Crosshaven facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Crosshaven
Bun an Tábhairne
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Village
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![]() Crosshaven
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Country | Ireland |
Province | Munster |
County | County Cork |
Elevation | 40 m (130 ft) |
Population
(2022)
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3,263 |
Time zone | UTC+0 (WET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-1 (IST (WEST)) |
Irish Grid Reference | W792606 |
Crosshaven (which is Bun an Tábhairne in Irish) is a lovely village in County Cork, Ireland. It is found in the lower part of Cork Harbour. This is where the River Owenabue meets the sea. It sits just across from Currabinny Wood. Crosshaven was first a fishing village. Later, it became a popular place for tourists.
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What's in a Name?
The modern Irish name for Crosshaven is Bun an Tábhairne. Some people think tábhairne sounds like the English word "tavern". This would mean "mouth of the tavern".
However, other people believe it comes from "tSabhairne". This is a form of "Sabhrann", which is the name of a local river. Bun means "river mouth" when talking about places. So, the name could mean "mouth of the River Sabhrann".
The old Irish name for the east side of the village was Cros tSeáin. This means "John's Cross". The English name, Crosshaven, comes from this old name.
A Look Back in Time
Crosshaven has a long and interesting past. It was first settled by the Vikings a very long time ago. This area was part of what was called the 'Ostman's Tancred'. This happened after Cork city became a strong English fort.
Legends and Famous Visitors
There is a local story about a famous explorer, Sir Francis Drake. People say he hid his small group of ships from a bigger Spanish fleet. He supposedly hid them up the River Owenabue at a place now called Drake's Pool. There is no real proof for this story. It was first written down in 1750.
A famous writer, James Joyce, has a connection to Crosshaven. His aunt helped start the local secondary school, Coláiste Mhuire. The village is even mentioned twice in Joyce's famous book, Ulysses.
Old Forts and Outposts
Close to Crosshaven, you can find old military forts. These include Fort Templebreedy and Camden Fort Meagher. These forts were once British outposts. They were handed over to Ireland in 1938. Camden Fort is on the headland of Rams Head. It is sometimes open for people to visit and explore.
Life and Fun in Crosshaven
Crosshaven started as a village known for fishing. But in the late 1800s and early 1900s, tourism became very important. The town has five beaches within a short distance.
Many families from Cork city used to come here for summer holidays. They would stay in "holiday homes". Some of these early cabins were even made from large wooden boxes. These boxes came from the Ford Motor Company factory in Cork.
Past and Present Attractions
In the past, Crosshaven had fun places like Piper's funfair, a nightclub called The Majorca, and a cinema. These places are now closed. The Cockleshell, another old attraction, is now an arcade called La Scala.
Today, Crosshaven is becoming a place where people live and travel to work. Many residents commute to nearby Ringaskiddy or Cork city. Large companies like Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline have factories in Ringaskiddy.
Sports and Clubs
Crosshaven is home to the Royal Cork Yacht Club (RCYC). Its main building has been in the village since 1966. This club is very old. It was started in 1720 and is known as the oldest yacht club in the world. This is even written in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Every two years, the RCYC hosts a big sailing event called Cork Week. Many sailors come to compete. Thousands of people also come to watch the races.
Local Sports Teams
Crosshaven has several active sports clubs:
- Crosshaven AFC is one of the oldest soccer clubs in Cork. It was founded in 1898. The club has two pitches and a training area.
- Crosshaven RFC is a Rugby Union Football Club. It was started in 1972. They have two pitches and a gym.
- The local Gaelic Athletic Association club is Crosshaven GAA. They have teams that play both hurling and Gaelic football.
- The Crosshaven Triathlon Club trains for swimming, cycling, and running. They often meet for swimming at Myrtleville.
Getting Around
Crosshaven is located on the R612 regional road. You can get there by bus from Cork city centre. The nearest airport is Cork Airport. There are also ferries to France from nearby Ringaskiddy.
Crosshaven used to have a train station. It was the last stop on the Cork, Blackrock and Passage Railway. The station opened in 1904. However, it closed down in 1932.
Famous People from Crosshaven
Some well-known people have lived in Crosshaven. The father of musician Bob Geldof once managed the local Grand Hotel. Also, Bobby Tambling, a famous soccer player for Chelsea FC, lived here.
Sister Town
Crosshaven has a special friendship with a town in France. Since 1992, it has been twinned with Pleumeur-Bodou.
See also
In Spanish: Crosshaven - Churchbay para niños