Rosscarbery

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Rosscarbery (Ros Ó gCairbre in Irish) is a village in County Cork, Ireland. The village is situated on a shallow estuary, which opens onto Rosscarbery Bay.

1 History
2 Demographics
3 Places of interest
- 3.1 Cathedral
- 3.2 Beaches
4 People
5 Transport & communications
6 GAA
7 See also

[edit] History

Historically, Rosscarbery was a major centre of learning, at one time being a university town, and one of the major cities in Europe, around the 6th century A.D.

[edit] Demographics

The village itself has witnessed unprecedented growth in recent times, despite the lack of any major industry in the area, and being just outside the commuter belt for the city of Cork. The majority of new housing is holiday accommodation, which results in an annual swell in population during summer months. According to the 2006 census, the population of the village is 936.

[edit] Places of interest

[edit] Cathedral

Today, there is still a cathedral in the town, an unusual feature for what now would be considered a sleepy country village. It is a Church of Ireland cathedral - St. Fachtna's Cathedral. The Church of Ireland's dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross were effectively merged during rationalisation in the 1860s. The bishop of this tridiocese, Paul Colton, spends almost all his time in Cork. St Fachtna's is the smallest cathedral in Ireland. It is the size of a typical parish church.

[edit] Beaches

Rosscarbery is a popular tourist destination in the summertime, being in proximity to at least three fine beaches. The nearest of these, the "Warren Beach", is about a mile from the village, and is designated a blue flag beach, along with the nearby Owenahincha beach. A couple got into difficulties whilst swimming off the beach in early September 2006. Two passersby swam out to attempt to rescue them. But they managed to get back to shore and the two rescuers drowned. One of the victims had been due to receive his degree from UCC the next week. It was awarded posthumously. Following a week long search by hundreds of volunteers, organised by the local Coastguard units and the Navy, both bodies were recovered. The Warren Beach has experienced extensive coastal erosion in recent times, but remedial works have been undertaken throughout 2004/2005.

[edit] People

It is the birthplace of one of the greatest leaders of the Irish War of Independence, Tom Barry, and one of the leaders of the Irish Fenian movement, Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa . There is a house which was putatively his. There is some dispute as to whether 'General' Barry was born in the town. Meda Ryan's biography - the standard reference text on him - states that he was born in Kerry to Cork parents. What is not in dispute is that he spent his formative years in Rosscarbery. A house near the town centre bears a plaque stating that Tom Barry resided there. Barry in his memoirs recalls riding a cow through the main street of the town to amuse other boys. His father beat him for this. This is the only mention Barry makes of his family in his Guerrilla Days in Ireland. It is believed that Barry had a very poor relationship with his father. This may have informed his political views. One of the few other mentions of his Rosscarbery boyhood is Barry's recollection of stealing sweets from a Protestant shop and consoling himself and his partners in crime that this was no sin as it was the bounden duty of Catholics to deprive Protestants of their possessions.

The longest-serving General Practitioner in the town is Dr. Daniel Patrick Burke (born a fifth child on 5/5 1950), son of the esteemed psychiatrist, the late Dr. Denis Francis, Burke of Cork City (1906-1969). Dr. June Anderson and Dr. Mairead Wilson are part of Dr. Burke's practise as well as his nephew, Dr. Ivan Martin (born 1975).

[edit] Transport & communications

The village is located along the N71 road through West Cork. Clonakilty is nearby, further along the road to Cork city, a distance of 40 miles.
Nearest airport Cork International Airport

[edit] GAA

The town has a strong tradition of GAA, its local team being Carbery Rangers. Carbery Rangers was founded in 1887. For years, Carbery Rangers was down in the doldrums, being beaten by pesky Illen Rovers in Junior West Cork Finals.

But in November 2003, Carbery Rangers won their first ever County Junior A title.

It was to prove to be the start of something special. Carbery Rangers went on to win: A Junior Munster title An Intermediate County, Munster, and All-Ireland.