Cork’s St Patrick’s Street: A History

Leaders from Daniel O'Connell to Michael Collins to Jack Lynch drew thousands onto this street for rallies. Charles Stewart Parnell, MP for Cork, made his famous statement that ‘no man can fix the boundary of a nation’ on this street. As home to the film festival many Hollywood stars visited. Probably the most famous, though much forgotten, resident was one of the earliest socialist thinkers, William Thompson - forerunner to Karl Marx. It could be argued this was one of the founding places of socialism. The story of St Patrick’s Street is in many ways the story of Cork. Affectionately known as ‘Pana’ by generations of Corkonians, it is Cork’s main street and the heart of the city. The newly refurbished street opened in 2004, a pedestrian-friendly space retaining the natural curve of the one-time river channel and bringing a continental flavour to the streetscape. This history takes us from its beginning in the 1780s to the present day. Who created and named the street? Why was it named after the national rather than local saint? How has it evolved? The people and buildings and its evolution into primarily a retail street are outlined in some detail. The rebuilding of the street after ‘the burning of Cork’ in 1920 is described for the first time. This is also the place where Cork people come to assemble, in celebration or in sorrow, in religious processions and parades. Copiously illustrated with maps, plans and photographs, both new and old, and packed with interesting snippets of information, this is for all with an interest in Cork City.