Vintage: Historic B&W photos of County Cork, Ireland (1890s)

Vintage: Historic B&W photos of County Cork, Ireland (1890s)

MonoVisions Black & White Photo Contest 2025

In the early 17th century, the townland of Leamcon (near Schull) was a pirate stronghold, and pirates traded easily in Baltimore and Whiddy Island. In the 19th century, Cork was a centre for the Fenians and for the constitutional nationalism of the Irish Parliamentary Party, from 1910 that of the All-for-Ireland Party. The county was a hotbed of guerrilla activity during the Irish War of Independence (1919–1921). Three Cork Brigades of the Irish Republican Army operated in the county and another in the city. Prominent actions included the Kilmichael Ambush in November 1920 and the Crossbarry Ambush in March 1921. The activity of IRA flying columns, such as the one under Tom Barry in west Cork, was popularised in the Ken Loach film The Wind That Shakes The Barley. On 11 December 1920, Cork City centre was gutted by fires started by the Black and Tans in reprisal for IRA attacks. Over 300 buildings were destroyed; many other towns and villages around the county, including Fermoy, suffered a similar fate.

Eccles Hotel, Glengariff. County Cork, Ireland

Eccles Hotel, Glengariff. County Cork, Ireland (1890s)

Bantry Bay. County Cork, Ireland

Bantry Bay. County Cork, Ireland (1890s)

Patrick Street (i.e., St. Patrick Street), Cork. County Cork, Ireland

Patrick Street (i.e., St. Patrick Street), Cork. County Cork, Ireland (1890s)

Blackrock Castle. County Cork, Ireland

Blackrock Castle. County Cork, Ireland (1890s)

Tunnel near Glengariff. County Cork, Ireland

Tunnel near Glengariff. County Cork, Ireland (1890s)

Glengariff Harbor. County Cork, Ireland

Glengariff Harbor. County Cork, Ireland (1890s)

Poul na Gurn, Glengariff Harbor. County Cork, Ireland

Poul na Gurn, Glengariff Harbor. County Cork, Ireland (1890s)

From Roches Royal Hotel, Glengariff Harbor. County Cork, Ireland

From Roches Royal Hotel, Glengariff Harbor. County Cork, Ireland (1890s)

Sugar Loaf Mountain. Glengariff. County Cork, Ireland

Sugar Loaf Mountain. Glengariff. County Cork, Ireland (1890s)

Cromwell's Bridge, Glengariff. County Cork, Ireland

Cromwell’s Bridge, Glengariff. County Cork, Ireland (1890s)

Queenstown. County Cork, Ireland

Queenstown. County Cork, Ireland (1890s)

Queenstown Harbor. County Cork, Ireland

Queenstown Harbor. County Cork, Ireland (1890s)

Blarney Castle. County Cork, Ireland

Blarney Castle. County Cork, Ireland (1890s)


MonoVisions Black & White Photo Contest 2025