Monkstown ( - 'the town of the monk', formerly anglicised as ''Ballinvannegh'') is a village in
County Cork
County Cork ( ga, Contae Chorcaí) is the largest and the southernmost county of Ireland, named after the city of Cork, the state's second-largest city. It is in the province of Munster and the Southern Region. Its largest market towns are ...
,
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
, in the old barony of Kerrycurrihy. It lies 14 kilometres southeast of
Cork
Cork or CORK may refer to:
Materials
* Cork (material), an impermeable buoyant plant product
** Cork (plug), a cylindrical or conical object used to seal a container
***Wine cork
Places Ireland
* Cork (city)
** Metropolitan Cork, also known as G ...
city on the estuary of the
River Lee
The River Lee (Irish: ''An Laoi'') is a river in Ireland. It rises in the Shehy Mountains on the western border of County Cork and flows eastwards through Cork, where it splits in two for a short distance, creating an island on which Cork's ...
, facing
Great Island
Great Island () is an island in Cork Harbour, at the mouth of the River Lee and close to the city of Cork, Ireland. The largest town on the island is Cobh (called Queenstown from 1849 to 1922). The island's economic and social history has histo ...
and looking onto Monkstown Bay. For census purposes, Monkstown is combined with the nearby town of
Passage West
Passage West (locally known as "Passage"; ) is a port town in County Cork, Ireland, situated on the west bank of Cork Harbour, some 10 km south-east of Cork city. The town has many services, amenities and social outlets. Passage West was ...
, and the combined area has a population of approximately 5,800 residents.
History and name
The name of the village is said to derive from an early monastic site near to where Monkstown Castle now stands. Although no archaeological evidence remains for the monastery, the site of the monastery's abbey is referenced (as Legan Abbey) in 19th century maps and works. Over time, the name Baile an Mhanaigh/Monkstown overtook the old name ''Baile an Fealach'' (Foley's homestead), although the latter name persists in the name of a townland of the village: Ballyfouloo.
Monkstown Castle
Monkstown Castle is a fortified
tower house
A tower house is a particular type of stone structure, built for defensive purposes as well as habitation. Tower houses began to appear in the Middle Ages, especially in mountainous or limited access areas, in order to command and defend strateg ...
that was constructed around 1636 by
Anastasia Archdeacon
Anastasia (from el, Ἀναστασία, translit=Anastasía) is a feminine given name of Greek origin, derived from the Greek word (), meaning "resurrection". It is a popular name in Eastern Europe, particularly in Russia, where it was the most ...
, reputedly as a surprise gift for her husband John.
He had been fighting with the Spanish Catholics in the continental wars of the time. As implausible legend has it that, when John Archdeacon's ship entered Monkstown bay, a cannonball was fired at the castle, as it was believed to have been built by an occupying force.
Anastasia Archdeacon hired workers to come to Monkstown to build the castle. She housed the workers (in accommodation built specially for them), and fed and clothed them (for a price). Once the workers had settled up their bills with her, it is said that the overall cost of the castle worked out at about four pence.
The castle was, over the centuries, owed or occupied by
Cromwellian
Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English politician and military officer who is widely regarded as one of the most important statesmen in History of England, English history. He came to prominence during the 1639 to 1651 ...
soldier Thomas Plunkett,
Archbishop of Armagh Michael Boyle, and the Bernard Shaw family.
Later used as a club house for the nearby Monkstown Golf Club, the castle was seriously damaged by fire in the 1970s. The castle has since been partially renovated and, as of 2021, on the market for sale.
Notable residents
See also
*
List of towns and villages in Ireland
References
{{County Cork
Towns and villages in County Cork