Ballybunion
Encyclopedia
Ballybunion or Ballybunnion is a coast
al town
and seaside resort
in County Kerry
, Ireland
, 15 km (9.3 mi) from the town of Listowel. There are castle
ruins
near the town, although all that remains is a single wall, and two golf course
s in the area including the famous Ballybunion Golf Club
, a top class Links
course founded in 1893 and host course to the Murphys Irish Open in 2000 and Palmer Cup in 2004. According to the Central Statistics Office
, Ballybunion had a population of 1329 in 2002.
In the summer, Ballybunion attracts many families and young people to enjoy the sandy beach, warm Atlantic
waters and the pubs along the high street
. Nearby cliff
s offer excellent scenery. Sometimes dolphin
s may be seen in the waters. The beaches near Ballybunion are a popular surfing site. Other traditions include the beachside Seaweed Baths, featuring sea water with kelp
. In the summertime cooked periwinkles
are salt
ed and served in small paper bag
s along with a pin to extract the small sea snails. The village itself contains mostly pubs and amusement arcades, fast food restaurants, children's playground, a supermarket, Garda Station and a statue commemorating the golfing visit of Bill Clinton
. This was the first statue of Bill Clinton on public display in the world.
The Listowel and Ballybunion Railway was a highly unusual form of transport. It was built to the Lartigue monorail system. Ballybunion railway station opened on 6 March 1888, but finally closed on 14 October 1924.
The Tinteán Theatre, off Church Road, is a 500+ seat theatre opened in 2006. It regularly hosts plays, pantos
, Irish dancing, comedy show (e.g. Jon Kenny
, Brendan Grace
) and music concert (Brendan Shine
, Nyle Wolfe
). In July 2007 the Tinteán hosted a live RTÉ draw for the FAI
.
The unit, manned by volunteers, is situated on the Ladies Beach and was founded in 1986. The unit, equipped with a D class inflatable boat and an Atlantic 75
boat (purchased in 2010, replacing the old Atlantic 21), covers the coast and Shannon Estuary
from Ballyheigue
, Co Kerry to Foynes
, Co. Limerick, and inland to Abbeyfeale
, Co Limerick. As well as providing 24x7 Sea & Cliff Rescue, the volunteers also provide First Aid and Ambulance assistance at a handful of horse races around the Ballybunion area. The volunteers are very well trained in all aspects of rescue work.
The cliffs around Ballybunion are most notable for their rock formations, sea stacks, errosion, and many other geological features. The view of the strata from the Ladies Beach is excellent. There is sea stack called The Devils Castle, a blowhole
called the Nine Daughters Hole, and an island / arch on the Nuns Beach called the Virgins Rock.
This Health & Leisure Centre opened in 2007 and is situated on Kit Ahern
Road. It has a heated 20m pool, sauna, jacuzzi, gym and exercise rooms. The existence of a swimming pool in Ballybunion has been sought for decades. The complex is open all year round and offers yearly and part-time membership.
, Basketball
, Judo
, Indoor Soccer
and Kung Fu.
The Ballybunion Golf Club
was founded in 1893 and is home to arguably one of the best links courses in the world. There are 2 courses, the Old Course and the Cashen Course. Both are running along beside the beach. See above link for details.
Stack Park is situated off Sandhill Road, and has an unofficial walk-in entrance off Central Park (mobile home part off Kit Ahern
Road). This floodlight pitch provides training & matches for many divisions of players (incl under 8's, 10's, Junior, & Senior) as well as Ladies football.
The Ballybunion team are called the Beal team. Beal is a small townland a couple of miles up the coast from Ballybunion. The Beal colours are Green with Red stripe.
Coast
A coastline or seashore is the area where land meets the sea or ocean. A precise line that can be called a coastline cannot be determined due to the dynamic nature of tides. The term "coastal zone" can be used instead, which is a spatial zone where interaction of the sea and land processes occurs...
al town
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
and seaside resort
Seaside resort
A seaside resort is a resort, or resort town, located on the coast. Where a beach is the primary focus for tourists, it may be called a beach resort.- Overview :...
in County Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, 15 km (9.3 mi) from the town of Listowel. There are castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
ruins
Ruins
Ruins are the remains of human-made architecture: structures that were once complete, as time went by, have fallen into a state of partial or complete disrepair, due to lack of maintenance or deliberate acts of destruction...
near the town, although all that remains is a single wall, and two golf course
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
s in the area including the famous Ballybunion Golf Club
Ballybunion Golf Club
The Ballybunion Golf Club in County Kerry, Ireland had barely opened its doors before experiencing financial problems. An investment from Colonel Bartholomew saved the club in 1906, and nine new holes were promptly laid out...
, a top class Links
Links (golf)
A links is the oldest style of golf course, first developed in Scotland. The word "links" comes from the Scots language and refers to an area of coastal sand dunes and sometimes to open parkland. It also retains this more general meaning in the Scottish English dialect...
course founded in 1893 and host course to the Murphys Irish Open in 2000 and Palmer Cup in 2004. According to the Central Statistics Office
Central Statistics Office (Ireland)
The Central Statistics Office is the statistical agency responsible for the gathering of "information relating to economic, social and general activities and conditions" in Ireland, in particular the National Census which is held every five years. The office is answerable to the Taoiseach and has...
, Ballybunion had a population of 1329 in 2002.
In the summer, Ballybunion attracts many families and young people to enjoy the sandy beach, warm Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
waters and the pubs along the high street
High Street
High Street, or the High Street, is a metonym for the generic name of the primary business street of towns or cities, especially in the United Kingdom. It is usually a focal point for shops and retailers in city centres, and is most often used in reference to retailing...
. Nearby cliff
Cliff
In geography and geology, a cliff is a significant vertical, or near vertical, rock exposure. Cliffs are formed as erosion landforms due to the processes of erosion and weathering that produce them. Cliffs are common on coasts, in mountainous areas, escarpments and along rivers. Cliffs are usually...
s offer excellent scenery. Sometimes dolphin
Dolphin
Dolphins are marine mammals that are closely related to whales and porpoises. There are almost forty species of dolphin in 17 genera. They vary in size from and , up to and . They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves, and are carnivores, mostly eating...
s may be seen in the waters. The beaches near Ballybunion are a popular surfing site. Other traditions include the beachside Seaweed Baths, featuring sea water with kelp
Kelp
Kelps are large seaweeds belonging to the brown algae in the order Laminariales. There are about 30 different genera....
. In the summertime cooked periwinkles
Common Periwinkle
The common periwinkle or winkle, scientific name Littorina littorea, is a species of small edible sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk which has gills and an operculum, and is classified within the family Littorinidae, the periwinkles....
are salt
Salt
In chemistry, salts are ionic compounds that result from the neutralization reaction of an acid and a base. They are composed of cations and anions so that the product is electrically neutral...
ed and served in small paper bag
Paper bag
A paper bag or paper sack is a preformed container made of paper, usually with an opening on one side. It can be one layer of paper or multiple layers of paper and other flexible materials. A bag is used for packaging and/or carrying items....
s along with a pin to extract the small sea snails. The village itself contains mostly pubs and amusement arcades, fast food restaurants, children's playground, a supermarket, Garda Station and a statue commemorating the golfing visit of Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
. This was the first statue of Bill Clinton on public display in the world.
Local events
- In summer 2006 the town hosted the first ever "World Fleadh." Traditional Irish musicMusic of IrelandIrish Music is the generic term for music that has been created in various genres on the island of Ireland.The indigenous music of the island is termed Irish traditional music. It has remained vibrant through the 20th, and into the 21st century, despite globalizing cultural forces...
was played throughout the six day mid-August festival, as well as music from non-Irish musicians who performed including the French group Gipsy KingsGipsy KingsThe Gipsy Kings are a group of musicians from Arles and Montpellier, who perform in Spanish with an Andalucían accent. Although group members were born in France, their parents were mostly gitanos, Spanish Romani people who fled Catalonia during the 1930s Spanish Civil War. Chico Bouchikhi is of...
and the British group The WaterboysThe WaterboysThe Waterboys are a band formed in 1983 by Mike Scott. The band's membership, past and present, has been composed mainly of musicians from Scotland, Ireland and England. Edinburgh, London, Dublin, Spiddal, New York, and Findhorn have all served as homes for the group. The band has played in a...
. Celebrities, including Jodie MarshJodie MarshJodie Marsh is an English media personality, former glamour model and bodybuilder. She has appeared topless in many tabloid newspapers and has appeared in her own reality show, Totally Jodie Marsh.-Early life:...
and Kathryn ThomasKathryn ThomasKathryn Thomas is an Irish television presenter from Carlow. She does be doing the holiday programme on RTÉ. Now she does a Winning Streak every week with Marty Whelan...
, also attended World Fleadh.
- Each year, the Ballybunion International Bachelor Festival takes place. With bachelors from far and wide this is week long festival of music, drink, games and craic. The winning Bachelor is crowned on Saturday night and celebrated in the Golf Hotel. Sometime during the week is the Terrier Race (small dogs of mixed breed chase a 'rabbit' down the street), the Barmans (and Bar Owners) Race (where a tray of drink has to be carried at speed up and down the main street), and also a Girls Doll & Pram event and a Boys Tractor display.
- In May 2009, Ballybunion was the host to the all-Ireland (North & South) Coast Guard Joint Search And Rescue Competition. This is an annual event, moving around the country each year being hosted by a different unit from different Coast Guard divisions. It is a weekend of competition, consisting of many different events (usually about a dozen) such as Navigation, Driving, First Aid, Knots, Casualty Extraction, etc. In 2010 the JSAR Competition will be in Donegal.
Places of interest
- The beach promontoryPromontoryPromontory may refer to:*Promontory, a prominent mass of land which overlooks lower lying land or a body of water*Promontory, Utah, the location where the United States first Transcontinental Railroad was completed...
on the right features impressive tidal caves that can be explored at low tideTideTides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the moon and the sun and the rotation of the Earth....
.
- There are two commonly used beaches in Ballybunion, accessed by large, very steep concrete pavements, and divided by the cliff atop which stands the ruined castle. The beach to the left of the castle (if looking toward the sea) is called the "Men's Beach", and the one to the right the "Ladies Beach", given to the fact that men used to bathe on a separate beach from women and children. This practice has not been observed for decades. There is a small cafe, hot seaweed baths and ice cream shop on the women's beach. The large cliffs to the right of the women's beach have shallow caves. The sheer cliffs over the beach have a scenic walking path, featuring a blowhole, views of sea stacks and a multitude of wildlife. The path takes about 20 minutes to walk, and goes round to the "Nun's Beach", a beautiful beach with no access that is overlooked by an old convent.
- The Listowel and Ballybunion Railway
The Listowel and Ballybunion Railway was a highly unusual form of transport. It was built to the Lartigue monorail system. Ballybunion railway station opened on 6 March 1888, but finally closed on 14 October 1924.
- The Tinteán Theatre
The Tinteán Theatre, off Church Road, is a 500+ seat theatre opened in 2006. It regularly hosts plays, pantos
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
, Irish dancing, comedy show (e.g. Jon Kenny
Jon Kenny
Jon Kenny lives in Lough Gur and is one half of the famous Irish comic duo d'Unbelievables with Pat Shortt...
, Brendan Grace
Brendan Grace
Brendan Grace is an Irish comedian and singer. He is known for his comedy schoolboy character "Bottler", the role of Murphy in the 1995 movie Moondance, and his 1996 appearance in the Irish TV sitcom Father Ted as Father Fintan Stack.-Background:Born in the heart of Dublin in 1951, Brendan was...
) and music concert (Brendan Shine
Brendan Shine
Brendan Shine is an Irish folk singer and accordion player from Athlone, best known for his songs about everyday Irish life such as "Do you Want your Old Lobby Washed Down" and "Spuds"....
, Nyle Wolfe
Nyle Wolfe
Nyle Wolfe , trained as a singer at the Cork School of Music and the Leinster school of Music & Drama Dublin. He graduated from The Royal Academy of Music London with the conservatory's highest academic award and won a scholarship to complete his studies at the Zurich Opera House...
). In July 2007 the Tinteán hosted a live RTÉ draw for the FAI
Football Association of Ireland
The Football Association of Ireland is the governing body for the sport of association football in the Republic of Ireland. It should not to be confused with the Irish Football Association , which is the organising body for the sport in Northern Ireland.For the full history, statistics and records...
.
- Ballybunion Sea & Cliff Rescue
The unit, manned by volunteers, is situated on the Ladies Beach and was founded in 1986. The unit, equipped with a D class inflatable boat and an Atlantic 75
Atlantic 75 class lifeboat
B-Class lifeboats serve the shores of the UK as a part of the RNLI inshore fleet.The Atlantic 75 is the second generation Rigid Inflatable Boat in the B-Class series, developed from the Atlantic 21...
boat (purchased in 2010, replacing the old Atlantic 21), covers the coast and Shannon Estuary
Shannon Estuary
The Shannon Estuary is a large estuary where the River Shannon flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The estuary has Limerick at its head and its seaward limits are marked by Loop Head to the north and Kerry Head to the south...
from Ballyheigue
Ballyheigue
Ballyheigue, officially Ballyheige , is a coastal village in County Kerry, Ireland. It is approximately north of Tralee on the R551. Its name is pronounced ....
, Co Kerry to Foynes
Foynes
Foynes is a village and major port in County Limerick in the midwest of Ireland, located at the edge of hilly land on the southern bank of the Shannon Estuary. The population of the town was 606 as of the 2006 census.-Foynes's role in aviation:...
, Co. Limerick, and inland to Abbeyfeale
Abbeyfeale
Abbeyfeale is a historical market town in County Limerick, Ireland near the boundary with County Kerry. The town is in the midwest of Ireland, some from Newcastle West on the N21 – the main road from Limerick to Tralee.-Geography:...
, Co Limerick. As well as providing 24x7 Sea & Cliff Rescue, the volunteers also provide First Aid and Ambulance assistance at a handful of horse races around the Ballybunion area. The volunteers are very well trained in all aspects of rescue work.
- The Cliffs
The cliffs around Ballybunion are most notable for their rock formations, sea stacks, errosion, and many other geological features. The view of the strata from the Ladies Beach is excellent. There is sea stack called The Devils Castle, a blowhole
Blowhole (geology)
In geology, a blowhole is formed as sea caves grow landwards and upwards into vertical shafts and expose themselves towards the surface, which can result in blasts of water from the top of the blowhole if the geometry of the cave and blowhole and state of the weather are appropriate.A blowhole is...
called the Nine Daughters Hole, and an island / arch on the Nuns Beach called the Virgins Rock.
Health & Leisure
- Ballybunion Health & Leisure Centre
This Health & Leisure Centre opened in 2007 and is situated on Kit Ahern
Kit Ahern
Catherine Ita "Kit" Ahern was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician from Ballybunion in County Kerry....
Road. It has a heated 20m pool, sauna, jacuzzi, gym and exercise rooms. The existence of a swimming pool in Ballybunion has been sought for decades. The complex is open all year round and offers yearly and part-time membership.
Sport
The Ballybunion Community Centre host many sports, including regular training in BoxingBoxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, Basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, Judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
, Indoor Soccer
Indoor soccer
Indoor soccer or arena soccer, or six-a-side football in the United Kingdom, is a game derived from association football adapted for play in an indoor arena such as a turf-covered hockey arena or skating rink. The most important difference in play is that the indoor field is surrounded by a wall...
and Kung Fu.
- Golf
The Ballybunion Golf Club
Ballybunion Golf Club
The Ballybunion Golf Club in County Kerry, Ireland had barely opened its doors before experiencing financial problems. An investment from Colonel Bartholomew saved the club in 1906, and nine new holes were promptly laid out...
was founded in 1893 and is home to arguably one of the best links courses in the world. There are 2 courses, the Old Course and the Cashen Course. Both are running along beside the beach. See above link for details.
- GAA
Stack Park is situated off Sandhill Road, and has an unofficial walk-in entrance off Central Park (mobile home part off Kit Ahern
Kit Ahern
Catherine Ita "Kit" Ahern was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician from Ballybunion in County Kerry....
Road). This floodlight pitch provides training & matches for many divisions of players (incl under 8's, 10's, Junior, & Senior) as well as Ladies football.
The Ballybunion team are called the Beal team. Beal is a small townland a couple of miles up the coast from Ballybunion. The Beal colours are Green with Red stripe.