An old world boutique hotel, overlooking the magnificent Cork Harbour. The Commodore Hotel, overlooks the famous “prom” in Co ... bh, and the impressive Cork Harbour, the 2nd largest natural harbour in the world with Sydney being the first. Cobh is a hugely historic town just 30 mins east of Cork city, on the ‘Ancient East’ route, and it was the last port of call for the Titanic before it headed out into the Atlantic ocean towards America. Opened as the Queen’s hotel in 1854, in honour of Queen Victoria who stepped ashore just a few metres away, it was one of Ireland’s first purpose built hotels. When Ireland gained independence in 1921, it was renamed The States Hotel and finally became the Commodore Hotel in 1939. It famously featured in the Cork Examiner newspaper in 1855, when a grand ball was held for Queen Victoria's then Viceroy in Ireland, The Lord Lieutenant General, Lord Carlisle. Fort Carlisle at the mouth of the harbour was later named after him. For an interim period during World war I, it served as a hospital and it was where many of the survivors of the Lusitania sinking were brought. One of them was Lady Margaret Mackworth who mentioned the hotel in her book, “This was my World”, she was later known as Viscountess Rhonda. The Lusitania, a Cunard Lines passenger liner carrying a significant number of American’s, was torpedoed off the coast by a German submarine in 1915 during the war, it was a landmark event in the war, envoking protests in the US. It’s sinking helped shift public opinion in there against Germany. The current owners of the Commodore, the O’Sheas, have had the hotel since 1968 and are currently in the process of once again updating the hotel for the new era, while paying homage to the past and keeping it’s old world charm. Located just 2 mins from the train station, it is a perfect spot to relax after a days sights seeing in Cobh. read more