Crosshaven facts for kids
| Crosshaven Bun an Tábhairne |
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|---|---|
| Village | |
Crosshaven
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| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Munster |
| County | County Cork |
| Elevation | 40 m (130 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 2,093 |
| Time zone | WET (UTC+0) |
| • Summer (DST) | IST (WEST) (UTC-1) |
| Irish Grid Reference | W792606 |
Crosshaven (Irish: Bun an Tábhairne) is a village in County Cork, Ireland. It is located in lower Cork Harbour at the mouth of the River Owenabue, across from Currabinny Wood. Originally a fishing village, from the 19th century, the economy of the area became more reliant on a growing tourism industry.
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Name
The modern Irish name for Crosshaven village is Bun an Tábhairne. Tábhairne is related to the English word "Tavern" and Bun refers to "the beginning" or "bottom of the...". The name could be linked to a public house situated on the west side of the current village.
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 folklore, Sir Francis Drake sailed up the River Owenabue, while taking refuge from the Spanish Armada. A point in the river where he is alleged to have hidden is known as Drake's Pool.
The local secondary school, Coláiste Mhuire, was founded by an aunt of James Joyce, and the town is mentioned twice in Joyce's novel Ulysses.
Nearby coastal artillery and military forts, Fort Templebreedy and Camden Fort Meagher were British outposts until the Treaty Ports installations were relinquished in 1938. Camden is located on the headland of Rams Head and is occasionally open to the public.
Economy and tourism
Originally a fishing village, in the late 19th and into the 20th century, tourism became important to the town, which has 5 beaches within a 2-mile radius. The area saw an increase in 'holiday homes' in the mid-20th century, accommodating families from Cork city who stayed locally in the summer months - some of these temporary cabins were initially built using very large packing crates from the Ford factory in Cork.
Tourism attractions in the town included Piper's funfair (known as "the merries"), a nightclub called The Majorca (now closed), a cinema (also since closed), and the Cockleshell (now an arcade called La Scala).
In the 1970s and 1980s, environmental concerns came to the fore as a large industrial estate was built across the river in Ringaskiddy.
Transport
The town is situated on the R612 regional road, and served by a single bus from Cork city centre via Carrigaline and Douglas. Cork Airport is the nearest airport, and there are also ferries to France from nearby Ringaskiddy.
Crosshaven railway station was the southern terminus of the Cork, Blackrock and Passage Railway (which originally opened in 1850, but only extended south of Passage West at the start of the 20th century). The station opened on 1 June 1904, and finally closed on 1 June 1932.
People
Notable residents have included the father of Bob Geldof, who was manager of the local Grand Hotel for a time, and Chelsea FC's all-time 2nd greatest scorer, Bobby Tambling.
Sister town
Crosshaven has been twinned with Pleumeur-Bodou, France, since 1992.
