Bandon, County Cork
Encyclopedia
Bandon is a town in County Cork
, Ireland
. With a population of 5,822 as of census 2006, Bandon lies on the River Bandon
between two hills. The name in Irish means "Bridge of the Bandon", a reference to the origin of the town as a crossing-point on the river. In 2004 Bandon celebrated its quatercentenary. Bandon is sometimes called the "Gateway to West Cork
". Bandon's official website is bandon.ie .
at Corunna
Spain in 1809, was governor of the town in 1798.
During the 19th century the town grew as a leading industrial centre which included brewing, tanning, distilling, corn and cotton milling. The now closed Allman's distillery produced at one point over 600,000 gallons of whisky annually. The industrial revolution
in the 1800s and the advent of the railways had a profound effect on the socioeconomic and cultural ecosystem of the area. Local weaving
operations could not compete with mass produced cheap imports.
Major General Arthur Ernest Percival
was commander of the British garrison in Bandon in 1920-21 during the Irish War of Independence
. He was subsequently the commanding officer of the British troops who surrendered Singapore to the Japanese forces in 1941. In 1945 he was invited by Douglas MacArthur
to witness the surrender of Japanese forces in Tokyo in 1945 which ended the Second World War. Irish army leader Michael Collins
was killed in an ambush at Béal na mBláth
, about 9.6 km (6 mi) outside Bandon.
During the Irish War of Independence
, Bandon’s Protestant population, which was largely unionist
, suffered from Irish Republican Army
(IRA) reprisals. Between 1911 and 1926 the non-Catholic population of Bandon dropped by 45.5%.
Niall Meehan, however, writes that the killings were not "motivated by either land agitation or by sectarian considerations." Brian Murphy, citing a British document A Record of the Rebellion in Ireland in 1920-1921: wrote that:
He concludes that "the IRA killings in the Bandon area were motivated by political and not sectarian considerations. Possibly, military considerations, rather than political, would have been a more fitting way to describe the reason for the IRA response to those who informed."
Castle Bernard, the seat of Lord Bandon
was also burned during the Irish War of Independence.
The 'Bandon Festival of Lights' took place on 1 December 2007. This event saw the illumination of the brand new state-of-the-art Christmas Lights.
in the United States. That city was founded in 1873 by Lord George Bennet, a native of the Irish Bandon who named the American one after it, and who is known especially for having introduced gorse
into the US ecology with some disastrous results.
, is a fee paying Church of Ireland-ethos boarding school. The other schools include Hamilton High School, St. Brogan's and the Presentation Sisters College. Bandon Grammar School and St. Brogan's are both mixed schools, Hamilton High School is a boys only school and the Presentation sisters is a girls only school. Hamilton High school is now situated in a building near where the Grammar School originally was before moving across the river to its current location in the 1950's.
, Gilderoy Lockhart claims to have defeated the 'Bandon Banshee
'.
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
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,...
. With a population of 5,822 as of census 2006, Bandon lies on the River Bandon
River Bandon
The River Bandon is a river in County Cork in Ireland. It rises at Nowen Hill , to the north of Drimoleague.The river then flows to Dunmanway, before turning eastward towards the twin villages of Ballineen and Enniskean...
between two hills. The name in Irish means "Bridge of the Bandon", a reference to the origin of the town as a crossing-point on the river. In 2004 Bandon celebrated its quatercentenary. Bandon is sometimes called the "Gateway to West Cork
West Cork
West Cork refers to a geographical area in south-west Ireland, lying within Ireland's largest county, County Cork. Traditionally a popular tourist destination, the area is seen as being distinct from the more populated northern or eastern parts of the county, as well as the more urban area of...
". Bandon's official website is bandon.ie .
History
In September 1588, at the start of the Plantation of Munster, Phane Beecher of London acquired, as Undertaker, the seignory of Castlemahon. It was in this seignory that the town of Bandon was formed in 1604 by Phane Beecher's son and heir Henry Beecher, together with other English settlers John Shipward, William Newce and John Archdeacon. The original settlers in Beecher's seignory came from various locations in England. Originally the town proper was inhabitated solely by Protestants, as a by-law had been passed stating "That no Roman Catholic be permitted to reside in the town". A protective wall extended for about a mile around the town. Buildings sprang up on both sides of the river and over time a series of bridges linked both settlements. Sir John Moore, later leader of the British Army, who was killed in the Peninsular WarPeninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
at Corunna
A Coruña
A Coruña or La Coruña is a city and municipality of Galicia, Spain. It is the second-largest city in the autonomous community and seventeenth overall in the country...
Spain in 1809, was governor of the town in 1798.
During the 19th century the town grew as a leading industrial centre which included brewing, tanning, distilling, corn and cotton milling. The now closed Allman's distillery produced at one point over 600,000 gallons of whisky annually. The industrial revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
in the 1800s and the advent of the railways had a profound effect on the socioeconomic and cultural ecosystem of the area. Local weaving
Weaving
Weaving is a method of fabric production in which two distinct sets of yarns or threads are interlaced at right angles to form a fabric or cloth. The other methods are knitting, lace making and felting. The longitudinal threads are called the warp and the lateral threads are the weft or filling...
operations could not compete with mass produced cheap imports.
Major General Arthur Ernest Percival
Arthur Ernest Percival
Lieutenant-General Arthur Ernest Percival, CB, DSO & Bar, OBE, MC, OStJ, DL was a British Army officer and World War I veteran...
was commander of the British garrison in Bandon in 1920-21 during the Irish War of Independence
Irish War of Independence
The Irish War of Independence , Anglo-Irish War, Black and Tan War, or Tan War was a guerrilla war mounted by the Irish Republican Army against the British government and its forces in Ireland. It began in January 1919, following the Irish Republic's declaration of independence. Both sides agreed...
. He was subsequently the commanding officer of the British troops who surrendered Singapore to the Japanese forces in 1941. In 1945 he was invited by Douglas MacArthur
Douglas MacArthur
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was an American general and field marshal of the Philippine Army. He was a Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the...
to witness the surrender of Japanese forces in Tokyo in 1945 which ended the Second World War. Irish army leader Michael Collins
Michael Collins (Irish leader)
Michael "Mick" Collins was an Irish revolutionary leader, Minister for Finance and Teachta Dála for Cork South in the First Dáil of 1919, Director of Intelligence for the IRA, and member of the Irish delegation during the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations. Subsequently, he was both Chairman of the...
was killed in an ambush at Béal na mBláth
Béal na mBláth
Béal na mBláth, officially Béal Átha na Bláiche , is a small village in County Cork, Ireland. Both Bláth or Bláiche are variations of the word bláthach, meaning literally "flowery" or "floral", or in this case "buttermilk"....
, about 9.6 km (6 mi) outside Bandon.
During the Irish War of Independence
Irish War of Independence
The Irish War of Independence , Anglo-Irish War, Black and Tan War, or Tan War was a guerrilla war mounted by the Irish Republican Army against the British government and its forces in Ireland. It began in January 1919, following the Irish Republic's declaration of independence. Both sides agreed...
, Bandon’s Protestant population, which was largely unionist
Unionism in Ireland
Unionism in Ireland is an ideology that favours the continuation of some form of political union between the islands of Ireland and Great Britain...
, suffered from Irish Republican Army
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
(IRA) reprisals. Between 1911 and 1926 the non-Catholic population of Bandon dropped by 45.5%.
Niall Meehan, however, writes that the killings were not "motivated by either land agitation or by sectarian considerations." Brian Murphy, citing a British document A Record of the Rebellion in Ireland in 1920-1921: wrote that:
the truth was that, as British intelligence officers recognised in the south, the Protestants and those who that supported the [UK] Government rarely gave much information because, except by chance, they had not got it to give. An exception to this was in the Bandon area where there were many Protestant farmers who gave information. Although the Intelligence Officer of the area was exceptionally experienced and although the troops were most active it proved almost impossible to protect those brave men, many of whom were murdered while almost all the remainder suffered grave material loss.
He concludes that "the IRA killings in the Bandon area were motivated by political and not sectarian considerations. Possibly, military considerations, rather than political, would have been a more fitting way to describe the reason for the IRA response to those who informed."
Castle Bernard, the seat of Lord Bandon
James Bernard, 4th Earl of Bandon
James Francis Bernard, 4th Earl of Bandon KP was a British Deputy Lieutenant in Ireland and Representative Peer...
was also burned during the Irish War of Independence.
Festival
- Bandon Summer Fest is a family orientated festival run by a volunteer committee held over the August Bank Holiday weekend.http://www.bandonsummerfest.com
- The Bandon Music Festival takes place every June Bank Holiday weekend. In 2009 acts included Mick Flannery, Mundy, The Flaws and The Hogan Band. In 2010, Saturday night's headliners were Jack L and his band who were supported by Tupelo. Sunday night was joint headlined by both Fred and The Delerentos.
The 'Bandon Festival of Lights' took place on 1 December 2007. This event saw the illumination of the brand new state-of-the-art Christmas Lights.
Twin city
Bandon has a twin city agreement with Bandon, OregonBandon, Oregon
- Economy :Like many communities on the Oregon coast, Bandon had significant fishing and timber industries, which were greatly diminished by the 1980s, though some remnants still exist. Bandon's current economy revolves around wood products, fishing, tourism, and agriculture...
in the United States. That city was founded in 1873 by Lord George Bennet, a native of the Irish Bandon who named the American one after it, and who is known especially for having introduced gorse
Gorse
Gorse, furze, furse or whin is a genus of about 20 plant species of thorny evergreen shrubs in the subfamily Faboideae of the pea family Fabaceae, native to western Europe and northwest Africa, with the majority of species in Iberia.Gorse is closely related to the brooms, and like them, has green...
into the US ecology with some disastrous results.
Transport & communications
- Bandon is located 27 km southwest of Cork CityCork (city)Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
, on the N71N71 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 roadNational secondary roadA 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... - Bus EireannBus ÉireannBus Éireann provides bus services in Ireland with the exception of those operated entirely within the Dublin Region, which are provided by Dublin Bus. Bus Éireann, established as a separate company in 1987, is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann. The logo of Bus Éireann incorporates a red Irish...
provides Bandon's needs of public transport. There is a regular service from Cork City - Nearest airport Cork Airport
- Monthly magazine - called "The Opinion"
People
Notable local figures include :- Graham NortonGraham NortonGraham William Walker, known by his stage name Graham Norton , is an Irish actor, comedian, television presenter and columnist...
the BBC 1 chat show host lived in Bandon and attended Bandon Grammar School. His mother still resides there. - George Bennett was born in Bandon in 1822 and graduated from Trinity College, Dublin with degrees in Arts and Law. His history of Bandon, which was released for public sale in 1869, has been a great source of information for this article. He went to Oregon in 1873 and founded a town which he named BandonBandon, Oregon- Economy :Like many communities on the Oregon coast, Bandon had significant fishing and timber industries, which were greatly diminished by the 1980s, though some remnants still exist. Bandon's current economy revolves around wood products, fishing, tourism, and agriculture...
. - Author Margaret Wolfe HungerfordMargaret Wolfe HungerfordMargaret Wolfe Hungerford, née Hamilton, , was an Irish novelist whose light romantic fiction was popular throughout the English-speaking world in the late 19th century.-Biography:...
, who wrote numerous Victorian eraVictorian eraThe Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
novels, lived in Bandon until her death of typhoid feverTyphoid feverTyphoid fever, also known as Typhoid, is a common worldwide bacterial disease, transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person, which contain the bacterium Salmonella enterica, serovar Typhi...
on 24 Jan 1897. - Dr James Murphy was born in Bandon in 1844. He devoted a large part of his career to the study of political history and economics. In 1919 he was invited to Buckingham Palace to give a talk to leading surgeons on a new method of amputation.
- Eugene O'KeefeEugene O'KeefeEugene O'Keefe , baptized Owen Keeffe, was a Canadian businessman and philanthropist. He founded the O'Keefe Brewery Company of Toronto Limited in 1891....
(1827–1913), a brewer and businessman, emigrated to Toronto in and established the O'Keefe Brewery, which would later be bought by the Carling Brewery. O'Keefe was a philanthropist to Catholic institutions. - Cornelius O’Sullivan, the ‘founder of the science of bio-chemistry’, was born in Bandon in 1842 and in 1866 he was appointed assistant brewer and chemist to Bass & Co. He later became the head brewer in 1894. He died in 1907 and was buried in Ballymodan graveyard.
- Sir George Strickland KingstonGeorge Strickland KingstonSir George Strickland Kingston arrived in South Australia on the Cygnet in 1836. He was the Deputy Surveyor to William Light, engaged to survey the new colony of South Australia.-Early life:...
, who emigrated to AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and became a prominent civil engineerCivil engineerA civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
, architectArchitectAn architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
and politician, was born in Bandon in 1807. - Sir Richard CoxSir Richard CoxSir Richard Cox, 1st Baronet PC was an Irish lawyer and judge. He served as Lord Chancellor of Ireland from 1703 to 1707 and as Lord Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench for Ireland from 1711 to 1714.- Early life :...
, Lord Chancellor Of Ireland was born in Bandon, 25 March 1650 - Joseph BrennanJoseph Brennan (civil servant)Joseph Brennan was a senior Irish civil servant born in Bandon, County Cork, Ireland on 18 November 1887.In 1909 he entered Christ Church, Cambridge where he studied mathematics and then switched to classics. In successive years he obtained a first in Latin and Greek...
, (1887–1963),Chairman of the Currency Commission and Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland - William J. Herlihy born 1818 and his son Timothy J. Herlihy born 1857, Dean of the Quartermasters of the Fall River Steamship Line.
- Rev. James LongJames Long (Anglican priest)James Long was an Anglo-Irish priest of the Anglican Church. A humanist, educator, evangelist, translator, essayist, philanthropist and a missionary to India, he resided in the city of Calcutta, India, from 1840 to 1872 as a member of the Church Mission Society, leading the mission at...
, an Anglican priest and orientalist who published the first English translation of the play Nil DarpanNil DarpanNil Durpan is a Bengali play written by Dinabandhu Mitra in 1858-1859... - Lloyd Jones (socialist)Lloyd Jones (socialist)Lloyd Jones socialist, union activist, advocate of co-operation, journalist and writer was born in Bandon, County Cork in 1811...
, CooperativeCooperativeA cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
Society activist, four times President of the Co-operative CongressCo-operative CongressThe Co-operative Congress is the national conference of the UK Co-operative Movement. The first of the modern congresses took place in 1869 following a series of meetings called the "Owenite Congress" in the 1830s...
, born Bandon 1811, died London 1886
Sports and Community Groups
- Bandon Tidy Towns is a group of volunteers who meet up on Tuesday evenings at 7pm at Hartes Car Park from April until the end of the season. The group is actively seeking new volunteers to help with planting etc.
- Bandon Rugby Football Club were the inaugural winners of the Munster Senior Rugby CupMunster Senior Rugby CupThe Munster Senior Cup is a rugby union competition for the senior clubs affiliated to the Munster branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union.-1880s:* 1886 Bandon beat Garryowen* 1887 Queens College beat Limerick County* 1888 Queens College beat Garryowen...
in when they defeated Garryowen Football ClubGarryowen Football ClubGarryowen Football Club , usually referred to as Garryowen, is a rugby union club from Limerick, Ireland. Historically it has been one of the most successful clubs in Irish rugby union leagues.-Name:...
in the final in 1886. - Bandon AFC play at the Town Park on the Macroom Road. The club has active men's, juveniles and ladies teams. The ladies team play in the West Cork winter league and in the [Cork Ladies Soccer League]http://cws.leaguerepublic.com/ in the summer.
- Bandon GAABandon GAABandon GAA is a Gaelic football and Hurling club based in Bandon in County Cork, Republic of Ireland.The club is affiliated with Carbery division of Cork....
are affiliated to the Carbery GAACarbery GAACarbery GAA are a divisional team from the south-west division of County Cork, Ireland, in ancient Carbery. They compete in the Cork Senior Football Championship. They competed in the Cork Senior Hurling Championship up to and including 2010. They did not enter a hurling team in 2011...
division of Cork GAA. - Bandon Tennis Club has three courts at the Bandon Golf Club. The club has active mens, ladies and mixed teams that participate in leagues throughout the year. The children's section of the club is also vibrant with members on the Junior Irish Tennis Squad.
- Bandon also boasts a fabulous 18-hole Golf course on the grounds of CastleBernard.
Education
There are four secondary schools in Bandon. One of these, Bandon Grammar SchoolBandon Grammar School
Bandon Grammar School is a secondary school situated in Bandon, Co Cork, Republic of Ireland. It is primarily a Church of Ireland school. Its current principal is David Sutton.- Official School Message :...
, is a fee paying Church of Ireland-ethos boarding school. The other schools include Hamilton High School, St. Brogan's and the Presentation Sisters College. Bandon Grammar School and St. Brogan's are both mixed schools, Hamilton High School is a boys only school and the Presentation sisters is a girls only school. Hamilton High school is now situated in a building near where the Grammar School originally was before moving across the river to its current location in the 1950's.
In Popular Culture
In Harry Potter and The Chamber of SecretsHarry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is the second novel in the Harry Potter series written by J. K. Rowling. The plot follows Harry's second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, during which a series of messages on the walls on the school's corridors warn that the "Chamber of...
, Gilderoy Lockhart claims to have defeated the 'Bandon Banshee
Banshee
The banshee , from the Irish bean sí is a feminine spirit in Irish mythology, usually seen as an omen of death and a messenger from the Otherworld....
'.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland