A city divided by the river Lee, but how do Cork people from the northside and people from the southside feel about each other?
Well known entertainer Billa O'Connell explains how there are three types of accents in Cork city. When they are combined with any of the sports beloved by Cork Gaelic games, road bowling or football, the result is,
A brilliant rivalry.
An article in the Cork Regional Technical College student rag week magazine about Norries (the Cork city slang word for someone from the northside) generated recent controversy. Is there any truth in the claim that people from the north and south side of Cork city differ so much from each other?
According to one northsider, his community stands above others because
They’re helpful in every way.
Another man does not see what all the fuss is about, but a woman from the northside admits that
I get a cold feeling when I go to the southside.
There is a distinction between making a joke and a racial comment, and Donie O’Leary from Blackpool Community Association describes the view the article takes as
Deeply prejudiced.
Des McHale of UCC (University College Cork) is of the opinion that there was nothing malicious in the student magazine.
Humour is a very healthy thing in society.
This report for 'Nationwide’ was broadcast on 6 March 1996. The reporter is Deirdre McCarthy.
'Nationwide' is an early evening magazine programme that brings Irish viewers an eclectic round-up of news, views and events from around the country.
