Courtmacsherry
Encyclopedia
Courtmacsherry is a picturesque seaside village
in County Cork
, Province of Munster
, Ireland
, on the southwest coast. It is about 30 miles southwest of Cork
, and 30 minutes drive east from the town of Clonakilty
. The village consists of a single long street on the south shore of Courtmacsherry Bay, with thick woods on rising ground behind. The woods (planted by the Earl of Shannon
in the late 18th century) continue beyond the village eastwards to the open sea, ending abruptly at Wood Point. Between the village and "The Point" the trees run right to the water's edge and there are several natural bathing coves along the way.
the major townships in the area were those now known as Timoleague
, Lislee, Barryroe and Dunworly. Among the Norman settlers were the De Barrys and the Hodnetts; the former built a castle at Timoleague, and the latter settled in Lislee. The Barrys flourished and gave their name to Barryroe, Rathbarry, etc., whereas the Hodnetts “degenerated into mere Irish”, one branch changing their name to MacSeafraidh (son of Geoffrey), subsequently anglicised to MacSherry or McSharry. Although Barrys and Hodnetts still live in the district, there are no McSherrys.
One, Patrick MacSeafraidh from Co. Antrim, a descendent of a Courtmacsherry Hodnett, emigrated to America in 1745 and founded McSherrystown
in Adams County
, Pennsylvania
.
thrives during the summer months. There are several beach
es nearby, namely Dunworley Strand, Moloney Strand, Broadstrand and Blind Strand. The village has a hotel
and a caravan
park, catering mainly for visitors from Cork. There is also a small sailing school at the end of the village, known as the Courtmacsherry Water Sports Centre. Two construction projects, the largest in several decades, were recently added at each end of the village. About half of this new housing is owner-occupied, the remainder being rented to visitors.
The whale was featured in a Channel 4 documentary "Inside Nature's Giants" which showed autopsies of large mammals.
station (formerly based at nearby Barry's Point) and its volunteer crews have performed many rescues. The most famous was in May 1915 when the lifeboat of the day (the Ketzia Gwilt) rescued survivors of the RMS Lusitania
sinking. Several famous lifeboatmen were involved on that fateful day. They were Tim Keohane (father of Antarctic explorer Patsy Keohane), John Murphy, and his son Jerry. The current Courtmacsherry lifeboat is the Frederick Storey Coburn.
www.irelandholidayhomes.com
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
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...
, Province of Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
, 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,...
, on the southwest coast. It is about 30 miles southwest of Cork
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...
, and 30 minutes drive east from the town of Clonakilty
Clonakilty
Clonakilty , often referred to by locals simply as Clon, is a small town on the N71 national secondary road in West County Cork, Ireland, approximately 45 minutes away by road to the west of Cork City. The town is on the southern coast of the island, and is surrounded by hilly country devoted...
. The village consists of a single long street on the south shore of Courtmacsherry Bay, with thick woods on rising ground behind. The woods (planted by the Earl of Shannon
Earl of Shannon
Earl of Shannon is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1756 for the prominent Irish politician Henry Boyle, who served as Speaker of the Irish House of Commons and as Chancellor of the Irish Exchequer. He was made Viscount Boyle, of Bandon, and Baron Castle Martyr at the same time,...
in the late 18th century) continue beyond the village eastwards to the open sea, ending abruptly at Wood Point. Between the village and "The Point" the trees run right to the water's edge and there are several natural bathing coves along the way.
History
Around the time of the Norman invasion of IrelandNorman Invasion of Ireland
The Norman invasion of Ireland was a two-stage process, which began on 1 May 1169 when a force of loosely associated Norman knights landed near Bannow, County Wexford...
the major townships in the area were those now known as Timoleague
Timoleague
Timoleague is a village in the eastern division of Carbery East in County Cork, Ireland, located along Ireland's southern coast near Courtmacsherry. It is about south of Bandon and from Cork on the R600 coastal road.-History:...
, Lislee, Barryroe and Dunworly. Among the Norman settlers were the De Barrys and the Hodnetts; the former built a castle at Timoleague, and the latter settled in Lislee. The Barrys flourished and gave their name to Barryroe, Rathbarry, etc., whereas the Hodnetts “degenerated into mere Irish”, one branch changing their name to MacSeafraidh (son of Geoffrey), subsequently anglicised to MacSherry or McSharry. Although Barrys and Hodnetts still live in the district, there are no McSherrys.
One, Patrick MacSeafraidh from Co. Antrim, a descendent of a Courtmacsherry Hodnett, emigrated to America in 1745 and founded McSherrystown
McSherrystown, Pennsylvania
McSherrystown is a borough in Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,038 as of the 2010 census.The headquarters of the popular Teddy Bear manufacturer Boyds Bears as well as the oldest operating family-run cigar manufacturer in the U.S. , F.X...
in Adams County
Adams County, Pennsylvania
Adams County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 101,407. It was created on January 22, 1800, from part of York County and named in honor of the second President of the United States, John Adams...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Economy
The village's main industry consists of commercial and Charter Angling(http://www.courtmacsherryangling.ie) A moderately sized tourist industryTourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
thrives during the summer months. There are several beach
Beach
A beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
es nearby, namely Dunworley Strand, Moloney Strand, Broadstrand and Blind Strand. The village has a hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
and a caravan
Recreational vehicle
Recreational vehicle or RV is, in North America, the usual term for a Motor vehicle or trailer equipped with living space and amenities found in a home.-Features:...
park, catering mainly for visitors from Cork. There is also a small sailing school at the end of the village, known as the Courtmacsherry Water Sports Centre. Two construction projects, the largest in several decades, were recently added at each end of the village. About half of this new housing is owner-occupied, the remainder being rented to visitors.
Courtmacsherry today
Entertainment can be found in the several bars and pubs in and around the village. Activities include sailing at the Courtmacsherry Water Sports Centre and horse-riding.Courtmacsherry is one of the premier angling centres in the country and is famous for its many record catches. There is also a festival at the end of July - beginning of August. It also hosts a horse race meeting on the strand each year.The Courtmacsherry Whale
On 15 January 2009 an 18 metre fin whale was stranded and subsequently died on a beach in Kilbrittain, opposite the fishing village of Courtmacsherry, after becoming disorientated and lured by unusually high tides. Frantic efforts were made by Courtmacsherry Lifeboat to get the whale back into the sea but a combination of its size, weight & location meant that attempts to save the whale's life were unsuccessful. Its remains were saved and preserved by the people of Kilbrittain and are displayed for public viewing in the village.The whale was featured in a Channel 4 documentary "Inside Nature's Giants" which showed autopsies of large mammals.
Lifeboat
For over seventy years Courtmacsherry has harboured a lifeboatLifeboat (rescue)
A rescue lifeboat is a boat rescue craft which is used to attend a vessel in distress, or its survivors, to rescue crewmen and passengers. It can be hand pulled, sail powered or powered by an engine...
station (formerly based at nearby Barry's Point) and its volunteer crews have performed many rescues. The most famous was in May 1915 when the lifeboat of the day (the Ketzia Gwilt) rescued survivors of the RMS Lusitania
RMS Lusitania
RMS Lusitania was a British ocean liner designed by Leonard Peskett and built by John Brown and Company of Clydebank, Scotland. The ship entered passenger service with the Cunard Line on 26 August 1907 and continued on the line's heavily-traveled passenger service between Liverpool, England and New...
sinking. Several famous lifeboatmen were involved on that fateful day. They were Tim Keohane (father of Antarctic explorer Patsy Keohane), John Murphy, and his son Jerry. The current Courtmacsherry lifeboat is the Frederick Storey Coburn.
Transport & communications
- Nearest airport Cork Airport
- Courtmacsherry railway station on the Timoleague and Courtmacsherry Extension Light Railway opened on 23 April 1891, closed for passenger traffic on 24 February 1947 and for goods traffic on 10 March 1947, finally closing altogether on 1 April 1961. The line had three locomotives, Slaney, St. Molaga and Argadeen.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland
- List of RNLI stations
External links
www.irelandholidayhomes.com