Bantry Bay facts for kids
Bantry Bay is a beautiful bay in County Cork, Ireland. It stretches about 35 kilometers (22 miles) from northeast to southwest into the Atlantic Ocean. The bay is about 3 to 4 kilometers (1.8 to 2.5 miles) wide at its inner end and opens up to about 10 kilometers (6 miles) wide at its entrance.
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Exploring Bantry Bay's Geography
Bantry Bay is a special type of bay called a ria. This means it was formed when a river valley got flooded by the sea as sea levels rose. It's a deep bay, about 40 meters (130 feet) in the middle, and is one of the longest inlets in southwest Ireland.
To the north, the bay is bordered by the Beara Peninsula. This peninsula separates Bantry Bay from another bay called Kenmare Bay. To the south, you'll find the Sheep's Head Peninsula, which separates Bantry Bay from Dunmanus Bay.
Islands in the Bay
The two main islands in Bantry Bay are Bere Island and Whiddy Island.
- Bere Island is located near the entrance of the bay. On its north side, you'll find Berehaven Harbour and the port of Castletown Bearhaven. The biggest town on the island is Rerrin, and the village of Ballynakilla is also there.
- Whiddy Island is closer to the inner part of the bay, near the south shore. It's an important place for storing oil for Ireland, as its harbor is perfect for large oil tankers. You might even remember a famous Gulf Oil commercial from 1969 that showed a supertanker called "Universe Kuwait" at Bantry Bay!
Towns and Villages Around the Bay
Many towns and villages are located around Bantry Bay. These include Adrigole, Bantry, Ballylickey, Cahermore, Cappanolsha, Castletownbere (also known as Castletown Bearhaven), Donemark, Foilakill, Gerahies, and Glengarriff.
You can drive along parts of the bay using routes like the R572 (which is part of the "Ring of Beara") and the N71. If you like golf, the Bantry Bay Golf Club is at the head of the bay, right across from Whiddy Island. You can also find Dunboy Castle, which belonged to the O'Sullivan Beara family, near Bere Island.
A Look Back: Bantry Bay's History
Bantry Bay has a rich history with several important events.
The Battle of Bantry Bay
In 1689, a naval battle took place in Bantry Bay during the Nine Years' War. It was fought between the English and French navies.
The French Fleet and the 1798 Rebellion
The town of Bantry is linked to the Irish rebellion of 1798. In December 1796, an Irish revolutionary named Wolfe Tone tried to start a rebellion here. A large French fleet, with 43 ships and 15,000 soldiers, sailed towards Bantry Bay. They split up in the Atlantic Ocean to avoid the British Royal Navy and planned to meet again in the bay.
Most of the ships arrived safely. However, some, including the main ship Fraternité carrying General Hoche, were delayed. While waiting, bad weather hit the bay. Without their leader and worried about getting trapped, the French decided to return to France. Wolfe Tone wrote in his diary that they were so close they could "toss a biscuit ashore." Today, the main square in Bantry is named after Wolfe Tone.
The Historic Bantry Longboat
A longboat used by a French scouting team landed on Bere Island during the 1796 expedition. It stayed in Berehaven harbor for 102 years! In 1898, it was moved to Bantry House. Later, in 1944, it went to Dublin and was given to the National Museum of Ireland.
After some time, it was restored at the Liverpool Museum and is now on display in the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks. You can see it as part of the Soldiers and Chiefs exhibition.
The Whiddy Island Incident
On January 8, 1979, a serious accident happened when a French oil tanker called the Betelgeuse was unloading oil at Whiddy Island. The ship caught fire, exploded, and broke into three pieces. This was a very sad event.
During the cleanup efforts for the Betelgeuse in 1981, another important discovery was made. The wreck of a French warship called La Surveillante was found. This ship had sunk during a storm back in 1797.
Keeping Bantry Bay Safe
The Bantry Inshore Search and Rescue Association (BISRA) provides an emergency lifeboat service for the Bantry Harbour community. They have a fast rescue boat and are an official resource for the Irish Coastguard, helping to keep everyone safe on the water.
Quick Facts About Bantry Bay
- The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) code for Bantry Bay is IEBYT.
See also
In Spanish: Bahía de Bantry para niños
