Emergence of Celtic Ireland
Cork County is the largest county of Ireland. Its name derives from the Irish word cóc meaning "oak", referring to the abundance of oak trees in the area. In ancient times, it formed part of the kingdom of Munster. Today, it forms part of the province of Munster. There are many places to see around Cork City including Fota Wildlife Park, Blarney Castle, Cobh Heritage Centre and the River Lee Estuary. The Wild Atlantic Way stretches along the west coast of Ireland, passing through the counties of Cork, Kerry, Clare, Galway, Mayo and Sligo. The county covers 8,853 square kilometres and had a population of 590,917 people according to the 2016 census. Cork County Council is the local authority responsible for providing public services such as education, roads, libraries, waste collection, social welfare etc.