County
Cork (Irish: Contae Chorcaí) is the most southerly and the largest
of the modern counties of Ireland. Cork is nicknamed "The Rebel County",
as a result of the support of the townsmen of Cork in 1491 for Perkin Warbeck,
a pretender to the throne of England during the Wars of the Roses. In more
recent times, the name has referred to the prominent role Cork played in the
Irish War of Independence (1919-1921) and its position as an anti-treaty stronghold
during the Irish Civil War (1922-23). Attractions include the Blarney Stone
and Cobh (formerly Queenstown), the port where many Irish emigrants boarded
for their voyage to the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or
South Africa and also the last stop of the Titanic, before departing on its
doomed journey. The city of Cork is the second largest city in the Republic
of Ireland and capital of the province of Munster.
The remote western area of the county, known as West Cork, is a popular destination
for tourists, who visit the small villages and islands including Sherkin
Island, Oileán Chléire or Cape Clear Island and Dursey Island.
Mizen Head, the "southwesternmost point in Ireland" is also in
West Cork, as is Sheep's Head.