Bantry

A sculpture located in Bantry of St. Brendan the Navigator

A status of Theobald Wolfe Tone also stands in the town

Bantry
Beanntraí

Location

WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates:
51°′″N 9°′″W / 51.679794, -9.45322

Irish Grid Reference
V997488

Statistics

Population (2006)
- Town:
- Rural:

3,309
8

Website: www.bantry.ie

This article is about the town in County Cork, Ireland. Bantry is also the name of a Barony in County Wexford, Ireland. There exists also a town Bantry, North Dakota

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.

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.

Irish War of Independence commemorative plaque

During the Irish War of Independence/The Tan Wars 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 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. Some small tankers offload oil to the area, but no longer moor by the old oil terminal.

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

Economy

The town is an important economic centre to the region. Apart from tourism (Bantry has many excellent beaches for surfing due to being located at the West of Europe), fishing is one of the main industries. Mussels in particular are harvested in the area, and every year a Mussel fair is held in May.

Transport

Nearest airport Cork Airport
Bantry also has a small privately owned airfield callsign EIBN at N51° 40' 07.60" W9° 29' 03.90"
Bantry Town railway station opened on 22 October 1892, but finally closed on 1 April 1961.^[1]

Famous 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 toJim 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, involved in the Whiteboys. 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.