Glengarriff
Encyclopedia
Glengarriff is a village of approximately 800 people on the N71
national secondary road
in the south-west region of County Cork
, Ireland
. Known internationally as a tourism venue, it boasts many natural attractions. It sits at the northern head of Glengarriff Bay, a smaller enclave of Bantry Bay
.
Located 20 km (~12 miles) west of Bantry
, and 30 km (~18 miles) east of Castletownbere
, it is a popular stop along the routes around the area. In recent years, its importance as a waypoint along the Castletownbere to Cork fish-delivery route has declined as local infrastructure improves and vehicular traffic can now navigate its once-quaint thoroughfare at significant speed.
Glengarriff is a small seaside village positioned on sheltered Bantry Bay surrounded by high rugged mountains pocked with old bogs being farmed for peat. Notable among local attractions are the Italian Gardens on Garnish Island (Ilnacullin
), which may be visited by boat trip. Offering a broad view of the surrounding area, the round Martello tower
on the island was built to guard against a threatened Napoleonic invasion that never materialized.
In the nearby Glengarriff Forest is the glen that gave Glengarriff its name, (loosely translated as: rough glen) containing some of the oldest and most extensive oak and birch groves left in Ireland. A short but steep trail leads up to Lady Bantry's Lookout, offering a stunning vista of Glengarriff and the west Cork area. Also of interest are the Bamboo Park behind Toad Hall, the local amenity area featuring a new child's playground and Blue Pool lagoon, nearby Barley Lake and the historic Eccles Hotel. Walking trails in the area are extensive, kayaking on the bay is regularly scheduled, and live music is frequently available in the evenings at local pubs, particularly during the tourist season. Glengarriff also offers shops, art galleries, pubs, restaurants & other services.
Glengarriff harbour is a very safe and sheltered anchorage and has visitors moorings for visiting yachts.
, the famous film actress, who has a residence close by. The Glengarriff Nature Reserve offers many miles of well-marked walking trails to explore the oak forests, streams and mountains of the Glen.
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...
in the south-west region of 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,...
. Known internationally as a tourism venue, it boasts many natural attractions. It sits at the northern head of Glengarriff Bay, a smaller enclave of Bantry Bay
Bantry Bay
Bantry Bay is a bay located in County Cork, southwest Ireland. The bay runs approximately from northeast to southwest into the Atlantic Ocean. It is approximately 3-to-4 km wide at the head and wide at the entrance....
.
Located 20 km (~12 miles) west of Bantry
Bantry
Bantry is a town on the coast of County Cork, Ireland. It lies on the N71 national secondary road at the head of Bantry Bay, a deep-water gulf extending for 30 km to the west...
, and 30 km (~18 miles) east of Castletownbere
Castletownbere
Castletownbere is a small town in County Cork in Ireland. It is located on the southwest coast of Ireland, in West Cork, on Berehaven harbour near the entrance to Bantry Bay. It is also known as Castletown Berehaven. The name of the town comes from the no longer extant MacCarty Castle, and not...
, it is a popular stop along the routes around the area. In recent years, its importance as a waypoint along the Castletownbere to Cork fish-delivery route has declined as local infrastructure improves and vehicular traffic can now navigate its once-quaint thoroughfare at significant speed.
Economy
Primarily, the economy revolves around a combination of tourism, subsistence farming and local services.Attractions
Ilnacullin
Ilnacullin, or sometimes Illaunacullin known locally as Garnish Island , is a very tranquil yet popular tourist attraction in Ireland, located in the small harbour of Glengarriff, County Cork which forms part of Bantry Bay...
), which may be visited by boat trip. Offering a broad view of the surrounding area, the round Martello tower
Martello tower
Martello towers are small defensive forts built in several countries of the British Empire during the 19th century, from the time of the Napoleonic Wars onwards....
on the island was built to guard against a threatened Napoleonic invasion that never materialized.
In the nearby Glengarriff Forest is the glen that gave Glengarriff its name, (loosely translated as: rough glen) containing some of the oldest and most extensive oak and birch groves left in Ireland. A short but steep trail leads up to Lady Bantry's Lookout, offering a stunning vista of Glengarriff and the west Cork area. Also of interest are the Bamboo Park behind Toad Hall, the local amenity area featuring a new child's playground and Blue Pool lagoon, nearby Barley Lake and the historic Eccles Hotel. Walking trails in the area are extensive, kayaking on the bay is regularly scheduled, and live music is frequently available in the evenings at local pubs, particularly during the tourist season. Glengarriff also offers shops, art galleries, pubs, restaurants & other services.
Glengarriff harbour is a very safe and sheltered anchorage and has visitors moorings for visiting yachts.
Sport
Glengarriff Golf Club is a nine hole course on the east side of the village. It is associated with Maureen O'HaraMaureen O'Hara
Maureen O'Hara is an Irish film actress and singer. The famously red-headed O'Hara has been noted for playing fiercely passionate heroines with a highly sensible attitude. She often worked with director John Ford and longtime friend John Wayne...
, the famous film actress, who has a residence close by. The Glengarriff Nature Reserve offers many miles of well-marked walking trails to explore the oak forests, streams and mountains of the Glen.
See also
- IlnacullinIlnacullinIlnacullin, or sometimes Illaunacullin known locally as Garnish Island , is a very tranquil yet popular tourist attraction in Ireland, located in the small harbour of Glengarriff, County Cork which forms part of Bantry Bay...
- Historic Cork GardensHistoric Cork Gardens-Annes Grove Gardens:Started by Richard Grove Annesley, in the grounds of a house near Fermoy dating from the early eighteenth century. Home to many Himalayan rhododendrons, some from seeds collected by Captain Frank Kingdon-Ward in Burma and Tibet in 1924...
- Ellen HutchinsEllen HutchinsEllen Hutchins was an early Irish botanist.Hutchins was from Ardnagashel, Ballylickey, where her family had a small estate at the head of Bantry Bay, County Cork. Her father was a magistrate and died when she was two years old, leaving a wife and six children. She moved to Dublin and was looked...
- List of towns and villages in Ireland