Coachford
Encyclopedia
Coachford is a village west of Cork City
, in County Cork
, Ireland
. It is located on the north side of the River Lee
. Coachford got its name from Áth an Chóiste (Ford of the Coaches) as there used to be a narrow ford across a stream (which is now part of the River Lee). The Lee was flooded for a hydroelectric power plant and farmland including many houses were flooded by the newly formed lake.
Coachford is located around a crossroads where the R618
and R619
regional road
s intersect. Mallow
is 20 miles (32.2 km) north of the village, Macroom
is 9 miles (14.5 km) west, Cork city is 15 miles (24.1 km) east and Bandon
is 20 miles (32.2 km) south. The village has three food-stores, a Post Office, a Doctor's Surgery, a Pharmacy, a Veterinary Surgery, a hardware store, a co-operative, a hairdresser, a service station, two fast food diners, , a child care centre, a play-school, a primary school, a secondary school and four Public Houses.
Thirty Free State soldiers tied him to the back of a truck near Peake and dragged him a distance of four miles (6 km) to the bridge where he was shot by soldiers and his body dumped in a ditch. Local people who witnessed this recovered his body. A monument now stands on the site where his body was recovered. Close to Coachford is Mullanhassig Waterfall. It is about 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Coachford just off the Macroom road. Close to the schools is a medieval church surrounded by a cemetery of centuries old graves. Just about 1 miles (1.6 km) south of Coachford on the road to Bandon is Rooves Bridge. This bridge was constructed over the River Lee in the 1950s to replace the old Rooves bridge which was submerged due to the building of the Hydro electric dam at Inniscarra about 6 miles (9.7 km) down river. Rooves bridge is the longest bridge spanning the River Lee. Also close to Coachford (6 km)is Crooks Castle which is in the townland of Rockgrove. Carrig na Muc Castle is also only a few miles away overlooking the Dripsey river. This castle was owned by Cormac Mór McCarthy who also built Blarney Castle
. The name Carrig na Muc (meaning 'Rock of the Pigs') came from mediaeval times where pigs were slaughtered on a special rock before being prepared for banquets.
. Aghabullogue are the club who forever in the annals of the Gaelic Athletic Association will be remembered for capturing Cork's first hurling All-Ireland title in 1890 when they defeated Castlebridge of Wexford in the final. Other sporting clubs in the area are, Coachford soccer club whose home ground is at The Glebe, and two local horse and dog hunts. Olive Loughnane who won a silver medal in the women's 20 km walk in the World Athletics Championships in Berlin in August 2009 is a resident of Coachford. Other sports such as Badminton, Shooting and Karate are also catered for. There are many fishing competitions held on the River Lee, which flows near the village.
). The College has a catchment area spreading towards Macroom
and Ballincollig
, Bandon
and Kanturk
, taking a large rural area near Cork City. There are roughly 600 students. An extension was completed in 2002 and provides the college with a sports hall. In 2007 Leaving Certificate
class, 3 gold medals were won for best results in Ireland.
to Cork city with a narrow gauge railway, opened in 1888 by the Cork and Muskerry Light Railway
. The line was closed in 1934 by the GSR
. Coachford railway station opened on 19 March 1888, but finally closed on 31 December 1934.
Cork (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...
, in County Cork
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,...
. It is located on the north side of the River Lee
River Lee (Ireland)
The Lee is a river in Ireland. It rises in the Shehy Mountains on the western border of County Cork and flows eastwards through Cork City, where it splits in two for a short distance, creating an island on which Cork's city centre is built, and empties into the Celtic Sea at Cork Harbour on the...
. Coachford got its name from Áth an Chóiste (Ford of the Coaches) as there used to be a narrow ford across a stream (which is now part of the River Lee). The Lee was flooded for a hydroelectric power plant and farmland including many houses were flooded by the newly formed lake.
Coachford is located around a crossroads where the R618
R618 road
The R618 road is a regional road in Ireland which runs west-east from the N22 in Macroom along the northern banks of the River Lee to rejoin the N22 at Carrigrohane near Cork City. The road passes through Carrigadrohid, Coachford and Dripsey en route. The point where the R618 leaves the N22 on the...
and R619
R619 road
The R619 road is a regional road in Ireland which runs north-south from the N73 in Mallow to Farnanes on the N22 between Macroom and Cork City. It crosses the River Lee south of Coachford. The full length of the R619 is within County Cork....
regional road
Regional road
A regional road in Ireland is a class of road not forming a major route , but nevertheless forming a link in the national route network. There are over 11,600 kilometres of regional roads. Regional roads are numbered with three digit route numbers, prefixed by "R" A regional road in Ireland is a...
s intersect. Mallow
Mallow, County Cork
Mallow is the "Crossroads of Munster" and the administrative capital of north County Cork, in Ireland. The Northern Divisional Offices of Cork County Council are located in the town....
is 20 miles (32.2 km) north of the village, Macroom
Macroom
Macroom is a market town in Ireland located in a valley on the River Sullane, a tributary of the River Lee, between Cork and Killarney. It is one of the key gateways to the tourist region of West Cork. The town recorded a population on 3,553 in the 2006 national census...
is 9 miles (14.5 km) west, Cork city is 15 miles (24.1 km) east and Bandon
Bandon, County Cork
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...
is 20 miles (32.2 km) south. The village has three food-stores, a Post Office, a Doctor's Surgery, a Pharmacy, a Veterinary Surgery, a hardware store, a co-operative, a hairdresser, a service station, two fast food diners, , a child care centre, a play-school, a primary school, a secondary school and four Public Houses.
Places of interest
Near Rooves Bridge is a monument to Captain Tadhg Kennefick of the Irish Republican Army, who was killed during the Irish Civil War by the Free State Army. On his way home to his mother' funeral, he was stopped at a Free State checkpoint headed by a General Dalton.Thirty Free State soldiers tied him to the back of a truck near Peake and dragged him a distance of four miles (6 km) to the bridge where he was shot by soldiers and his body dumped in a ditch. Local people who witnessed this recovered his body. A monument now stands on the site where his body was recovered. Close to Coachford is Mullanhassig Waterfall. It is about 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Coachford just off the Macroom road. Close to the schools is a medieval church surrounded by a cemetery of centuries old graves. Just about 1 miles (1.6 km) south of Coachford on the road to Bandon is Rooves Bridge. This bridge was constructed over the River Lee in the 1950s to replace the old Rooves bridge which was submerged due to the building of the Hydro electric dam at Inniscarra about 6 miles (9.7 km) down river. Rooves bridge is the longest bridge spanning the River Lee. Also close to Coachford (6 km)is Crooks Castle which is in the townland of Rockgrove. Carrig na Muc Castle is also only a few miles away overlooking the Dripsey river. This castle was owned by Cormac Mór McCarthy who also built Blarney Castle
Blarney Castle
Blarney Castle is a medieval stronghold in Blarney, near Cork, Ireland, and the River Martin. Though earlier fortifications were built on the same spot, the current keep was built by the MacCarthy of Muskerry dynasty, a cadet branch of the Kings of Desmond, and dates from 1446...
. The name Carrig na Muc (meaning 'Rock of the Pigs') came from mediaeval times where pigs were slaughtered on a special rock before being prepared for banquets.
Sport
The village is the home of Aghabullogue GAAAghabullogue GAA
Aghabullogue GAA are a Gaelic Athletic Association club in County Cork, Ireland. They are affiliated to the Cork County Board and play in the Mid Cork division of Cork GAA. Aghabullogue cater for both Gaelic football and hurling.-History:...
. Aghabullogue are the club who forever in the annals of the Gaelic Athletic Association will be remembered for capturing Cork's first hurling All-Ireland title in 1890 when they defeated Castlebridge of Wexford in the final. Other sporting clubs in the area are, Coachford soccer club whose home ground is at The Glebe, and two local horse and dog hunts. Olive Loughnane who won a silver medal in the women's 20 km walk in the World Athletics Championships in Berlin in August 2009 is a resident of Coachford. Other sports such as Badminton, Shooting and Karate are also catered for. There are many fishing competitions held on the River Lee, which flows near the village.
Arts
The local drama group, Coachford Players, is an amateur Drama Group established in 1987 and performs a full length play each year. Mary Lynch of Coachford is a wonderful artist and exhibits her work on a regular basis in the Village and in Macroom.Education
The village and its environs are served by a primary (Coachford National School) and post primary school (Coachford CollegeCoachford College
Coachford College is a secondary school located in Coachford, Cork, Ireland.Situated in the Lee Valley. Being 18 miles west of Cork city, the rural location offers an interesting choice of schooling for each child in the large catchment area which stretches from Kanturk to Bandon, Ballincollig to...
). The College has a catchment area spreading towards Macroom
Macroom
Macroom is a market town in Ireland located in a valley on the River Sullane, a tributary of the River Lee, between Cork and Killarney. It is one of the key gateways to the tourist region of West Cork. The town recorded a population on 3,553 in the 2006 national census...
and Ballincollig
Ballincollig
Ballincollig is a satellite town in County Cork, Ireland, approximately 9 km west of Cork city. It is located beside the River Lee on the R608 regional road. In 2006 the population of Ballincollig DED was 16,308. The nearest towns include: Ballinora, Ovens, Killumney, Inniscarra, Blarney ,...
, Bandon
Bandon, County Cork
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...
and Kanturk
Kanturk
-Transport:*Kanturk railway station opened on 1 April 1889, closed for passenger traffic on 27 January 1947 and finally closed altogether on 4 February 1963. Kanturk is however served by the nearby Banteer railway station.-People:...
, taking a large rural area near Cork City. There are roughly 600 students. An extension was completed in 2002 and provides the college with a sports hall. In 2007 Leaving Certificate
Leaving Certificate
The Leaving Certificate Examinations , commonly referred to as the Leaving Cert is the final examination in the Irish secondary school system. It takes a minimum of two years preparation, but an optional Transition Year means that for those students it takes place three years after the Junior...
class, 3 gold medals were won for best results in Ireland.
Transport
Coachford was formerly connected by railwayHistory of rail transport in Ireland
The history of rail transport in Ireland began only a decade later than that of Great Britain. By its peak in 1920, Ireland counted 5,500 route kilometers...
to Cork city with a narrow gauge railway, opened in 1888 by the Cork and Muskerry Light Railway
Cork and Muskerry Light Railway
The Cork and Muskerry Light Railway was a narrow gauge railway in County Cork, Ireland. The first part of the railway opened in 1887 and closed in 1934. A major reason for building the railway was to exploit tourist traffic to Blarney Castle.-Initial route:...
. The line was closed in 1934 by the GSR
Great Southern Railways
The Great Southern Railways Company was an Irish company that from 1925 until 1945 owned and operated all railways that lay wholly within the Irish Free State .-Formation:...
. Coachford railway station opened on 19 March 1888, but finally closed on 31 December 1934.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland
External links
- http://www.coachfordnews.com/
- http://www.coachfordmedicalcentre.ie/
- http://coachfordnationalschool.ie/
- http://www.odonovaneng.ie/
- http://www.fishing-Ireland.ie/contact-ocallaghans-pub-coachford.htm
- http://www.aghabulloguegaa.com/