Washington Street, Cork

Washington Street (Irish: Sráid Washington)[2] is a street in central Cork city, Ireland. Built in 1824,[3] it runs from the old medieval town centre onto the site of the western marshes, and today links the Western Road and Lancaster Quay with the Grand Parade.

Washington Street
The courthouse on Washington Street
Washington Street, Cork is located in Cork Central
Washington Street, Cork
Shown within Cork Central
Native nameSráid Washington (Irish)
Former name(s)Great George's Street[1]
NamesakeGeorge Washington
Length500 m (1,600 ft)
Width21 metres (69 ft)
LocationCork, Ireland
Postal codeT12
Coordinates51°53′50″N 8°28′55″W
west endSt. Finbarr's Road, Lancaster Quay, Woods Street
Major
junctions		South Main Street
east endGrand Parade
Other
Known forCork Courthouse, St Augustine's Catholic Church, pubs, restaurants

History

The street, established in 1824, was originally named "Great George's Street" in honour of King George III.[4] In 1918, the people of Cork renamed it as a tribute to George Washington.[5] Popular opinion still holds that the renaming was done to quell altercations involving the local population and American sailors fraternizing with local women.[6]

Events

In 1921, one member of the public was killed as police lorries on the street were attacked during the Irish War of Independence.[7]

In 2000, one person was killed when the facade of a Washington Street building partially collapsed.[8] Several premises on the street (and the street itself) were closed shortly afterwards to facilitate checks and works on other buildings in the area.[9] The street was, again, temporarily closed in early March 2020 following another structural failure.[10]

Buildings

Larger buildings on Washington Street include Cork Courthouse (1828)[11] and St Augustine's Catholic Church (1942).[12] The street also has a number of bars, nightclubs, and restaurants.[13]

See also

References
  1. "Cork street name changes 1750 - 2013". Corkpastandpresent.ie. Cork City Libraries. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  2. "Sráid Washington / Washington Street". logainm.ie. Irish Placenames Commission. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  3. "Thomas Holt's map of Cork city & suburbs". Corkpastandpresent.ie. Cork City Libraries. Retrieved 10 November 2017. Holt's map of 1832 is one of the first maps to show Great George's Street, which was opened in 1824 (and renamed Washington Street in 1918)
  4. "A Changing Townscape, early 1800s". Corkheritage.ie. Kieran McCarthy. Retrieved 26 October 2009.
  5. Gina Johnson. "The Laneways of Medieval Cork (a study carried out as part of Cork City Council's Major Initiative)" (PDF). Corkpastandpresent.ie. Cork City Libraries. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  6. Borgonovo, John (May 2012). "'Exercising a close vigilance over their daughters': Cork women, American sailors, and Catholic vigilantes, 1917–18". Irish Historical Studies. 38 (149): 89–107. doi:10.1017/s002112140000064x. ISSN 0021-1214. S2CID 165089467.
  7. "Police lorries bombed in Washington Street Cork". The Guardian. 16 April 1921 – via newspapers.com.
  8. "Woman crushed 'like a rag-doll' by falling bricks". independent.ie. Independent News & Media. 25 July 2000. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  9. "Premises vacated in Cork safety check". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. 10 January 2000. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  10. "Partial building collapse in Cork city centre". rte.ie. RTÉ News. 11 March 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  11. "Courthouse, Washington Street, Cork City". Buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  12. "History of OSA in Cork". Staugustinescork.ie. St Augustine's Church Cork. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  13. "Coors Light Live Tour - Washington Village, Cork City, Co. Cork". Corkentertainment.ie. Cork Entertainment. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
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