Monkstown ( - 'the town of the monk', formerly anglicised as ''Ballinvannegh'') is a village in

County Cork County Cork () is the largest and the southernmost Counties of Ireland, county of Republic of Ireland, Ireland, named after the city of Cork (city), Cork, the state's second-largest city. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster ...

, Ireland, in the old barony of Kerrycurrihy. It lies 14 kilometres southeast of Cork city on the estuary of the River Lee, facing Great Island 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), Cork city. Passage West was designated a conservation area in the 2003 Co ...

, and the combined area had a population of approximately 6,000 residents at the 2022 census. The village is in a

townland A townland (; Ulster-Scots: ''toonlann'') is a traditional small land division used in Ireland and in the Western Isles of Scotland, typically covering . The townland system is of medieval Gaelic origin, predating the Norman invasion, and mo ...

and

civil parish In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government. Civil parishes can trace their origin to the ancient system of parishes, w ...

of the same name. The Catholic parish of Monkstown includes the nearby villages of Shanbally and Ringaskiddy.

History and name

The name of the village is said to derive from an early monastic site near 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, to command and defend strategic points ...

that was constructed around 1636 by Anastasia Archdeacon, 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 soldier Thomas Plunkett,

Archbishop of Armagh The Archbishop of Armagh is an Episcopal polity, archiepiscopal title which takes its name from the Episcopal see, see city of Armagh in Northern Ireland. Since the Reformation in Ireland, Reformation, there have been parallel apostolic success ...

Michael Boyle, and the Bernard Shaw family. Later used as a clubhouse 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, was on the market for sale.

Notable residents

References

{{County Cork Towns and villages in County Cork Townlands of County Cork Civil parishes of County Cork

History and name

Monkstown Castle

Notable residents

See also

References