Titanic Tales - then and now

Westbourne Place from the sea. At the time of the Titanic there was no spire on the cathedral. This is the only noticeable difference between the two photographs; other than that the two are almost identical.

The one other, almost imperceptible, difference is in relation to the building just to the left of the Commodore Hotel. This building was originally one floor lower. It was designed to match the building on the immediate right of the hotel. These buildings were lower than the buildings either side of them in Westbourne Place and were designed that way by the original architect, Decimus Burton. His purpose was to isolate the hotel as an identifiable edifice within the complete block of buildings that is Westbourne Place and is an extremely unique architectural feature.

The Commodore Hotel is in fact very unique in that it was one of the very first purpose built hotels in Ireland. It was built as part of a grandiose project undertaken by Lord Midleton, the local Viscount, in the mid 19th century to redevelop Cobh. The plan was to develop the town as a Victorian spa retreat, the first tourist attraction of the day, if you will. This involved the reclamation of substantial tracts of land, the development of railway facilities, the development of a promenade, terraces, hotel, and baths. Lord Midleton commissioned the eminent architect of the day, Decimus Burton, to design the project. Burton's more prominent work included projects on Buckingham Palace, aswell as buildings and gardens of the Zoological Society in Regent's London. Westbourne Place itself was designed in a similar architectural style to Eastbourne, another seaside town on the south coast of England; hence the name 'Westbourne.'

Titanic Tales - then and now

Another pair of pics from the 'then and now' collection. The first is taken almost one hundred years ago and is taken from the White Star line pier, affectionately known locally as the 'Titanic' pier looking towards the Promenade and Westbourne Place with the Commodore Hotel (or the "Queens Hotel" as it was then) in the background. The second photo was taken a number of years ago and was taken from Kennedy Pier looking towards the remains of the Titanic Pier but again with the Prom and Westbourne Place in the background.

In many ways very little has changed. Mind you the presence of a modern cruise liner in the latter certainly stands out but other than that its as if time stood still!

While taking part in the Titanic Trail guided walking tour you do get a chance to explore Cobh's maritime heritage and particularly Cobh's links to the Titanic. As Dr. Michael Martin outlines on this tour, much of Cobh remains the same as that day the Titanic called. The Commodore Hotel is giving you the chance to walk in the footsteps of those Titanic passengers that departed from Cobh, or Queenstown as it was at the time. Titanic Packages at the Commodore Hotel, incorporate the Titanic Trail, as well as a visit to the Titanic Experience and 'Cobh the Queenstown Story.'

Titanic Tales - then and now

The first pic is a photo of Westbourne Place, Cobh around the time of the Titanic visit. The second one is more recent, taken last year just after a snow storm. Its amazing, there's a time gap between the two of over a hundred years yet they are in many ways the same. Its as if time stood still!!!

Most of the buildings and streetscapes of Cobh are virtually the same today as when the Titanic called. For those 123 passengers who boarded Titanic from Queenstown their experience of Cobh would be similar to yours if you were to visit Cobh today. This is explored in the guided walking tour given by Dr. Michael Martin on the Titanic Trail. On this tour you are in essence walking in the footsteps of those passengers.

The Commodore Hotel is offering great deals for March including a walk on the Titanic Trail, aswell as entry to the Titanic Experience, and also entry to 'Cobh the Queenstown Story.' Check out our Titanic Packages for more details.

WEEKEND ENTERTAINMENT

FRIDAY 2nd: Music in O'Sheas Bar with Brian McGovern

DISCO IN CLUB C

SATURDAY 3rd: Music in O'Sheas Bar with Andrew Foley

& Music in Lounge

DISCO IN CLUB C

Titanic Tales - Paul Rudd and the Titanic connection

On the day that Paul Rudd's latest film Wanderlust opens in the cinemas here its an ideal time to reflect on Paul's link to the Titanic story.

The photo above is of Paul with his sister and mother at the unveiling of a picture in memory of Michael Rudd, Paul's father, in 2010. Michael had sadly passed away the year before. The picture now hangs proudly in the foyer of the Commodore Hotel.

Michael was a great friend of the Commodore Hotel and of Cobh. He had over the years travelled to Cobh numerous times following his passion of history and of all things Titanic. Indeed, following his retirement from World Airways, Michael pursued his passion further and became an historical tour guide. He had also for many years been a member of and served as an officer of the Titanic Historical Society. On many occasions he had come with the Titanic Historical Society on their visits to Cobh, Titanic's final port of call. In fact, many of these were part of the Titanic Heritage Tours that Mike used to host. On other times he came with his family to a town that he had fallen in love with. Paul had recalled that many times as kids they had travelled to Cobh and stayed in the Commodore Hotel. It was fitting then, in a ceremony organised by the Irish Titanic Historical Society, that Michael's picture now adorns a small corner of that hostelry that he loved so well!!!

Interesting video of Cobh....

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