Bantry
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Bantry (Beanntraí in Irish) is a town on the coast of County Cork, Ireland, located on the N71 route at the head of Bantry Bay. The Beara peninsula is to the northwest, with Sheep's Head also nearby, on the peninsula south of Bantry Bay. Bantry House, home since 1739 to the White family, the former Earl of Bantry, is located south of the town. The town is an important economic centre to the region. Apart from tourism, fishing is one of the main industries. Mussels in particular are harvested in the area, and every year a Mussel fair is held in May. As with many areas on Ireland's south-west coast, Bantry 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.
HistoryWolfe Tone Square in the town commemorates Theobald Wolfe Tone, an Irishman who attempted to precipitate a French invasion of Ireland to overthrow the British (See 1798 rebellion). The ill-fated French invasion force arrived in Bantry in 1796. During the war the 5th Cork Brigade of the Irish Republican Army was very active in Bantry, and those who died between 1920 and 1923 'In Defence of the Republic' are listed on Wolfe Tone Square. Opposite the coastline lies Whiddy Island. The remains of what was formerly an important oil terminal, owned by Gulf Oil, are on the island. 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 at the terminal, but fortunately 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 significant environmental impact, and so the local fishing industry was also affected. Some small tankers offload oil to the area, but no longer moor by the old oil terminal. Famous peopleBantry is the birthplace of William Martin Murphy, formerly a wealthy Catholic businessman and MP at Westminster. He gained notoriety in Irish history in his opposition to Jim Larkin and James Connolly and their trade union, the Irish Transport and General Workers Union, during the Dublin Strike and Lockout in 1913. By 1913 he was chairman of the Dublin United Tramway Company and owner of Clery's department store and Imperial Hotel. He also controlled the Irish Independent newspaper which is still in print today.Bantry is also the birthplace of Tim Healy. He was a prominent and controversial Irish nationalist, involved in the Whiteboy movement. Later he became a Home Rule MP in Westminster and led a faction of the party after it split in 1891. Legendary 19th century lightweight boxing champion Jack McAuliffe is a notable sportsman born in Bantry. Further reading
See alsoExternal links
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