Cobh Harbor – Ireland

Erin and I spent time driving along the coast of Ireland, exploring small towns and harbors along the way. One stop that stayed with me was the town of Cobh, a beautiful port city in County Cork known for its steep streets and rows of brightly colored homes overlooking the harbor.

Walking along the waterfront is the statue of a mother and two children looking out toward the sea. The sculpture honors Annie Moore and her two brothers, symbols of the millions of Irish families who left their homeland from this harbor in search of a new life in America. Annie Moore herself sailed from here in 1891 and became the first immigrant processed at Ellis Island when the station opened in New York Harbor.

This harbor also holds another place in history, Cobh, then called Queenstown, was the last port of call for the famous ocean liner RMS Titanic in April of 1912. The ship stopped here to pick up its final passengers before heading out across the Atlantic on its ill-fated voyage.

Today the colorful houses and the quiet harbor make Cobh a peaceful place to visit. Yet standing along this waterfront, it is impossible for us not to think about the countless departures that began here. Families stood on this very shore, saying goodbye to the only home they had known as they boarded ships bound for America.

As I stood here with Erin, I found myself wondering if this might also have been the place where my own ancestors began their journey. This town felt personal, a place where the larger story of immigration might also touch the story of my own family.