Cork (city)
Cork (Irish: Corcaigh [ˈkɔɾˠkəɟ], from corcach, meaning 'marsh') is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland, third largest on the island of Ireland, the capital of County Cork and largest city in the province of Munster. At the 2022 census, it had a population of 224,004.
Cork
Corcaigh | |
|---|---|
City | |
From top, left to right: City Hall, the English Market, Quadrangle in UCC, the River Lee, Shandon Steeple | |
|
Coat of arms | |
| Nicknames: The Rebel City, Leeside, The Real Capital | |
| Motto(s): Latin: Statio Bene Fida Carinis "A safe harbour for ships" | |
Cork Location within Ireland Cork Location within Europe | |
| Coordinates: 51°53′50″N 8°28′12″W | |
| State | Ireland |
| Province | Munster |
| Region | Southern |
| County | Cork |
| Founded | 6th century AD |
| City rights | 1185 AD |
| Government | |
| • Local authority | Cork City Council |
| • Lord Mayor | Kieran McCarthy (Ind) |
| • Local electoral areas |
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| • Dáil constituency | |
| • European Parliament | South |
| Area | |
| • City | 187 km2 (72 sq mi) |
| • Urban | 174 km2 (67 sq mi) |
| • Metro | 820 km2 (320 sq mi) |
| Population (2022) | |
| • City | 224,004 |
| • Density | 1,188/km2 (3,080/sq mi) |
| • Metro (2017) | 305,222 |
| • Demonym | Corkonian or Leesider |
| Time zone | UTC0 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (IST) |
| Eircode | T12 and T23 |
| Area code | 021 |
| Vehicle index mark code | C |
| Website | Official website |
The city centre is an island between two channels of the River Lee which meet downstream at its eastern end, where the quays and docks along the river lead outwards towards Lough Mahon and Cork Harbour, one of the largest natural harbours in the world.
Originally founded in the 6th century as a monastic settlement, Cork was expanded by Viking invaders around 915. Its charter was granted by Prince John in 1185. Cork city was once fully walled, and the remnants of the old medieval town centre can be found around South and North Main streets. The city's cognomen of "the rebel city" originates in its support for the Yorkist cause in the Wars of the Roses. Corkonians sometimes refer to the city as "the real capital", a reference to its opposition to the Anglo-Irish Treaty in the Irish Civil War.