Union Hall, County Cork
| Union Hall Irish: Bréantrá | |
| County Cork | |
|---|---|
 Union Hall Main Street | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | W206345 |
| Location: | 51°33’29"N, 9°8’19"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 270 (2016) |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Skibbereen |
Union Hall is a small fishing village in County Cork, located on the west side of Glandore Harbour. Its nearest neighbour to the west is Castletownshend, while to the east, Glandore village. Union Hall is about six miles south-east of Skibbereen.
The 2016 census recorded a village population of 270.
A key source of employment in the area is fishing,[1] and the pier has its own ice plant and fish processing factory run by Glenmar Shellfish Ltd.[2]
Tourism is also an economic driver, and among the area's attractions are boat trips to view whales, dolphins and seals.[3]
Location and access
This is a coastal village, climbing up the slope of a hill from the sea. It has a small harbour for fishing boats and other small craft.
By road, Union Hall is accessible over the narrow Poulgorm Bridge on the R597 road to Glandore, Rosscarbery and Leap. The bridge is only one lane wide, so traffic must wait for the bridge to be clear before crossing. The bridge was built c.1890. It featured in David Puttnam's 1994 film " War of the Buttons".[4]
History
Archaeological sites in the immediate area include evidence of a number of ringforts, a souterrain and a lime kiln in Ballincolla townland.[5] Also nearby are the remains of 13th century and 16th century O'Donovan castles at Castle Eyre (Listarkin townland) and Raheen Castle (Raheen townland).[6][7]
In July-August 1922, as part of the Irish Free State offensive of the Civil War, national army troops landed at the quay in Union Hall in order to outflank the local Republican forces.[8]
In January 2012, a fishing vessel, the Tit Bonhomme, sank near Glandore Harbour, and the people of Union Hall spent several weeks searching for the Irish and Egyptian sailors who died.
About the village
There is a supermarket and a fish shop in the village. There is also a post office and a number of bed and breakfasts.
Union Hall has a Roman Catholic church (built c.1832 and dedicated to St. Bridget) to the south of the village, and a Church of Ireland church close to the village centre (built c.1840).[9][10]
The area around Union Hall is known for its hills, woodlands, rivers and islands. There are a number of small inlets, bays and beaches.
References
- ↑ "Fisheries - Union Hall". Fáilte Ireland. https://www.discoverireland.ie/Activities-Adventure/union-hall/15946. "Union Hall has a proud connection with the sea and fishing is major local industry"
- ↑ "Lisavaird Co-op shells out €10m in Glenmar Shellfish seafood business takeover". Irish Examiner. 5 December 2015. https://www.irishexaminer.com/business/lisavaird-co-op-shells-out-10m-in-glenmar-shellfish-seafood-business-takeover-369917.html.
- ↑ "Whale & Dolphin Watching". Union Hall. http://www.unionhall.ie/whales.html.
- ↑ "Poulgorm Bridge, County Cork". National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=CO®no=20914212.
- ↑ Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 1: West Cork. Dublin: Irish Government Stationery Office. 1992.
- ↑ "Local History". Union Hall. http://www.unionhall.ie/localhistory.html.
- ↑ "Raheen Tower House". Megalithic Ireland. http://www.megalithicireland.com/Raheen%20Castle,%20Cork.html.
- ↑ Peter Cottrell (2014). The Irish Civil War 1922–23. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 9781472810335. "180 men on the [SS] Alexandra landed at Union Hall, Glandore, in the face of small-arms fire from Republicans in fishing boats. By the time they had managed to unload their armoured car and three armoured personnel carriers, the IRA had melted away and the town was secured"
- ↑ "St. Bridget's Roman Catholic Church, Unionhall, County Cork". National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=CO®no=20914242.
- ↑ "Myross Parish Church, County Cork". National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=CO®no=20914229.