On the ramparts of Cork
The people of Cork have traditionally been hard to control. Multiple Irish governments will confirm that. However, while this tradition may show itself today only in the non-payment of property taxes or water charges, the effects in earlier times were often quite drastic. The people of Cork flat out denied the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921, which paved the way for the Irish Free State, because the independence granted to Ireland didn't go far enough for them. One of the fathers of Irish Independence, Michael Collins was killed by these anti-treaty forces here in Cork, which is bitterly ironic, considering that he was a Cork man himself. Back in the 16th century, though, the people here in the southwest of Ireland didn't just limit themselves to stoking conflict here in Ireland, they were actively engaged in agitating against the British crown, and supported numerous rebellions and coup attempts, especially after the British had renounced Roman Catholicism. It is from these tur...