Bantry

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Town in County Cork, Ireland

title: "Bantry" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["bantry", "towns-and-villages-in-county-cork", "populated-coastal-places-in-the-republic-of-ireland"] description: "Town in County Cork, Ireland" topic_path: "geography/ireland" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bantry" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Town in County Cork, Ireland ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
official_nameBantry
native_nameBeanntraí
settlement_typeTown
image_skylineBantry town centre - geograph.org.uk - 3612 (cropped).jpg
image_captionBantry town square
image_shieldBantry Coat of Arms.svg
mottoNa Cluinter Claoitect Oraibh(Irish)
"Never may defeat be told of you"
pushpin_mapIreland
pushpin_label_positionbottom
pushpin_map_captionLocation in Ireland
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_nameIreland
subdivision_type1Province
subdivision_name1Munster
subdivision_type2County
subdivision_name2County Cork
unit_prefMetric
area_total_km210.1
population_as_of2022
population_footnotes
population_total2,929
population_density_km2auto
coordinates
blank_nameIrish grid reference
blank_infoV997488
area_code_typeTelephone area code
area_code+353(0)27
postal_code_typeEircode routing key
postal_codeP75
timezoneWET
utc_offset±0
timezone_DSTIST
utc_offset_DST+1
websiteBantry.ie
::

::callout[type=note] the town in County Cork, Ireland ::

| official_name = Bantry | other_name = | native_name = Beanntraí | nickname = | settlement_type = Town | image_skyline = Bantry town centre - geograph.org.uk - 3612 (cropped).jpg | image_caption = Bantry town square | image_shield = Bantry Coat of Arms.svg | motto = Na Cluinter Claoitect Oraibh(Irish) "Never may defeat be told of you" | image_flag = | flag_size = | image_seal = | seal_size = | image_map = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Ireland | pushpin_label_position = bottom | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Ireland | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Ireland | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = Munster | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name2 = County Cork | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = | leader_name = | established_title = | established_date = | unit_pref = Metric | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 10.1 | area_land_km2 = | population_as_of = 2022 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 2,929 | population_density_km2 = auto | coordinates = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | blank_name = Irish grid reference | blank_info = V997488 | footnotes = | name = | area_code_type = Telephone area code | area_code = +353(0)27 | postal_code_type = Eircode routing key | postal_code = P75 | timezone = WET | utc_offset = ±0 | timezone_DST = IST | utc_offset_DST = +1 | website = Bantry.ie Bantry () is a town in the civil parish of Kilmocomoge in the barony of Bantry on the southwest coast of County Cork, Ireland. It lies in West Cork at the head of Bantry Bay, a deep-water gulf extending for 30 km to the west. The Beara Peninsula is to the northwest, with Sheep's Head peninsula to the southwest.

The focus of the town is a large square, formed partly by infilling of the shallow inner harbour. In former times, this accommodated regular cattle fairs; after modernising as an urban plaza, it now features a weekly market and occasional public functions. Two piers protect the harbour.

Bantry is in the Dáil constituency of Cork South-West.

History

As with other areas on Ireland's southwest coast, Bantry also claims an ancient connection to the sixth-century saint Breandán (Naomh Bréanainn) the Navigator. In Irish lore, Saint Breandán was the first person to discover America. To the west of the town is the graveyard marking the site of a 15th-century Franciscan friary, of which nothing remains. Saint Cannera, who lived as a hermitess in the area during the sixth century, is also associated with the parish.

In past centuries, Bantry was a base for major pilchard fisheries and was visited by fishing fleets from Spain, France and the Netherlands. It was still a very small town in 1689 when it was described by the Jacobite army officer and future author John Stevens as "a miserable poor place, hardly worth the name of a town", consisting of "seven or eight small houses, and some mean little cottages".

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f6/Wolfe_Tone_sculpture_Bantry.jpg" caption="access-date = 30 June 2019 }}"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/95/Irish_War_of_Independence_commemorative_plaque_Bantry.jpg" caption="[[Irish War of Independence]] commemorative plaque"] ::

During the Irish War of Independence, the 5th and 3rd Cork Brigade of the Irish Republican Army were active in Bantry, and some members remained so during the Civil War that followed. Action by British forces included the punitive firebombing of several buildings in the town. The names of those who died between 1920 and 1923 "In Defence of the Republic" are listed on the wall of the former courthouse in Wolfe Tone Square.

Sheltering the head of the bay is Whiddy Island, site of a large oil terminal, originally owned by Gulf Oil. On 8 January 1979 the oil tanker Betelgeuse exploded, killing all 42 crew members, as well as seven employees at the terminal. The jetty was seriously damaged, but the storage tanks were not affected. Nevertheless, 250 employees at the terminal, one of the largest employers in the region, lost their jobs. There was also significant environmental impact and the local fishing industry was affected. Local interests subsequently initiated mussel-farming in the sheltered waters between Whiddy and the town.

In 1986, Gulf Oil surrendered its lease on the site to the Irish government. State investment in the 1990s restored part of the terminal and the Irish Government arranged for oil to be stored there during the First Gulf War in case of disruption to oil supplies; it currently holds one-third of the national strategic petroleum reserve. The facility passed from state ownership in 2001 with the proviso that it would remain operational for at least 15 years. It has since been owned and operated by US oil companies Tosco Corporation, ConocoPhillips, Phillips 66 and Zenith Energy Partners. At the time of acquisition by Zenith Energy Partners, the facility employed 30 people and supported up to 100 contractors. It has a storage capacity of more than eight million barrels of crude oil and refined products. The terminal saw a 15% decrease in oil traffic during 2015, according to figures released by the Port of Cork which operates the Bantry Bay port.

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0e/Plaqueinbantry.jpg" caption="A [[commemorative plaque]], presented to the citizens of Bantry by the Canadian Government for their kindness and compassion to the families of the victims of Air India Flight 182."] ::

In 1985, Bantry became closely associated with the aftermath of the bombing of Air India Flight 182, which exploded and came down off the coast of West Cork, killing all 329 people on board. In the days and weeks following the disaster, Bantry became a focal point for the reception and support of victims’ families who travelled to the area. The compassion shown by local residents received international recognition, and in later years the Canadian Government presented a commemorative plaque to the people of Bantry in acknowledgment of their kindness and support .

Bantry made headlines in 2007 when the attempted landing of a cocaine shipment on the nearby coast was foiled, and again in 2017 when a "cocaine factory" was discovered in the area.

Buildings of note

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/Bantry_House_-geograph.org.uk-_4179013.jpg" caption="Bantry House"] ::

Bantry House is located west of the town and has been home to the White family since 1739, also serving as the seat of the Earls of Bantry. It contains a number of historic artefacts and paintings and is surrounded by formal gardens.

Other landmarks include Bantry Market House, and the Catholic and Church of Ireland parish churches. The public library and Garda (police) station are examples of modern architecture in the town.

Economy

The town is a service centre for a large catchment area, including both the Beara and Sheep's Head peninsulas. Livestock fairs were held in the square in the past. It is no longer a major fishing port, mussel-farming having replaced the traditional trawling. Tourism has been a major part of the economy since the 19th century, exploiting the coastal scenery of the region, and the town contains a number of hotels and guesthouses. There are small-scale local industries, including pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs and building materials. Bantry became a Fairtrade Town in 2006.

Bantry hosts two cultural events each summer – the West Cork Chamber Music Festival and the West Cork Literary Festival. These feature musicians and writers of international stature, with performances at various venues in the town.

Bantry held the Atlantic Challenge International Contest of Seamanship in July 2012, in which 15 nations competed.

The inner harbour contains a marina comprising 40 berths and associated facilities, opened in 2017.

Transport

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/Bantry_From_above.jpg" caption="Bantry from the southeast"] ::

Bantry is accessed by the N71 national secondary road. Scheduled bus services connect the town with Cork city, Killarney, Castletownbere via Glengarriff (17 km north of Bantry) and some smaller local centres.

In the early 20th century, there was a regular steamship service from Bantry to Castletowbere on the Beara Peninsula. The also serving Glengarriff and Adrigole. Improvements to the roads and land transport eventually made this uneconomic.

As of the early 21st century, Bantry has been a port of call for smaller cruise liners, which anchor between the town and Whiddy Island.

Bantry has its own small privately owned airfield called Bantry Aerodrome, though the nearest large international airport is Cork Airport. Cork Airport is served by direct Bus Éireann buses from Bantry in the summer tourist season.

Bantry Town railway station, the western terminus of the Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway, opened on 22 October 1892, but finally closed on 1 April 1961, and was subsequently demolished.

Demographics

As of the 2022 census, Bantry had a usually resident population of 2,858. Of these, 70.4% identified as White Irish, 1.1% as White Irish Travellers and 15.0% as other white ethnicities. A further 0.6% identified as Black or Black Irish, 4.0% as Asian or Asian Irish and 2.2% as other ethnicities. 6.7% of the population did not state their ethnicity.

People

Sport

The local Gaelic Athletic Association are the Bantry Blues. The area also has a golf club (Bantry Bay Golf Club), a sailing club (Bantry Bay Sailing Club), an association football club (Bantry Bay Rovers A.F.C.), rugby union and rowing clubs.

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f6/Iarthair_Chorcaí_080.jpg" caption="This historic mill-wheel beside Bantry library overlooks the town's main street."] ::

International relations

Bantry is twinned with:

References

References

  1. (2022). "Sapmap Area: Settlements: Bantry". [[Central Statistics Office (Ireland).
  2. W. O'Halloran. (1916). "Early Irish History and Antiquities and the History of West Cork". Sealy, Bryers and Walker.
  3. "St Cannera - Patroness of Bantry Parish".
  4. Samuel Lewis. (1837). "Topographical Dictionary of Ireland". Lewis.
  5. (May 1951). "The Story of Bantry House By Geoffrey Shelswell-White". Irish Tatler and Sketch.
  6. "Bantry House – A Snapshot of History".
  7. Emblow, Chris S.. (1994). "Marine communities of the Bantry Bay area". National Parks and Wildlife Service.
  8. "40 Years Since Air India Disaster". Government of Ireland.
  9. (1 August 2006). "Canada presents gifts to honour the contribution of the Irish following the Air India flight 182 terrorist act". Government of Canada.
  10. (3 July 2007). "€105m cocaine seizure after boat capsizes is biggest ever". The Irish Times.
  11. (29 November 2017). "Three men and woman charged after Bantry cocaine factory find are refused bail". Irish Examiner.
  12. "St. Finbarr's Roman Catholic Church, Chapel Street, Bantry". National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.
  13. "St. Brendan The Navigator Church of Ireland Church, Wolfe Tone Square, Bantry". National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.
  14. "Building of the Month – September 2012 – Bantry Library". National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.
  15. (1986). "Bantry & Castletownbere Catchment". Cork County Council.
  16. (17 September 2018). "2018/19 Concert Series Announced". West Cork Music.
  17. "Atlantic Challenge International – Past Events".
  18. (12 August 2017). "Bantry Harbour Marina Officially Opened, 40 Boats Visit New Irish Coastal Facility". Afloat Magazine.
  19. "Record B623 – Bantry Bay Steamship Company Ltd". Cork City and County Archives.
  20. "Cruise Liner Schedule". Bantry Bay Port Company DAC.
  21. "Cruise Ships". Bantry Development and Tourism Association.
  22. "Bantry Town station". Railscot – Irish Railways..
  23. "Census Mapping - Towns: Bantry- Population Snapshot". CSO.
  24. "History". BantryBlues.com.
  25. (1981). "[[Australian Dictionary of Biography]]".
  26. "Bureau of Military History, 1913-21 - Statement By Witness - Document No. W.S. 639 - Maurice Donegan, Bandon, County Cork".
  27. (5 March 2018). "A nice surprise for Marlene Enright to be recognised for doing what she loves".
  28. {{Britannica. 258243. T.M. Healy
  29. "Century Ireland – Murphy, William Martin". RTÉ.
  30. "History". Francis O'Neill Memorial Committee.
  31. (9 January 2013). "An Irish Poet in Paris". tootlafrance.ie.
  32. "John Sullivan VC, CGM". VConline.org.uk.
  33. "Josh Wycherley". [[Munster Rugby]].
  34. "Fineen Wycherley". [[Munster Rugby]].
  35. (17 January 2011). "Twinning must be better used to promote region". Irish Examiner.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

bantrytowns-and-villages-in-county-corkpopulated-coastal-places-in-the-republic-of-ireland