The Day We Went to Cobh

Today, the sun was shining for the second consecutive day and we were up bright and early. Our plan was to go to Cobh (pronounced COVE!) via Parkrun at Midleton. The taxi was booked for 7:30am. 

The travel plans went like this: Firstly, a taxi to Cork Railway Station, or the Iron Road (Iarnrod) as the Irish prefer to call it, in time to procure coffee and catch the 8:15 Cork Commuter to Midleton. 

Secondly, participate in the Midleton Parkrun, a first for Mark and Julie who had their barcodes at the ready in anticipation of just such an event. 

Then another short train trip back to Glounthaune where we would disembark and change trains for the seaside village of Cobh. 

I’m happy to say all went according to plan and the sun shone on us all day. 

Apart from the fact that we first jumped into the taxi that arrived just before 07:30 but quickly realised that we weren’t the customers he had been assigned, all was well, we jumped out and he sped off, while we waited for our driver, Brian to arrive. 

He appeared right on time and, keeping us entertained with his commentary and humour along the way, we were at the ‘Iarnrod’ in plenty of time for coffee and the train. 

The rail trip was only about 25 minutes and uneventful, as we passed through greener than green countryside and arrived at Midleton with 45 minutes to spare before the start of parkrun at 09:30 (how civilised). We decided to look for toilet facilities but to our dismay, there were none. We went out to the back of the railway station where the parkrun course began, as the town map indicated toilets in the small park area. The spot where the toilets used to be before they were vandalised provided us with no solace, and no practical help. However, a helpful parkrun vol offered to assist us and we set off at pace to first try the toilets in the change rooms at the sports ground over the road, and, having drawn a negative there, to point us in the direction of the local supermarket. 

Julie and I were back in plenty of time for the start of parkrun and we all enjoyed the friendly people and their picturesque, flat, well-paved out-and-back course, on what had been the old railway line. We finished, took the obligatory photos with the local parkrun frame, in good time for our next train at 10:45, and we set off for the pretty seaside town of Cobh. 

As Cobh is famous for its row of colourful houses, known fondly as ‘the deck of cards,’ lining a steep hill, we set off in that direction first, only briefly distracted by a small market on the seafront, in particular an earring stall. 

We took photos of the houses from various angles, sussed out the lunch options at the top of the hill (there were none!), and set off down the hill towards the cathedral. 

Again we were distracted from our mission by the guests arriving for a wedding at the cathedral. Despite the now cool wind, we waited for the fashionably late bride to finally arrive with her entourage in some very interesting old vehicles, before continuing on our mission to find lunch. 

Back on the seafront at the foot of the hill we discovered a small restaurant where we managed to find some lunch, before we set off in separate directions, Mark and Julie to find the old Customs House and the Titanic Memorial Park, Wallsy to the Heritage Centre back at the railway station and me to browse the gift shop at the Heritage Centre. 

We regrouped at 4, had some refreshments and climbed aboard the train back to Cork. 

Derek the cabbie drove us home through heavy pre-concert traffic and we have spent a quiet night in planning transport to our great Dingle Way adventure this week.