- From medieval monastery to modern university quarter, these neighbouring streets tell the tale of Cork’s evolution through poverty, rebellion, and academic excellence.
In the heart of Cork City, two streets separated by mere metres tell remarkably different yet interconnected stories of Ireland’s past and present. 98 Street, known locally as “Late Hospital Lane”, and College Road represent the dual identity of Cork: a city shaped equally by revolutionary memory and academic ambition.
From Beggar’s Lane to Rebel’s Memorial
The story of 98 Street begins in poverty. Originally known as “Beggar Man’s Lane”, this narrow thoroughfare reflected the harsh realities of pre-industrial Cork, where the city’s most marginalised residents gathered. The street’s evolution mirrors Cork’s social transformation: by the mid-19th century, it had become “Hospital Lane”, named after medical facilities in the area. Historical records suggest this could have been the North Infirmary (established 1744) in the nearby Shandon area, or possibly the Fever Hospital and House of Recovery (1802), though the specific institution remains uncertain.
The street’s most significant transformation came in 1898, during Ireland’s centennial commemorations of the 1798 Rebellion. Cork City authorities renamed it “’98 Street” to honour the United Irishmen who died fighting British rule, particularly those who fell at the Battle of the Big Cross near Clonakilty on 19 June 1798. This numeric street name, unique in Ireland, transformed a simple lane into a permanent memorial.
Local historian records confirm that during the battle, up to 400 rebels led by Tadhg an Astna O’Donovan faced British forces, with at least 100 United Irishmen killed. The bodies were dragged to Clonakilty as a warning to the population, leaving an indelible mark on Cork’s collective memory.
The Birth of an Academic Boulevard
While 98 Street evolved from the ground up, College Road was born from institutional ambition. The Colleges (Ireland) Act of 1845 established Queen’s College Cork (now UCC), with the new institution choosing a site believed to be where St. Finbarr founded his monastery and school in 606 AD.
Sir Robert Kane declared at the 1849 opening: “Here, after nearly a thousand years, we open now the portals of this edifice and accept the task of training the youth of Munster.”
The Gothic Revival quadrangle, designed by Sir Thomas Deane and Benjamin Woodward, rose from these ancient grounds. The road serving this new institution naturally became College Road, transforming from a semi-rural track to Cork’s premier academic thoroughfare.
A Tale of Two Characters
Today, these streets exhibit starkly different personalities. College Road buzzes as the gateway to University College Cork, which now serves over 24,000 students from 130 countries. Active businesses along the road include Lowercase Bookshop at the UCC Student Centre, An Scolaire printing shop at Hawthorne Place (operating for 24 years), and numerous cafes catering to the academic community.
98 Street has evolved differently. The corner pub that anchored the community for 161 years, known variously as The Gill Tavern, The Beggarman, and The Red Horse Inn, closed around 2020. Its most beloved feature was a 35-seat cinema on the first floor, complete with salvaged velvet seating, where patrons could watch films for the price of a drink. In 2022, Cork City Council approved plans to convert the building into three apartments.
The street itself now consists primarily of modest terraced houses, reflecting its transition from a commercial to residential character. In The Lough area nearby, Urban Social (formerly Gaia) has emerged as a modern social hub, offering events, wellness classes, and what they describe as a “garden of positivity” with features including an on-site sauna.
Connected by Geography, United by History
Despite their different characters, these streets remain physically and historically intertwined. 98 Street lies just off College Road’s eastern end, near where it meets Gillabbey Street. Both run through what was once Gillabbey’s monastic lands, in the shadow of St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral, just 200 metres away.
The connection runs deeper than geography. In the late 19th century, as College Road flourished with Victorian terraces housing professors and wealthy families, 98 Street’s modest cottages likely housed the workers and staff who served them. Today, students traverse 98 Street as a shortcut between UCC and affordable housing in the Barrack Street area.
Living History in Stone and Memory
The architectural heritage tells its own story. College Road showcases the Crawford Observatory (1880), which won a gold medal at the 1878 Paris Science Exhibition, and the Honan Chapel (1916), featuring Harry Clarke’s stunning stained glass windows. These buildings represent institutional power and artistic achievement.
98 Street’s architecture speaks to working-class resilience: terraced houses and the former corner pub that served generations of locals. Even the street sign reads “98 Street Late Hospital Lane”, preserving its layered history for all to see.
Archaeological discoveries continue to illuminate this deep past. In 1966, Professor M.J. O’Kelly excavated human remains near Gill Abbey Rock, believed to be from St. Finbarr’s original monastery, confirming over 1,400 years of continuous sacred and educational use.
A Microcosm of Cork’s Soul
These two streets perfectly encapsulate Cork’s dual identity. College Road represents planned development and academic ambition, its grand Gothic buildings fostering the learning that would build a new nation. 98 Street embodies popular memory and political ideals, where a simple lane became a monument to revolutionary sacrifice.
To walk from the commemorative quiet of 98 Street onto the bustling academic artery of College Road is to trace Cork’s journey through time: from medieval monastery to modern university, from poverty to prosperity, from colonial subjugation to cultural renaissance. In these few hundred metres, the Rebel County’s entire story unfolds.