Millstreet facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Millstreet Sráid an Mhuilinn  (Irish)
Town
Millstreet's National Monument, on front of McCarthy's Bar, in the town's main square
Millstreet Location in Ireland
Country	Ireland
Province	Munster
County	Cork
Council	Cork County Council
Dáil constituency	Cork North-West
European Parliament	South
Population  (2022)
• Total	1,722
Time zone	UTC+0 (WET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+1 (IST (WEST))

Millstreet (called Sráid an Mhuilinn in Irish) is a town in the northern part of County Cork, Ireland. In 2022, about 1,722 people lived there. Millstreet is part of a larger area known as a civil parish, called Drishane.

Geography of Millstreet

Millstreet is located at the base of Claragh Mountain, which is part of the Derrynasaggart Mountains. This mountain range adds to the beautiful scenery around the town.

History of Millstreet

People have lived in the Millstreet area for a very long time. There is proof of ancient settlements, like an old ringfort (a circular fort) and a souterrain (an underground passage or chamber). These were found in a nearby area called Coomlogane. In the 1980s, special stones with ancient Ogham writing were discovered there. The ruins of Dromsicane Castle, which is at least 400 years old, are also close by.

Churches in Millstreet

A tower from around 1810 stands where Millstreet's old Church of Ireland church used to be. This church was built in the 1790s and was named after Saint Anna. Most of it was taken down in 1959, but the tower remained.

The town's current Roman Catholic church was built in 1833. It has a classical style, like old Greek and Roman buildings, and is dedicated to Saint Patrick. The church was made bigger and changed between 1931 and 1932. A presbytery (a house for priests) and the Presentation convent (a place for nuns) were also built on the site. The convent opened on May 28, 1840.

Culture and Events

Millstreet is home to the Green Glens Arena, a large place for shows and horse events. It has hosted many big events.

Eurovision Song Contest

One of the most famous events held at the Green Glens Arena was the Eurovision Song Contest 1993. Millstreet is the smallest town ever to host this huge international music competition! After the 2022 conflict in Ukraine, the arena was also used to provide temporary homes for people seeking safety from the war.

Local Traditions

Since 1961, Millstreet Town Park has been used for a "Christmas meeting" by a local coursing club. This involves dogs chasing hares. In 2021, some local people protested against this practice.

Sister Town

Since 1985, Millstreet has been a "sister town" with Pommerit-le-Vicomte in Brittany, France. This means the towns have a special friendship and often share cultural exchanges.

Transportation

Millstreet is connected by both train and bus services.

Train Services

The town is on the train line that goes from Mallow to Killarney and Tralee. Millstreet railway station first opened in 1853. It was updated in 1993 and is still used for passenger trains today.

Bus Services

Bus Éireann provides bus services through Millstreet. You can catch a bus on the route that connects Macroom and Killarney.

Notable People from Millstreet

Many interesting people have come from Millstreet:

• Timothy Carroll, a Roman Catholic Bishop.
• Billy Coleman, a famous rally car driver.
• Mark Ellis, an inter-county hurler (a player in the sport of hurling).
• Joanne O'Riordan, an activist and journalist who won a "People of the Year Award."