Ballineen

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Ballineen
Irish: Béal Átha Fhínín
County Cork
Ballineen.jpg
Main Street Ballineen
Location
Grid reference: W345541
Location: 51°44’8"N, 8°56’55"W
Data
Population: 692  (2016)
Local Government

Ballineen is a village in County Cork; one of a twinned pair with Enniskean, about half a mile to the east though the two reach out and meet each other as if to form one village. The name 'Ballineen' is from the Irish Béal Átha Fhínín, meaning 'Mouth of Fineen's ford'.[1] The village stand some 27 miles south-west of the City of Cork, on the R586 road. Ballineen and Enniskean both stand beside the River Bandon between Bandon and Dunmanway and the fertile Bandon valley.

History

Ballineen belonged first to the Earls of Cork and later to the Earls of Bandon. Francis Bernard, 3rd Earl of Bandon improved the village in the mid-19th century by building a market house, courthouse, Weslyan Chapel, Gothic church and two schools in the area. Ballineen held monthly fairs until the mid-1960s.

The village once had its own railway station on the Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway, which opened in 1866.[2] This and Enniskean Station were closed and replaced with a combined station, Ballineen and Enniskean railway station, which opened in May 1891.[3]

A number of businesses, including a flax mill, were built close to the station, on the road between the two villages, ultimately joining the two in effect.[4] Ballineen and Enniskean station closed in April 1961.[3]

Sport

  • Gaelic sports:
    • St Mary's GAA (Carbery)
    • Enniskean Camogie Club
  • Football: Riverside Athletic.

Outside links

References