Cloyne
| Cloyne Irish: Cluain Uamha | |
| County Cork | |
|---|---|
 Cloyne Round Tower in 2007 | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | W917678 |
| Location: | 51°51’47"N, 8°7’15"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 1,803 (2016) |
| Dialling code: | 021 |
| Local Government | |
| Dáil constituency: |
Cork East |
| Website: | cloyne.ie |
Cloyne is a small town to the south-east of Midleton in eastern County Cork.
Cloyne is found about four and a half miles from the major town of Midleton, sitting at the bottom of a valley surrounded by large hills to the north and south as well as the Atlantic Ocean to the East and Cork Harbour to the west. It is a mild location, lulled by the influence of the Gulf Stream and the shelter of the hills.
Churches
The town is a see city of the Church of Ireland;s Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, while also giving its name to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cloyne
- Church of Ireland: St Colman's Cathedral in Cloyne, one of the cathedral's of the Anglican diocese. It was first founded in 1250 AD.[1]
- Roman Catholic: St Colmans, built in 1815
The Roman Catholic diocese though named after this village has its cathedral, St Colman's Cathedral, in Cobh, overlooking Cork Harbour.
History and legend
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The first evidence of settlement in Cloyne is a 4000-year-old portal dolmen that lies to the west of the town.
The bishopric of Cloyne was founded by St Colman Mac Léníne, (530–606 A.D.) as his principal monastery in the sixth century. The origin legend Conall Corc and the Corco Loígde claims that the land for the foundation of the monastery was not given by the local king, but by Coirpre mac Crimthainn (d. c. 580 A.D.), who was King of Munster from the Eóganacht Glendamnach clan:
Coirpre mac Crimthainn it was who gave Cloyne to God and to Colman mac Colcon who is also called Mac Lénéne and Aired Cechtraige and Cell Náile. Because of this they [the Eoganacht Glendamnach] are entitled to secular rule.[2]
The Danes plundered Cloyne in 822, 824 and again in 885 when, according to the Annals of the Four Masters, the Abbot and Prior of the monastery were killed. The Annals of Inisfallen mention that in 978 A.D. the people of Ossory plundered Cloyne and that in 1088 A.D. Diarmait Ua Briain devastated it.[3] Cloyne was recognised as a diocese at the Synod of Kells in 1152.[4]
The only major action of the 1920s Irish rebellion in Cloyne was on 4 May 1920 when men of the Irish Republican Army attacked the local Royal Irish Constabulary barracks. The volunteers at first failed to gain entry but succeed in setting fire to the building, which resulted in the entire surrender of the garrison. The prisoners had their hands tied before being ordered to march the road to Midleton while the flying column made their escape.
About the village
- Main article: Cloyne Round Tower
Cloyne has a round tower which is the town's symbol. The tower dates back to about 560 A.D. when St. Colman founded his monastery. In 1749 a lightning strike caused some damage to the top of the tower.[5]
Nearby also are the ruins of a Norman watchtower on a hill overlooking the town.[6]
Cloyne Cave, which is the biggest in County Cork, is estimated to be up to four and a half miles long. A section of the main street collapsed into the caves during the 20th century. The cave is accessible from the grounds of Cloyne House on Rock Street.
The town has a number of pubs and small shops in the centre of town.
Sport
- Football: Churchvilla FC
- Gaelic sports: Cloyne GAA
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Cloyne) |
References
- ↑ "Cloyne Union - St. Colman's Cathedral, Cloyne". http://www.cathedral.cloyne.anglican.org/churches/cloyne-cathedral.html.
- ↑ Ó Corráin, "Creating the past"; Charles-Edwards, Early Christian Ireland, pp. 522-3
- ↑ "The Book of Cloyne" pg 7. by Rev JKS Ridley Barker
- ↑ "The Book of Cloyne" by Rev JKS Ridley Barker
- ↑ "Cloyne Round Tower Co. Cork". roundtowers.org. http://www.roundtowers.org/cloyne/index.htm.
- ↑ "Castle Hill, Cloyne". gatecottages.wordpress.com. http://gatecottages.wordpress.com/2011/04/15/castle-hill-cloyne/.
