ie/handle/10468/128

They were often features of ring forts
https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/fairy-forts-why-these-sacred-places-deserve-our-respect-1.3181259

Here's a video about ancient langers that might be of interest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ICEWA4L594

(joking)

The Freemasons are a interesting crew to follow if you're into the history of how Cork got to be the way it is
https://www.munsterfreemason.com/craft-lodges/st-fin-barres-lodge-no-8-cork/

Also why UCC has their skull and bones flag. Windle Building in UCC houses the medical lectures on campus and has done since the 19th century. The Kane building stand behind the medical building, on the site of the old gaol.

Unclaimed bodies from the gaol were sent to the medical building so they could use them to dissect and study, in bags marked with the skull and crossbones - the genesis of the rugby club logo.

ALSO the Poor Relation pub has a big hilarious story behind the name, but I don't want to be spreading it around online. It's only for Cork people. Ask anyone working near the top of the Coal Quay, they'll tell you about it.

funnydoggy

`

shtpEdthePlum wrote: »

There are souterrains running between Ucc, St Annes asylum and loads of other places in Cork
https://cora.ucc.ie/handle/10468/128

They were often features of ring forts
https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/fairy-forts-why-these-sacred-places-deserve-our-respect-1.3181259

Here's a video about ancient langers that might be of interest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ICEWA4L594

(joking)

The Freemasons are a interesting crew to follow if you're into the history of how Cork got to be the way it is
https://www.munsterfreemason.com/craft-lodges/st-fin-barres-lodge-no-8-cork/

Also why UCC has their skull and bones flag. Windle Building in UCC houses the medical lectures on campus and has done since the 19th century. The Kane building stand behind the medical building, on the site of the old gaol.

Unclaimed bodies from the gaol were sent to the medical building so they could use them to dissect and study, in bags marked with the skull and crossbones - the genesis of the rugby club logo.

ALSO the Poor Relation pub has a big hilarious story behind the name, but I don't want to be spreading it around online. It's only for Cork people. Ask anyone working near the top of the Coal Quay, they'll tell you about it.

This is EXACTLY the type of content I wanted to see!!

Also I'm very intrigued about the Poor Relation now :eek::pac:

shtpEdthePlum

shtpEdthePlum wrote: »

ALSO the Poor Relation pub has a big hilarious story behind the name, but I don't want to be spreading it around online. It's only for Cork people. Ask anyone working near the top of the Coal Quay, they'll tell you about it.

Ah heor
You cant leave it like that!

shtpEdthePlum

Loose lips etc

mini5476

UCC has an Egyptian Mummy in storage that has some interesting history, it was hidden under the floor boards of a lecture theatre sometime mid 1900s and was missing for a while.

discostu1

Obviously "The Goldie Angel" on St Finbarrs Cathedral when he/she blows her trumpet its the end of the world.
There was a story for years about the builder who built Turnerss Cross church committing suicide because they had problems with the foundations. They had major problems with the foundation, Curragh Road is well named but as far as I know he did not commit suicide.
There was a pub next to Parliament bridge might have been the George tiny place, it was allegedly the smallest brother in Ireland before it was a pub.
The rats swimming with you in the outdoor baths where the Kingsley is, I heard it from loads but dont believe it

the beer revolu

Yeah, that Turner's Cross church myth is just that.
I thought it was the architect was supposed to have commuted suicide because no one liked the church?
Anyway, doesn't take much digging to bust that one.

Yester

There's an active nuclear reactor in the Science Building in UCC. They can't go near it in case it blows up and kills us all.

the beer revolu

It's a mile around The Lough.
(it isn't)

discostu1

the beer revolu wrote: »

Yeah, that Turner's Cross church myth is just that.
I thought it was the architect was supposed to have commuted suicide because no one liked the church?
Anyway, doesn't take much digging to bust that one.

Barry Byrne was the architect there were big problems with the foundation Bothair an chorraigh is the Bog Road and if you know the area the old Dump had loads of mini lakes, bogs, the architect built a few similar churches in the States he worked for the famous Frank Lloyd Wrigtht. As kids we couldnt figure out why you would see "foreigners" British people and Yanks were coming to see and take pictures of "our church " we didnt realise that it is a very important piece of architectural history, the ceiling/roof was one of the largest unsupported such structures in Europe for a number of years
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Byrne

Padraig Mor

Yester wrote: »

There's an active nuclear reactor in the Science Building in UCC. They can't go near it in case it blows up and kills us all.

That was nearly true. It was a plutonium reactor (I've seen it) but never used. They got rid of it a few years ago.

corks finest

discostu1 wrote: »

Obviously "The Goldie Angel" on St Finbarrs Cathedral when he/she blows her trumpet its the end of the world.
There was a story for years about the builder who built Turnerss Cross church committing suicide because they had problems with the foundations. They had major problems with the foundation, Curragh Road is well named but as far as I know he did not commit suicide.
There was a pub next to Parliament bridge might have been the George tiny place, it was allegedly the smallest brother in Ireland before it was a pub.
The rats swimming with you in the outdoor baths where the Kingsley is, I heard it from loads but dont believe it

There were rats on occasion in the Lee baths,
Saw them.

discostu1

If you did you did my experience late 60s early 70s was it was actually very well kept .....unlike Eglinton street which I found a bit manky and the smell of bleach

corks finest

discostu1 wrote: »

If you did you did my experience late 60s early 70s was it was actually very well kept .....unlike Eglinton street which I found a bit manky and the smell of bleach

Yeah remember eglinton , cork life saving club ran out of there,bleach was serious but needed

Le Chateau was founded by the captain of the Spanish Armada.

I don't think it's true because Le Chateau is an eighteen century pub while the Armada was the sixteenth century.

shtpEdthePlum

These are terrific lads keep em coming.

the beer revolu wrote: »

It's a mile around The Lough.
(it isn't)

The outside is a mile and the inside is a kilometer. Roughly. I walk it every day and can attest to this being just about right. Very imprecisely.

Additionally the four-faced liar is a Norrie myth and the story of Cha and Miah is a Sorrie one.

TheChizler

shtpEdthePlum wrote: »

The outside is a mile and the inside is a kilometer. Roughly. I walk it every day and can attest to this being just about right. Very imprecisely.

Only if you're going clockwise.

opus

mini5476 wrote: »

UCC has an Egyptian Mummy in storage that has some interesting history, it was hidden under the floor boards of a lecture theatre sometime mid 1900s and was missing for a while.

This reminded me of one of the funniest things I read last year :pac:

https://twitter.com/Ciaraioch/status/1222870530845487106

funnydoggy

These are fantastic!

Mav11

discostu1 wrote: »

If you did you did my experience late 60s early 70s was it was actually very well kept .....unlike Eglinton street which I found a bit manky and the smell of bleach

Eglington Baths were great, you could smell the bleach / chlorine on your skin for days afterwards. My mother always swore that every time I went there I got sick. I can't say she was wrong:D

whisky_galore

There were stories that thieving car parts off the assembly line was so widespread among Ford factory employees that if you gave one a kick up the arse they'd start up for you.

Mav11

The story with Fords was that if you wanted a part for the car you said it to one of the workers who would pick the part, mark it with a belt of a hammer and get it rejected as damaged!! They were then allowed to bring it home. No robbin' involved there!!

the beer revolu

shtpEdthePlum wrote: »

These are terrific lads keep em coming.


The outside is a mile and the inside is a kilometer. Roughly. I walk it every day and can attest to this being just about right. Very imprecisely.

Additionally the four-faced liar is a Norrie myth and the story of Cha and Miah is a Sorrie one.

What myth?
Up until the mechanism was restored/replaced sometime in the 90s (at a guess) the four faces showed a different time. I remember it well.

What's the Cha and Miah myth?
They were comedy characters - actors.

cml387

Doea anyone know the story about why the airport is where it is, and was there skullduggery involved?

whisky_galore

the beer revolu wrote: »

What's the Cha and Miah myth?
.

That they were funny?

danoriordan1402

There were stories flying around how the locals used to pee on the Blarney Stone after a night of drinking. Leave it nice and ripe for the tourist Q's in the mornings. I think it stemmed from the Fight Club book, the author may have mentioned the story in there.

It used to be easy enough to get into the grounds 25 years ago, never up the winding stairs to the stone though. These days no chance.

the beer revolu

cml387 wrote: »

Doea anyone know the story about why the airport is where it is, and was there skullduggery involved?

The story goes that it was to be built in Ovens but brown envelopes had it moved to its current site - arguably the foggiest part of Cork!
No Idea if this is true or not.

hans aus dtschl

the beer revolu wrote: »

The story goes that it was to be built in Ovens but brown envelopes had it moved to its current site - arguably the foggiest part of Cork!
No Idea if this is true or not.

No, this isn't true, but it's nearly true.

The alternate location was in Ahanesk East Cork, south of Carrigtohill, east of where the existing dump is.
A Cork East TD at the time (from Glounthaune) heavily tried to influence the decision towards the Carrigtohill site.
He said it was near the railway line. Another thing in its favour was the fact that boat planes used the site for a short time, and these were potentially the future of air travel.

The decision of the current site was never properly documented/published. And in my opinion (and in the opinion of TD Corry too) the only reason the current site was selected was because it suited the person selling the land. The explanation given now is that the hills at the Carrigtohill location would be too severe. But that must be nonsense, because they're nothing at all compared to Spur Hill/Airport Hill! In their defence though, at least the Ahanesk site would probably have been very foggy too.

Finally, there is an old WWI airfield near Mogeely, on the train line. I often confused this one with the above info. It's another site altogether unrelated to the above.

shtpEdthePlum

the beer revolu wrote: »

What myth?
Up until the mechanism was restored/replaced sometime in the 90s (at a guess) the four faces showed a different time. I remember it well.

What's the Cha and Miah myth?
They were comedy characters - actors.

Yeah that's all I meant about Shandon, the minute hands on the east and west faces still always go ahead of the north and south hands in the ascent from the half hour to the hour but they all line up at the hour again... Allegedly because Sorries have always been that bit behind Northsiders, but they always catch up eventually

Nice bit here about the Two Working Men.
https://thesilvervoice.wordpress.com/tag/cha-and-miah/

There's the story of the Yank who came to visit Cork.

First, they saw the Capitol and the American said "Waaaaaow what's thaaat?"

The guide gave him the details, five floors tall, rebuilt 2017, former cinema-turned retail outlet.

Next, passing the Western Gateway building he said "Waaaaaaow what's thaaat?"

Six floors tall, completed in 2009, office building the guide told him.

At the end of the day the guide was wrecked from all the questions and as they passed the County Hall bucko asks "Waaaaaaaaaaow what's thaaat?"

"I've no idea," the guide tells him. "That wasn't there this morning."

partyguinness

Jaysus I have a load of stories about Cork but I have mental block at the moment...give me time.

WHL

The old Cork to Mallow road was so twisty that I remember hearing that it was 20 miles from Cork to Mallow but only 19 from Mallow to Cork 😂

discostu1

Even to most Cork folk its now the Tramore road but to older folk and to "locals" it was always the Hang Dog Road ,,,,,,,,,,,,,with good reason http://homepage.tinet.ie/~douglasweekly/hangdog8.html

Itssoeasy

That the railway tunnel out of cork isn’t a mile long. The myth that Patrick’s bridge collapsed in the early 1980s. Yes, there was work done on it but I was told for years that the bridge collapsed as in fully collapsed into the river.

discostu1

2 Patricks Bridges have collapsed but n the 1800s

. St Patrick’s Bridge:

In the late 1700s, the butter and beef trade made Cork a wealthy City but getting access from the city’s southern hills was an issue. A new bridge was proposed by the expanding population.

There was opposition though from the ferrymen near the proposed site (i.e. on the northern side of Patrick Street) who operated ferry boats on the River Lee. Their petition to the Corporation of Cork was turned down and in 1786, the go-ahead for the raising of money for the project was given. The Corporation took out financial loans and tolls would be placed on the bridge to repay the debt. Mr Michael Shanahan was chosen to be the architect and chief contractor of the operation. From 1788, he set about planning the project and on 25 July of that year, the foundation stone was laid. It took a half a year to nearly complete the whole job.

Unfortunately, on 17 January 1789, disaster occurred as a flood swept through the Lee Valley. A boat tied up at Carroll's Quay (then Sand’s Quay) broke loose and crashed against the uncompleted centre arch or keystone and destroyed it. The bridge was rebuilt and christened on 29 September 1789.

In November 1853, disaster happened again when St Patrick's Bridge was swept away by another flood. The rebuilding of the new bridge was conducted by architect John Benson. In November 1859, the new St Patrick's Bridge was opened and christened. Disaster struck again when the bridge had to be reconstructed due to a ship which struck it. It was built back up again and was opened on 12 December 1861 for public traffic. The bridge has undergone maintenance work over the last number of decades.

macraignil

The church at the end of Summer hill north (Trinity Presbyterian Church) has a small defect in the angle of the stone spire and the story I was told was that the stone mason who built it killed himself due to the embarrassment of making the mistake.

The green area in the middle of the old part of UCC (The Quod) should never be crossed by a student as any one who does will never get their degree.

One of the first torpedoes developed was first fired in Cork harbor. Just did some searching and this inventor may be the source of the story I heard.

The round tower in Cloyne in east Cork will be some day be surrounded by the sea.

Mav11

macraignil wrote: »

The church at the end of Summer hill north (Trinity Presbyterian Church) has a small defect in the angle of the stone spire and the story I was told was that the stone mason who built it killed himself due to the embarrassment of making the mistake.

The green area in the middle of the old part of UCC (The Quod) should never be crossed by a student as any one who does will never get their degree.

One of the first torpedoes developed was first fired in Cork harbor. Just did some searching and this inventor may be the source of the story I heard.

The round tower in Cloyne in east Cork will be some day be surrounded by the sea.

http://www.camdenfortmeagher.ie/the-brennan-torpedo/

shtpEdthePlum

shtpEdthePlum wrote: »

These are terrific lads keep em coming.


The outside is a mile and the inside is a kilometer. Roughly. I walk it every day and can attest to this being just about right. Very imprecisely.

Additionally the four-faced liar is a Norrie myth and the story of Cha and Miah is a Sorrie one.

Outside is 1200/1300m.... 6 furlong... 3/4 of a mile..... Under 15 minute walk at normal pace.

the beer revolu

Augeo wrote: »

Outside is 1200/1300m.... 6 furlong... 3/4 of a mile..... Under 15 minute walk at normal pace.

I also can't help thinking that if you put a path wide enough around a puddle, the path could be a mile long.
The claim was always that the circumference of the Lough was a mile, not some arbitrary path around it that includes footpaths along the road that have no doubt changed over the years.

the beer revolu

macraignil wrote: »

The church at the end of Summer hill north (Trinity Presbyterian Church) has a small defect in the angle of the stone spire and the story I was told was that the stone mason who built it killed himself due to the embarrassment of making the mistake.

.

There certainly is a slight kink in that spire and I was glad to see that they didn't take it out when it was refurbed, a couple of years ago.

I suspect that the story of the suicide was conflated with the (untrue) story of the suicide regarding Turner's Cross church

the beer revolu

the beer revolu wrote: »

I also can't help thinking that if you put a path wide enough around a puddle, the path could be a mile long.
The claim was always that the circumference of the Lough was a mile, not some arbitrary path around it that includes footpaths along the road that have no doubt changed over the years.

Indeed.
It's not a mile, simples

beer enigma

Temple Hill Graveyard, rumours there are Knights Templar buried there

Temple Hill Graveyard, Ballintemple Cork.
A Knights Templar church was built at Ballintemple in 1392
Temple Hill, Churchyard Lane, and Ballintemple itself derive their names from an ecclesiastical and burial site at the top of Temple Hill. , while the graveyard remains, no archaeological evidence of an adjoining church has been subject to modern survey.
The graveyard itself has been subject to survey, and while it may have been used in the early medieval period The earliest known burial to have taken place at the mysterious graveyard at Temple Hill in Cork was a gruesome one. After the 1690 Siege of Cork, the intestines of Henry FitzRoy – 1st Duke of Grafton and an illegitimate son of King Charles II were buried here, while his body went back to England. The earliest remaining extant burial markers (with discernable dates) are dated to the early 18th Century. The antiquary and folklorist Thomas Crofton Croker surveyed the graveyard in the early 19th century. Croker records a folksong relating to the graveyard as well as documenting a marker for an 18th-century burial of a Lieutenant Henry Richard Temple who died with his young wife during a journey from the Caribbean (via Ireland) to England. During one such survey in the early 1800s, Croker was chased by locals who mistook his survey for grave robbery. The graveyard is accessible but closed to new burials (save to a few families with existing burial rights).

discostu1

St Johns Cemetery now St Johns Park at the back of ParkOwen at the top of Quaker road was said to be the burial place of The Templars its a lovely peaceful place if its in your 5km. some great info here on interesting graveyards in the City here https://www.corkcity.ie/en/media-folder/planning/cork-city-s-burial-places.pdf

whisky_galore

Cork once had botanic gardens.

https://www.yaycork.ie/corks-mysterious-botanic-gardens-have-vanished-but-parts-remain-among-the-graves/

discostu1

Most of what is now Ballyphehane was market gardens even parts of Turners Cross which was more swampy were used for growing vegetables, the earth is very dark and rich

Itssoeasy

the beer revolu wrote: »

Yeah, that Turner's Cross church myth is just that.
I thought it was the architect was supposed to have commuted suicide because no one liked the church?
Anyway, doesn't take much digging to bust that one.

I mean it was an ambitious thing to build when it was built. It’s a very distinctive looking church.

the beer revolu

Itssoeasy wrote: »

I mean it was an ambitious thing to build when it was built. It’s a very destructive looking church.

It was certainly bold and modern at the time.
I think it has aged beautifully and still looks great - and modern.

saabsaab

Yester wrote: »

There's an active nuclear reactor in the Science Building in UCC. They can't go near it in case it blows up and kills us all.

Article about it here..


https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-10077085.html

discostu1

I was listening to a podcast on the Voynich manuscript and hadnt realised that Voynichs with was Ethel Boole daughter of George Boole of Boolean mathematics fame and her Uncle was Geroge Everest the mountain is named after him. She was born in Ballintemple and had a fascinating life
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethel_Voynich

saabsaab

'Before becoming a hotel in 2008, the building were Maldron is housed today used to be the North Infirmary Hospital in 1720 and was later used to secretly treat the wounded soldiers from the war. Due to its history, the hotel is considered one of the most haunted places in Ireland. Guests have reported seeing the ghost of a woman who is believed to have died while giving birth back when the hotel was an infirmary, while broken mirrors and equipment have terrified guests and staff alike. Rumour has it that in between rooms 318 and 319 there is a closed off room, 325, which cannot be accessed on its own and is said to be a hive of paranormal activity.'

discostu1

saabsaab wrote: »

'Before becoming a hotel in 2008, the building were Maldron is housed today used to be the North Infirmary Hospital in 1720 and was later used to secretly treat the wounded soldiers from the war. Due to its history, the hotel is considered one of the most haunted places in Ireland. Guests have reported seeing the ghost of a woman who is believed to have died while giving birth back when the hotel was an infirmary, while broken mirrors and equipment have terrified guests and staff alike. Rumour has it that in between rooms 318 and 319 there is a closed off room, 325, which cannot be accessed on its own and is said to be a hive of paranormal activity.'

Thats a great story reminds me that we were told that Vernon Mount was haunted and to keep away, I suspect this was to keep us away from a house that was starting to fall apart but it has a dark history http://www.vernonmountpark.ie/abduction.php