Editing Cobh (section)

==Economy and tourism==
[[File:Cobh-Queenstown-Old-Postcard.JPG|thumb|The waterfront at Cobh, probably c. 1900]]
Tourism is a large employer in Cobh. Large cruise liners visit Cobh each year, mainly during the summer months, although many of the tourists are transported out of Cobh by bus to other tourist destinations. In all, almost 100,000 cruise liner passengers and crew arrive in the town each year when their ships berth right in the centre of the town at the Republic of Ireland's only dedicated cruise terminal.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/cork-set-for-15-million-tourism-boost-this-summer-as-cruise-liner-grows-1.3439435 | publisher = Irish Times | website = irishtimes.com | date = 24 March 2018 | access-date = 2 August 2018 | title= Cork set for €15 million tourism boost this summer as cruise liner grows }}</ref><ref name="economy">{{cite web|url = https://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/future-of-this-town-has-to-be-in-tourism-176374.html | publisher = Irish Examiner | title = Future of this town has to be in tourism | website = irishexaminer.com | date = 7 December 2011 | access-date = 2 August 2018}}</ref><ref name="examiner2017">{{cite web|url = https://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/port-of-cork-cruising-towards-15m-terminal-455762.html | publisher = Irish Examiner | website = irishexaminer.com | title = Port of Cork cruising towards €15m terminal | date = 27 July 2017 | access-date = 4 August 2018 | quote = ''The Port of Cork currently boasts the only dedicated cruise ship berth in Ireland — in Cobh ''}}</ref> Tourist attractions are focused on the maritime and emigration legacy of the town and include the ''Queenstown Story'' at the [[Cobh Heritage Centre]], ''Titanic'' Experience, ''Titanic'' Trail walking tour, Cobh Museum, Cobh Road Train, Spike Island tours and St Colman's Cathedral. The town has remained largely unchanged since RMS ''Titanic'' departed from Cork Harbour in 1912, with the streetscape and piers still much the same. Facing the town are [[Spike Island, County Cork|Spike Island]] and [[Haulbowline Island]]. The latter is the headquarters of the [[Irish Naval Service]], formerly a British naval base.

Cobh was home to Ireland's only steelworks, the former state-owned [[Irish Steel]] works which was closed by its buyer, Ispat International (later [[Mittal Steel Company]]), in 2001. There is a controversy over the slag heap on the steelworks, where there are concerns that it may be leaching into the harbour.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/eiro/2001/07/inbrief/ie0107241n.html |title=Steel plant to close despite cost reduction deal |publisher=Eurofound.europa.eu |date=2001-07-28 |access-date=2013-03-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120729140948/http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/eiro/2001/07/inbrief/ie0107241n.html |archive-date=2012-07-29 }}</ref> Another important employer in Cobh was the Dutch-owned Verolme Cork Dockyard, in [[Rushbrooke, County Cork|Rushbrooke]]. It opened in 1960 but ceased operations in the mid-1980s. In 1981 the MV ''Leinster'' was built at Verolme for service on the Dublin – Holyhead route.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.irish-ferries-enthusiasts.com/ifpast.htm |website = irish-ferries-enthusiasts.com | title = Irish Ferries - Past Vessels | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070827181858/http://www.irish-ferries-enthusiasts.com/ifpast.htm |archive-date=27 August 2007 }}</ref> The last ship built at Verolme was the Irish Naval Service's [[LÉ Eithne (P31)|LÉ ''Eithne'' (P31)]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iol.ie/~forsacosanta/eithne_p31.htm |title=Eithne P31 |publisher=Iol.ie |access-date=2013-03-26 |archive-date=5 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005150550/http://www.iol.ie/~forsacosanta/eithne_p31.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Ship repair work is still carried at [[Rushbrooke, County Cork|Rushbrooke]] using the [[drydock]] and slip way carriages.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.doyleshipping.ie/ports/dry-docking-ship-repair|title=Dry Docking & Ship Repair|publisher=DSG|access-date=14 November 2023}}</ref>

In the 21st century, a number of new developments were completed, such as a new retail park at Ticknock in 2008, and a leisure centre (with 25m swimming pool) in August 2007. In 2010, tours of Spike Island commenced, with tours leaving from Kennedy Pier, near the town centre.