page_title: History of Cork
section_title: Population explosion, famine and emigration
hierarchical_section_title: History of Cork / Population explosion, famine and emigration
caption_attribution_description: A lovely high view of King Street (now MacCurtain Street) in Cork. Where was the high point from which this photo was taken? I hope that the unusually situated dog in this photo will satisfy those of you who requested a canine component in our Flickr offering - this means you, DannyM8! Date: Circa 1900? NLI Ref.: L_NS_00115
context_page_description: Cork, located on Ireland's south coast, is its second largest city within the Republic of Ireland after Dublin and the third largest on the island of Ireland after Dublin and Belfast. Cork City is the largest city in the province of Munster. Its history dates back to the 6th century.
context_section_description: During the early 19th century the population of Cork expanded. By mid century Cork had a population of about 80,000. The increase was due to migration from the countryside as people fled from poverty and in the 1840s, a terrible famine. This led to extremes of poverty and overcrowding in Cork city during this century. Another effect of this influx was to reverse the denominational character of the city, which became predominantly Catholic again.
  However, in the later 19th century the population of Cork declined slightly due to emigration, principally to Britain or North America. In 1825, over 1,800 Irish residents departed from Cork to emigrate to Peterborough, Ontario, Canada assisted by Peter Robinson (who organised the scheme on behalf of the British Government). This resulted in the area known as "Scott's Plains" being renamed "Peterborough" as a tribute. Cork and also nearby Cobh became major points of departure for Irish emigrants, who left the country in great numbers after the Great Irish Famine of the 1840s.
  During the 19th and early 20th century important industries in Cork included brewing, distilling, wool and shipbuilding. In addition, there were some municipal improvements such as gas light street lights in 1825, two local papers, the Cork Constitution published from 1823 and the Cork Examiner, first published in 1841 and, very importantly for the development of modern industry, the railway reached Cork in 1849. Also in 1849, University College Cork opened.
  Much 19th century architecture can still be seen in many areas around the city such as the neo-Georgian and Victorian buildings that now house banks and department stores.  The Victorian influence on the city is noticeable in place names such as Victoria Cross (after Queen Victoria), Albert Quay (after Prince Albert), Adelaide Street (after Queen Adelaide) and the Victoria Hospital on the Old Blackrock Road.
  Since the nineteenth century, Cork had been a predominantly Irish nationalist city, with widespread support for Irish Home Rule and the Irish Parliamentary Party, but from 1910 stood firmly behind William O'Brien's dissident All-for-Ireland Party. O'Brien published a third local newspaper, the Cork Free Press.
caption: King Street, now MacCurtain Street), c. 1900
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