Historic Photo: Patrick Street, Cork, Ireland, about 1900.
Modernity is slowly replacing the old ways in this view of turn-of-the-century Ireland.
It’s been a few months since I’ve showcased one of these old-fashioned hand-colored hi-res photos from the end of the 19th/beginning of the 20th century, so here’s an interesting one depicting a street in the center of Cork, Ireland. I can’t really be more sure of the date than it is some time around the year 1900. The trolley cars probably command attention first, but there are a lot of interesting details to look at here. The trolleys are double-deckers, with seats up top for sightseeing. I’ve never seen that on mass transit of this period before. Somehow despite these double-decker accommodations the trolleys still have room for copious advertising. One of the shops in the background sells pianos. And the streetlights still appear to be gas. At night this street would have a soft golden look, quite different than the steady electric blaze we’re so used to seeing in urban areas today.
