These old photos show parts of Cork have barely changed in 100 years
We’re a city rising, but it’s nice to know there are parts of Cork that will always stay the same.
Even though the roads and buildings have been updated and modernised down through the years, there are many parts of the city and county that are unmistakably familiar in images from 60 or even 120 years ago.
The @oldphotosofcork Instagram feed does an excellent job of collecting the best old photos and keeping them together for posterity.
Here are a few of our unmistakably familiar favourites:
1. THE WESTERN ROAD
The Cork and Muskerry Light Railway has (sadly) been replaced by road and the huge traditional pram has been swapped for a Bugaboo, but the handsome homes of the Western Road still stand there today.
View this post on Instagram
2. BARRACK STREET
The buildings to the right have been demolished and replaced, but the sweep of Barrack Street looking up from South Gate Bridge is still familiar. These days Fords Bar and The Flying Enterprise are on the left.
View this post on Instagram
3. CORK STREET, KINSALE
This photo of Kinsale’s main thoroughfare, once known as Cramer Street, was taken in the early 1900s. Even though the area is now a busy traffic spot, the streetscape hasn’t changed an awful lot.
View this post on Instagram
4. ELECTRIC
Long before you could pop in for dinner and a cocktail, the art deco building that now houses Electric was home to O’Shea’s Ford dealership on the South Mall in the mid to late 1930’s.
View this post on Instagram
5. BRIAN BORU STREET
This is what heavy traffic looked like on Brian Boru Street heading towards Brian Boru Bridge in the 1940s. In the background you can see the Trinity Presbyterian Church.
View this post on Instagram
6. ADELAIDE STREET
Taken in 1937, this photos shows children playing on Adelaide Street just off North Main Street. While there are still some homes in the area, it’s not the busy neighbourhood it once was.
View this post on Instagram
