Cork has been known as the home of Irish river steamship services as it was the first Irish waterway to utilise them. There were river passenger steamship services running in Cork, without a break from 1815 to 1927. This was not the end of passenger services as local companies such as Palmer and Wallace ran summer ferries between Cork and Crosshaven throughout the 1930s. Special excursion boats use the river and harbour to this day.

Palmer and Wallace Advertisement (1932)

In the early days there were individual owners, however by 1840, Clyde shipbuilders Todd and McGregor sent a fleet of steamers to Cork which became the Citizens River Steamer Company in 1844. This service lasted until 1890. The River Steamer Company provided 5-6 sailings a day between Cork and Cobh and Aghada.

CBPR Paddle Steamer near Monkstown

In 1850 the Cork Blackrock and Passage Railway Company developed the largest fleet of River steamers known locally as the 'Green Boats'. This service lasted until 1927 The CBPR steamers sailed From Passage West every hour.

For seasonal excursions, cargo and other special trips, other stops were used, these were:

The British Admiralty ran a regular steamship service a number of times a day from the 1850's until 1922.

Monkstown CBPR Terminus

The British War Office ran a steamer service carrying mails and goods from Cork to all the military forces in Cork Harbour until 1922. There was a reduced service until 1938.

The era of the river steamer may have passed in Cork, but seasonal excursions run from both Cork City and Cobh. Planning permission was recently given for a resumption of river ferries, but this will require major infrastructure to be put in place.