The Grand Parade
In the 17th Century wealthy merchants used their money to build fine structures in the old walled city.
However, when these merchants moved out of the city during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries to mansions in the suburbs, the poorer classes moved in to the vacated houses.
On the Grand Parade there are fine examples of some of these bow-fronted, slate-clad Georgian houses.
Georgian house on the Grand Parade in Cork.
© Cork City Libraries
© Cork City Libraries
As well as creating a very striking visual effect, the slates protect the walls of the houses from the elements.