Bantry: Information from Answers.com

This article is about the town in County Cork, Ireland. For the barony in County Wexford, see Baronies of Ireland#Wexford. For the town in the US, see Bantry, North Dakota.

Bantry
Beanntraí

Location

WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates:
51°40′47″N 9°27′12″W / 51.679794°N 9.45322°W

Irish grid reference
V997488

Statistics

Population (2006)
- Town:
- Environs:

3,309
8

Website: www.bantry.ie

Bantry (Irish: Beanntraí) is a town on the coast of County Cork, Ireland, located on the N71 route at the head of Bantry Bay. The Beara peninsula is to the northwest, with Sheep's Head also nearby, on the peninsula south of Bantry Bay.

As with many areas on Ireland's south-west coast, Bantry claims an ancient connection to the sixth century saint, Breandán (Naomh Bréanainn) the Navigator. In Irish lore Saint Breandán was the first person to discover America.

A sculpture located in Bantry of St. Brendan the Navigator

1 History
2 Buildings of note
3 Economy
4 Transport
5 Town Council
6 People
7 Sport
8 Sister cities
9 Further reading
10 See also
11 External links
12 References

History

Wolfe Tone Square in the town commemorates Theobald Wolfe Tone. Tone, a Dublin-born Irishman, led the United Irishmen in what he had hoped to be a re-run of the French Revolution ten years earlier, this was to be done with the help of French Republicans to overthrow British rule (see 1798 rebellion). The ill-fated French invasion force arrived in Bantry in 1796. For his efforts in preparing the local defenses against the French, Richard White, a local landowner, was created Baron Bantry in 1797. A Viscountcy followed in 1800 and in 1816 he became the 1st Earl of Bantry.

Irish War of Independence commemorative plaque

During the Irish War of Independence, the 5th Cork Brigade of the Irish Republican Army was very active in Bantry, and many remained so during the Civil War that followed, and those who died between 1920 and 1923 'In Defence of the Republic' are listed on the wall of the former court house in Wolfe Tone Square.

Opposite the coastline lies Whiddy Island. The remains of what was formerly an important oil terminal, owned by Gulf Oil, are on the island. On 8 January 1979 the oil tanker Betelgeuse exploded, killing all 42 crew members, as well as seven employees at the terminal. The jetty was seriously damaged at the terminal, but fortunately the storage tanks were not affected. Nevertheless, 250 employees at the terminal, one of the largest employers in the region, lost their jobs. There was significant environmental impact, and so the local fishing industry was also affected. Local businesses commenced growing mussels in Bantry Bay, and so another industry was formed and has enjoyed considerable success.

An injection of money by the Irish Government in the early 1990's led to the part of the terminal being restored. The Government arranged for oil to be stored here during the First Gulf War in case of a disruption to oil supplies. Further funding led to more and more of the terminal being made operational. By 1998 it was deemed officially 'open for business' once more. It passed from state ownership to several American oil companies, and is now part of ConocoPhillips Corporation. The terminal is working to full capacity once more and sees up to forty ships berth every year. The recent increase in the price of oil has led to some speculation about future expansion of the terminal.

A status of Theobald Wolfe Tone also stands in the town

Buildings of note

Bantry House, home since 1739 to the White family, the former Earl of Bantry, is located south of the town
Bantry Market House

As with many areas on Ireland's south-west coast, Bantry claims an ancient connection to the sixth century saint, Breandán (Naomh Bréanainn) the Navigator.

Economy

The town is an important economic centre to the region. Apart from tourism , fishing is one of the main industries. Mussels in particular are harvested in the area.

Transport

Nearest international airport is Cork Airport
Bantry also has a small privately owned airfield called Bantry Aerodrome.
Bantry Town railway station, the western terminus of the Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway, opened on 22 October 1892, but finally closed on 1 April 1961.^[1]

Town Council

Bantry Town Council has nine members. These members are elected by the town's residents every five years. The members elect a mayor and deputy mayor annually.

People

Bantry is the birthplace of William Martin Murphy, formerly a wealthy Catholic businessman and MP at Westminster. He gained notoriety in Irish history in his opposition to Jim Larkin and James Connolly and their trade union, the Irish Transport and General Workers Union, during the Dublin Strike and Lockout in 1913. By 1913 he was chairman of the Dublin United Tramway Company and owner of Clery's department store and Imperial Hotel. He also controlled the Irish Independent newspaper which is still in print today.
Bantry is also the birthplace of Tim Healy (1855 - 1931). He was a prominent and controversial Irish nationalist. Later he became a Home Rule MP in Westminster and led a faction of the party after it split in 1891. He became the first Governor-General of the Irish Free State.
Legendary 19th century lightweight boxing champion Jack McAuliffe is a notable sportsman born in Bantry.