Crosshaven
Encyclopedia
Crosshaven is a village
in County Cork
, Ireland
. Origins of the Irish name of Crosshaven include; - mouth of the river Sabhrann , and . The village is located in a scenic area with views of Currabinny Wood, and Cork Harbour
.
There are remains of gun turrets and bunkers from World War I along the coast.
In the 20th century tourism became important to the town, which has 5 beaches within a 2-mile radius.
Other Attractions included Piper's funfair (known as "the merries"), the local nightclub, The Majorca, and the cinema, the cockleshell, which is now an arcade called La Scala.
Today Crosshaven is becoming a commuter town for Cork City.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. Origins of the Irish name of Crosshaven include; - mouth of the river Sabhrann , and . The village is located in a scenic area with views of Currabinny Wood, and Cork Harbour
Cork Harbour
Cork Harbour is a natural harbour and river estuary at the mouth of the River Lee in County Cork, Ireland. It is one of several which lay claim to the title of "second largest natural harbour in the world by navigational area" . Other contenders include Halifax Harbour in Canada, and Poole Harbour...
.
Transport
- Cork Airport is the nearest airport.
- Crosshaven railway station was the southern terminus of the Cork, Blackrock and Passage RailwayCork, Blackrock and Passage RailwayThe Cork, Blackrock and Passage Railway was a narrow gauge railway in County Cork, Ireland. It was originally opened in 1850 as a broad gauge railway between Cork and Passage West, but was converted to 3' gauge in 1902. An extension southwards from Passage West to Crosshaven opened in 1904...
(which originally opened in 1850, but only extended south of Passage WestPassage WestPassage West is a port town in County Cork, Ireland, situated on the west bank of Cork Harbour. It is some 10 km from Cork city, separated by the green belt from the urban sprawl of Douglas and Rochestown. The town has many services, amenities and social outlets...
at the start of the 20th century). The station opened on 1 June 1904, but finally closed on 1 June 1932. - A bus service to/from Cork cityCork (city)Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
operated by Bus Éireann serves Crosshaven 15 times per day. - There is also a ferry to FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
from nearby Ringaskiddy operated by Brittany FerriesBrittany FerriesBrittany Ferries is a French ferry company that runs ships between France, the UK, Ireland and Spain.-1970s and 1980s:Following the provision of the deep-water port at Roscoff, the company commenced in January 1973 at the instigation of Alexis Gourvennec, when existing ferry companies showed...
.
Sport
- The village is famous for its Royal Cork Yacht ClubRoyal Cork Yacht ClubThe Royal Cork Yacht Club is the world's oldest founded in 1720, although this record is challenged by the Neva Yacht Club.- Formation and claim to be the world's first yacht club :...
(RCYC) which has had its headquarters in the village since 1966. The club was established at the Cove of Cork (now CobhCobhCobh is a seaport town on the south coast of County Cork, Ireland. Cobh is on the south side of Great Island in Cork Harbour. Facing the town are Spike Island and Haulbowline Island...
) in 1720 and holds the title of the oldest in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. In 1966 the RCYC merged with the Royal Munster Yacht Club and made the Royal Munster's club house its new headquarters. The biannual Regatta of Cork Week (formerly Ford Cork Week due to the sponsorship of the Ford Motor CompanyFord Motor CompanyFord Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
) is one of the most famous in the world, drawing huge crowds of competitors and spectators. - Crosshaven also has an internationally successful indoor soccer team, that won the Isola Design Cup in 2005 and 2006.
- [Crosshaven AFC] is the oldest soccer club in Cork, founded in 1898. The club has two pitches, an all weather training area and four dressing room clubhouse.
- Crosshaven RFCCrosshaven RFCCrosshaven RFC was founded on October 1, 1972 and is based in Crosshaven, County Cork, Ireland. The founding members were Michael Dempsey, Chairman, Ted Murphy, Pres., Billy McCarthy Sec., and Tom O' Kelly, Treas, and P.R.O....
(Rugby Union Football Club) was founded on October 1, 1972 has two pitches, all weather pitch and a gym located at Myrtleville Cross in Crosshaven. - Crosshaven also has a GAAGaelic Athletic AssociationThe Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
club playing both hurling and Gaelic football.
History
Crosshaven was originally a Viking settlement, part of what was known as the Ostman's Tancred after Cork City became a fortified English Stronghold.- According to Local Legend, Sir Francis DrakeFrancis DrakeSir Francis Drake, Vice Admiral was an English sea captain, privateer, navigator, slaver, and politician of the Elizabethan era. Elizabeth I of England awarded Drake a knighthood in 1581. He was second-in-command of the English fleet against the Spanish Armada in 1588. He also carried out the...
sailed up the River OwenabueRiver OwenabueThe River Owenabue , also spelled "Owenboy", begins just north of Crossbarry and flows east towards the sea for roughly 20 miles or 32 kilometres. It flows through Crossbarry and on to the small village of Halfway. It then reaches Ballinhassig where it widens into Ballygarvan. It then meanders...
, the local river, while hiding from the Spanish Armada, the point in the River where he is alleged to have hid is known as Drake's Pool. - Famous residents have included the father of Bob Geldof, who was manager of the local hotel, the Grand Hotel, and Hollywood stuntman Jack Arrow.
- In 1983, local resident Jim Enright briefly held the World Record for the longest political speech.
- The local secondary school was founded by the Aunt of James Joyce who dreamt she was walking along the cliffs by Crosshaven one night. The town is honoured with 2 mentions in Ulysses.
- The local military forts, Templebreedy and Camden were British outposts until the Anglo-Irish treaty of 1938.
There are remains of gun turrets and bunkers from World War I along the coast.
- The definitive history is History of Crosshaven by former National School headmaster Diarmuid O Murchu.
Economy
Originally a fishing village, the maritime sector is still important.In the 20th century tourism became important to the town, which has 5 beaches within a 2-mile radius.
Other Attractions included Piper's funfair (known as "the merries"), the local nightclub, The Majorca, and the cinema, the cockleshell, which is now an arcade called La Scala.
Today Crosshaven is becoming a commuter town for Cork City.
Environmental concerns
In the 1970s and 80s environmental concerns came to the fore as a large industrial estate was built across the river in Ringaskiddy, hosting Pfizer and Smithkline Beecham among others.See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland
- List of RNLI stations