Between the mid-nineteenth and twentieth centuries, more than 2.5 million people from across Ireland departed from Cobh (it was then known as Queenstown) for new lives in the United States, Canada, and Australia. The city became synonymous with farewells. Cobh was the last port of call of RMS Titanic. Many of the buildings, streets and piers have not changed since the Titanic’s sinking over 100 years ago. The old Cunard and Whitestar ticket and embarkation terminals still stand on the waterfront.

The Cunard passenger liner RMS Lusitania was sunk by a German U-Boat off the Old Head of Kinsale while en route to Liverpool in on May 7, 1915. 1198 passengers died, while 700 were rescued. The survivors and victims were brought to the town of Cobh, and over one hundred lie buried in the Old Church Cemetery just north of the town.