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Steer clear of Divorce Island! Explore a 19th-century 'marriage map'

From the Bay of Delight to the Mountains of Malice – all the landmarks of romance are here…

Feb 6th 2012, 8:47 PM 6,851 Views 5 Comments

Image: National Library of Ireland

MARRIAGE HAS NEVER been easy – and that was as true 200 years ago as it is today.

At least, that’s the only conclusion you can draw from this early-nineteenth-century ‘matrimonial map’, produced in Cork for newlyweds wondering what to look out for.

Recently acquired by the National Library of Ireland, the chart shows all the sights of a typical marriage – from the Bay of Delight and the, er, Temple of Hymen (not far from Cradle Point) to the Rocks of Jealousy, the Lake of Indifference and even the much-feared Divorce Island.

It also includes a handy explainer to the various landmarks. So go on, have a wander around. But if you end up at the Fort of Repentance, don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Explore the Matrimonial Map>

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About the author

Michael Freeman

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Steer clear of Divorce Island! Explore a 19th-century 'marriage map'