The Deck of Cards Houses

About

The terrace of brightly painted houses stepping down the hill at West View, below St Colman's Cathedral, is known locally as the Deck of Cards, the joke being that if the lowest house fell the rest would tumble after it. The row, built in the 1850s and each painted a different colour, sits beneath the cathedral spire and makes the postcard image of Cobh that earns the town its nickname of the Irish San Francisco. It is a free outdoor viewpoint; the best vantage is from Spy Hill across the street.

Highlights

• ✓The terrace of painted houses under the cathedral spire
• ✓The postcard image of Cobh, the Irish San Francisco
• ✓Free outdoor viewpoint, best seen from Spy Hill
• ✓A steep but short walk up from the waterfront

Tips

• →The classic photo is from Spy Hill across the street
• →It is a steep climb up from the waterfront
• →Free and open at all times; please respect that these are private homes
• →Best light is morning or late afternoon

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