The End is nigh for the docks in the centre of Cork City. When I was growing up they were a hotbed of activity, some legal some not, now there is a little bit of traffic going through there some wood and some fertilizer. People drinking in groups against the walls of R&H Hall mills is as exciting as it gets, I love the machinery down there it's got a life of it's own.
Where as before there were hundreds of men working loading and unloading ships from all over the world, Bananas, coal, wood, car parts the list is endless. NOw the only thing there are hundreds of are pigeons.

There were pubs throughout the city which had early morning licenses so the dockers could have a pint after working the night shift. I remember passing The Ivy Leary on Coburg Street at 8.30 i the morning as a 12 yea old wondering what the hell was going on in there. Music blaring and people singing it was party time at 8am.
Now there are only one or two such pubs I"m not sure there are many dockers frequenting them now as there don't seem to be any left, not in the old fashion sense anyhow.