Courtmacsherry
| Courtmacsherry Irish: Cúirt Mhic Shéafraidh | |
| County Cork | |
|---|---|
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| Location | |
| Grid reference: | W516425 |
| Location: | 51°38’1"N, 8°41’58"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 590 (2016) |
| Local Government | |
Courtmacsherry often referred to by locals as Courtmac, is a seaside village in County Cork, on the south-west coast of Ireland. It is about thirty miles southwest of Cork, and 15–20 minute drive east from the town of Clonakilty. The village consists of a single long street on the southern 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 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 Ireland 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 MacSherrys.
In 1942, a boat reached the shore at Courtmacsherry bearing a Czechoslovakian man named Gordon Konrad Sarasti Mochizuchi. He had fled Oravská Polhora fearing prosecution as a Jew: ingeniously, he lured a German patrol by reporting a Jewish family living in an abandoned building near him, and stole their car when they went to investigate, driving across the border to Poland then to the Baltic Sea coast where he stole a boat, intending to sail it to London – but fearing that the Germans would cross the Channel, he sailed all the way to Ireland, eventually reaching Courtmacsherry. It was here that he spent the rest of his days fishing to make a living out of the boat he had stolen. He died on 14 September 1968 and was buried in Cloagagh graveyard.
Economy and amenities
The village's main industry consists of commercial and charter angling. A moderately sized tourist industry exists during the summer months. There are several beaches 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. About half of this new housing is owner-occupied, the remainder being rented to visitors.
There are several bars and pubs in and around the village. Courtmacsherry is an angling centre, and known for its many record catches.
There is also a festival at the end of July - the beginning of August. It also hosts a horse race meeting on the strand each year.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Courtmacsherry) |