Cobh Heritage Centre -The Queenstown Story, Cobh

Once the lobby of the town's railway station, beautifully restored it's now an amazing emigration museum and heritage centre, known as the Cobh Heritage Centre. It's full of an amazing array of displays on the story of the Irish emigration from Cobh right through the period of the famine in 1845 to the era of the great liners in the 1950s. As well as displays on Irish naval and military history, and the historical role which Cobh harbour has played as a port, the museum includes displays on the ill-fated Titanic and the Lusitania. It's a very well presented and informative museum. They also provide a Genealogy Recordfinder Service and there's a small cafe and gift shop a well as an ATM inside the centre. It's a must visit.

A Few Hours well spent. I was not too sure if visiting Cobh Heritage Centre would offer much more that the Titanic Experience. I could not have been more wrong. Granted Titanic and Cobh go hand in hand, there is far more to Cobh and the part it played in the dispersal of the Irish all over the world. People left Ireland for many reasons. The Great Famine between 1845 and 1849 is just one part of the story. The heritage centre covers the emigration out from Ireland throughout history as just one part of the exhibition. It shows how important the port was throughout history. What I found interesting was story of the convict transportation ships, detailing what happened to those who where transported to the other end of the world for trivial crimes. There are also the stories of people who chose to emigrate to many corners of the world. Back then it was a one-way trip unlike today when it is so easy to return home. We take so much for granted now. I would highly recommend a visit to Cobh Heritage Centre, a look back in history that will make you realise just how easy it is to travel and see the world.