Ballydehob
Encyclopedia
Ballydehob is a coastal village in the southwest of County Cork
, Ireland
, located on the N71
national secondary road
.
(2200-600 B.C.), copper was mined on Mount Gabriel
, just west of the village. About the same time stone circles, wedge and boulder tombs were constructed in the area. The Celts arrived at some later time and in the early historic period various clans fought for dominance, until the eventual emergence of the McCarthys and O'Mahonys as the rulers of the region. A string of castles along the coastline bear testament to their strength, and to the strategic importance of this area. Kilcoe Castle was the McCarthy's most westerly stronghold and their only coastal foothold; it is probably West Cork's best preserved castle, which has in recent years been extensively restored by the actor Jeremy Irons
).
In 1602 soldiers led by Sir George Carew
, Lord President of Munster
, descended on the area in a successful bid to break the power of the Gaelic chieftains. Their passage through West Cork was described in "Pacata Hibernia" by Thomas Stafford, told of course from the invaders point of view, but interestingly, and probably uniquely for the time, a contemporary Irish account can also be found in Historicae Catolicae Iberniae Compenium by Don Philip O'Sullivan.
The 17th century saw an influx of settlers mainly from England, but a significant number were Protestants (Huguenots) fleeing persecution in Catholic France
. The Swantons from Norfolk
emerged as the most prominent family in the locality, and by the late 18th century they had succeeded in changing the name of Ballydehob to Swanton's Town. (The last known use of the name Swanton's Town was in the census of 1821).
In the 1820s copper mining developed again in the region. The Cappagh mine, the most productive of several, was financed by Lord Audley; its 20 metre chimney survived until February 2002, when it was destroyed by a lightning strike. An interesting feature of this mining era was the introduction to Ballydehob of a police constabulary and barracks, some 6 years before the first London police force. By the 1840s the population of the area had swelled to nearly 20,000. Then disaster struck when the potato crop failed and the Great Irish Famine resulted. This affected Ballydehob and the whole of West Cork in a most devastating way; thousands died and thousands more emigrated. Between 1841 and 1851 the population of the area fell by 42%, a decline which was much higher than the national average. At present Ballydehob has a resident population of 200.
In the 1880s amid growing agitation over land reform, the Ballydehob branch of the Irish National Land League
hosted a visit by Anna Parnell
, sister of Charles Stewart Parnell
, to address a public meeting on the subject; this was held in the field where St. Brigit's school now stands, and is commemorated by a plaque.
Ballydehob's most famous son is Danno O'Mahony
, world wrestling champion in the 1930's, who died in a car crash in 1950. He is commemorated by a statue in the main street (see "People" below).
In the 1960s Ballydehob saw an influx of artists, writers and craftspeople, attracted by the village's peaceful coastal setting. Also for a brief period a number of "Hippy" communes were established in the area. One house was decorated with painted flowers, becoming well known as the "Flower House".
In common with the rest of West Cork, Ballydehob is a popular holiday venue, and the area contains a number of guest-houses, as well as private holiday homes. The traditional village shops have largely been replaced by a range of eating-places.
Near Ballydehob at Cooragurteen there is a Chapel of the Antiochan Orthodox Church, where Saturday evening vespers and Sunday morning readings are regularly held. Divine Liturgy is also celebrated at the Chapel at various times throughout the year. This chapel is reputed to be the most westerly Othodox chapel in Western Europe.
Ballydehob Traditional Music Weekend is the annual traditional music, song, and dance festival, and will take place between April 15-17th, 2011.
The Ballydehob Jazz Festival is a growing annual event that attracts artists and jazz fans from around the world, and is scheduled to take place between April 29th - May 2nd 2011.
Ballydehob Summer Festival is in its 21st year and provides fun and entertainment for all the family. Over recent years it has also included the Ballydehob Traditional Boat Gathering bringing a new dynamic to what is already an exciting schedule of events.
The summer festival will take place between August 6th - 14th 2011
Ballydehob Old Time Threshing & Vintage Weekend - celebrates the historic traditions of rural Ireland and West Cork in particular.
The vintage weekend will take place in October (2011).
with a huge sports event held in Ballydehob to mark the occasion. At the time there was a 15 m.p.h. speed limit on the railway. The magnificent 12 arch bridge, which dominates the estuary of Ballydehob, was the major engineering achievement of the line. Mounting losses, coal shortages and the arrival of buses and motor cars eventually brought the closure of the line. The final train ran on 27 January 1947 and the station finally closed altogether on 1 June 1953. Ballydehob was the main intermediate station on the railway.
. He won the NWA World title from Jim Londos
in Boston
on 30 June 1935, and was known as the "Irish Whip" in celebration of his famous throwing technique. He was also a champion hammer-thrower. He died in a traffic accident in 1950. One of the village's many pubs, "The Irish Whip", is named after him. In the centre of the village is a bronze statue erected in his honour in 2000.
with the town of Cléden-Cap-Sizun
in France
.
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, located on the N71
N71 road (Ireland)
-Road standard:The road is mostly relatively poor single carriageway, with better sections towards the Cork end of the route. There are wide sections with climbing/passing lanes, including a very rare configuration with a passing lane on both sides, and a dual carriageway section approaching...
national secondary road
National secondary road
A national secondary road is a category of road in Ireland. These roads form an important part of the national route network, but are secondary to the main arterial routes which are classified as national primary roads. National secondary roads are designated with route numbers higher than those...
.
History
Ballydehob is a microcosm of Irish local history, and legends and folklore abound in the locality. At the dawn of the Bronze AgeBronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
(2200-600 B.C.), copper was mined on Mount Gabriel
Mount Gabriel
Mount Gabriel is a mountain on the Mizen Peninsula situated immediately to the north of the town of Schull, in West Cork, Ireland.Mt. Gabriel is 407m high and is the highest eminence in the coastal zone south and east of Bantry Bay. A roadway serving the radar installations on the summit is open...
, just west of the village. About the same time stone circles, wedge and boulder tombs were constructed in the area. The Celts arrived at some later time and in the early historic period various clans fought for dominance, until the eventual emergence of the McCarthys and O'Mahonys as the rulers of the region. A string of castles along the coastline bear testament to their strength, and to the strategic importance of this area. Kilcoe Castle was the McCarthy's most westerly stronghold and their only coastal foothold; it is probably West Cork's best preserved castle, which has in recent years been extensively restored by the actor Jeremy Irons
Jeremy Irons
Jeremy John Irons is an English actor. After receiving classical training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Irons began his acting career on stage in 1969, and has since appeared in many London theatre productions including The Winter's Tale, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, The Taming of the...
).
In 1602 soldiers led by Sir George Carew
George Carew, 1st Earl of Totnes
George Carew, 1st Earl of Totnes , known as Sir George Carew between 1586 and 1605 and as The Lord Carew between 1605 and 1626, served under Queen Elizabeth I during the Tudor conquest of Ireland and was appointed President of Munster. -Early career:Carew was the son of Dr...
, Lord President of Munster
Lord President of Munster
The post of Lord President of Munster was the most important office in the English government of the Irish province of Munster from its introduction in the Elizabethan era for a century, to 1672, a period including the Desmond Rebellions in Munster, the Nine Years' War, and the Irish Rebellion of...
, descended on the area in a successful bid to break the power of the Gaelic chieftains. Their passage through West Cork was described in "Pacata Hibernia" by Thomas Stafford, told of course from the invaders point of view, but interestingly, and probably uniquely for the time, a contemporary Irish account can also be found in Historicae Catolicae Iberniae Compenium by Don Philip O'Sullivan.
The 17th century saw an influx of settlers mainly from England, but a significant number were Protestants (Huguenots) fleeing persecution in Catholic France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The Swantons from Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
emerged as the most prominent family in the locality, and by the late 18th century they had succeeded in changing the name of Ballydehob to Swanton's Town. (The last known use of the name Swanton's Town was in the census of 1821).
In the 1820s copper mining developed again in the region. The Cappagh mine, the most productive of several, was financed by Lord Audley; its 20 metre chimney survived until February 2002, when it was destroyed by a lightning strike. An interesting feature of this mining era was the introduction to Ballydehob of a police constabulary and barracks, some 6 years before the first London police force. By the 1840s the population of the area had swelled to nearly 20,000. Then disaster struck when the potato crop failed and the Great Irish Famine resulted. This affected Ballydehob and the whole of West Cork in a most devastating way; thousands died and thousands more emigrated. Between 1841 and 1851 the population of the area fell by 42%, a decline which was much higher than the national average. At present Ballydehob has a resident population of 200.
In the 1880s amid growing agitation over land reform, the Ballydehob branch of the Irish National Land League
Irish National Land League
The Irish Land League was an Irish political organization of the late 19th century which sought to help poor tenant farmers. Its primary aim was to abolish landlordism in Ireland and enable tenant farmers to own the land they worked on...
hosted a visit by Anna Parnell
Anna Catherine Parnell
Anna Catherine Parnell was an Irish nationalist and younger sister of Irish Nationalist leader, Charles Stewart Parnell....
, sister of Charles Stewart Parnell
Charles Stewart Parnell
Charles Stewart Parnell was an Irish landowner, nationalist political leader, land reform agitator, and the founder and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party...
, to address a public meeting on the subject; this was held in the field where St. Brigit's school now stands, and is commemorated by a plaque.
Ballydehob's most famous son is Danno O'Mahony
Danno O'Mahony
Danno O'Mahony was an Irish professional wrestler. His surname was usually spelled "O'Mahoney" during his wrestling career...
, world wrestling champion in the 1930's, who died in a car crash in 1950. He is commemorated by a statue in the main street (see "People" below).
In the 1960s Ballydehob saw an influx of artists, writers and craftspeople, attracted by the village's peaceful coastal setting. Also for a brief period a number of "Hippy" communes were established in the area. One house was decorated with painted flowers, becoming well known as the "Flower House".
In common with the rest of West Cork, Ballydehob is a popular holiday venue, and the area contains a number of guest-houses, as well as private holiday homes. The traditional village shops have largely been replaced by a range of eating-places.
Near Ballydehob at Cooragurteen there is a Chapel of the Antiochan Orthodox Church, where Saturday evening vespers and Sunday morning readings are regularly held. Divine Liturgy is also celebrated at the Chapel at various times throughout the year. This chapel is reputed to be the most westerly Othodox chapel in Western Europe.
Festivals
Ballydehob also enjoys four annual festivals, each of which attracts visitors both from both the locale and further abroad.Ballydehob Traditional Music Weekend is the annual traditional music, song, and dance festival, and will take place between April 15-17th, 2011.
The Ballydehob Jazz Festival is a growing annual event that attracts artists and jazz fans from around the world, and is scheduled to take place between April 29th - May 2nd 2011.
Ballydehob Summer Festival is in its 21st year and provides fun and entertainment for all the family. Over recent years it has also included the Ballydehob Traditional Boat Gathering bringing a new dynamic to what is already an exciting schedule of events.
The summer festival will take place between August 6th - 14th 2011
Ballydehob Old Time Threshing & Vintage Weekend - celebrates the historic traditions of rural Ireland and West Cork in particular.
The vintage weekend will take place in October (2011).
Railway
On 6 September 1886 Ballydehob railway station opened on the narrow gauge Schull and Skibbereen RailwaySchull and Skibbereen Railway
The Schull and Skibbereen Railway was a minor narrow gauge railway in County Cork, Ireland. It opened in 1886 and closed in 1947. The track gauge was 3 feet . The formal name of the company was The West Carberry Tramways and Light Railways Company Ltd.-Route:The S&S' main line was 15½ miles long...
with a huge sports event held in Ballydehob to mark the occasion. At the time there was a 15 m.p.h. speed limit on the railway. The magnificent 12 arch bridge, which dominates the estuary of Ballydehob, was the major engineering achievement of the line. Mounting losses, coal shortages and the arrival of buses and motor cars eventually brought the closure of the line. The final train ran on 27 January 1947 and the station finally closed altogether on 1 June 1953. Ballydehob was the main intermediate station on the railway.
People
The village's most famous former inhabitant was the wrestler Danno O'MahonyDanno O'Mahony
Danno O'Mahony was an Irish professional wrestler. His surname was usually spelled "O'Mahoney" during his wrestling career...
. He won the NWA World title from Jim Londos
Jim Londos
Christos Theofilou or Christopher Theophelus better known as "The Golden Greek" Jim Londos, was a professional wrestler who was one of the most popular stars wrestling offered during the Great Depression.-Career:Jim Londos was born Christos Theofilou in 1897 in Argos, Greece. as the youngest of...
in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
on 30 June 1935, and was known as the "Irish Whip" in celebration of his famous throwing technique. He was also a champion hammer-thrower. He died in a traffic accident in 1950. One of the village's many pubs, "The Irish Whip", is named after him. In the centre of the village is a bronze statue erected in his honour in 2000.
International relations
Twin towns — Sister cities
Ballydehob is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with the town of Cléden-Cap-Sizun
Cléden-Cap-Sizun
Cléden-Cap-Sizun is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France, lying on the promontory of Cap Sizun.-Population:Inhabitants of Cléden-Cap-Sizun are called in French Clédinois.-Twin towns — Sister cities:...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland
- Photosynth of Ballydehob Bridge (Silverlight required)
- Local Ballydehob Website
- Ballydehob Traditional Music Festival http://www.ballydehobtradfestival.com
- St Phillip Antiochan Orthodox Mission, Couragurteen, Ballydehob, Co Cork, http://www.antiochireland.org/ballydehob/