Ballybunion
{{short description|Seaside resort in County Kerry, Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| settlement_type = Town
| name = Ballybunion
| native_name = {{lang|ga|Baile an Bhuinneánaigh}}
| native_name_lang = ga
| image_skyline = Ballybunion Castle 5.JPG
| image_caption = Ballybunion Castle and coastline
| pushpin_map = Ireland
| pushpin_label_position = top
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Ireland
| coordinates = {{coord|52.510|-9.672|dim:100000_region:IE|display=inline,title}}
| blank_name_sec1 = Irish Grid Reference
| blank_info_sec1 = {{iem4ibx|Q862415}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = Ireland
| subdivision_type1 = Province
| subdivision_name1 = Munster
| subdivision_type2 = County
| subdivision_name2 = County Kerry
| unit_pref = Metric
| elevation_m = 30
| population_as_of = 2022
| population = 1,618
| population_footnotes = {{cite web|url = https://data.cso.ie/table/F1015 | title=Census 2022 {{!}} Profile 1 - Population Distribution and Movement {{!}} F1015 - Population |publisher=Central Statistics Office Ireland | accessdate = 19 September 2023 }}
}}
Ballybunion or Ballybunnion ({{Irish place name|Baile an Bhuinneánaigh}}){{cite web|url = https://www.logainm.ie/24000.aspx | publisher = Placenames Database of Ireland | website = logainm.ie | title = Baile an Bhuinneánaigh / Ballybunnion | accessdate = 19 September 2023 }} is a coastal town and seaside resort in County Kerry, Ireland, on the Wild Atlantic Way, {{convert|15|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} from the town of Listowel. As of the 2022 census, Ballybunion had a population of 1,618.
Name
The Placenames Database of Ireland associates the town's Irish language name, {{lang|ga|Baile an Bhuinneánaigh}} or the 'town(land) of An Buinneánach', with the Anglo-Norman surname "Bunyan". The Bunyan (Bonzon) family were historically associated with Ballybunion Castle.{{cite web|url = https://www.ballybunion.ie/things-to-do/attractions/ballybunion-castle.html | website = ballybunion.ie | title = Ballybunion Castle | accessdate = 19 September 2023 }}
History
Evidence of ancient settlement in the area includes promontory fort and ring fort sites in the townlands of Ballybunion and Doon West.{{cite book | title = North Kerry Archaeological Survey | editor-first = Caroline | editor-last = Toal | date = 1995 | publisher = Brandon | isbn = 0863221866 }}
Ballybunion Castle was built in the early 16th century, on the site of an earlier promontory fort, by the (Geraldine) Fitzmaurice family.{{cite web|url = http://www.megalithicireland.com/Ballybunion%20Castle,%20Kerry.html | website = megalithicireland.com | title = Ballybunion Castle | accessdate = 19 September 2023 }} It was destroyed by Lord Kerry in 1582. The castle was associated with the Bunyan family until the late 16th century, when William Óg Bunyan's lands were confiscated following the Desmond Rebellion. The castle has been a protected national monument since the 1920s.
A number of buildings within the town itself date to the 19th century, with the former Church of Ireland church (now a public library) and the Roman Catholic church dating to 1879 and 1897 respectively.{{cite web|url = https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/21400118/ballybunnion-library-sandhill-road-ballybunnion-ballybunnion-co-kerry | publisher = National Inventory of Architectural Heritage | website = buildingsofireland.ie | title = Ballybunnion Library, Sandhill Road, Ballybunnion, Ballybunnion, Kerry | accessdate = 19 September 2023}}{{cite web|url = https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/21400116/saint-johns-catholic-church-church-road-ballybunnion-ballybunnion-co-kerry | publisher = National Inventory of Architectural Heritage | website = buildingsofireland.ie | title = Saint John's Catholic Church, Church Road, Ballybunnion, Ballybunnion, Kerry | accessdate = 19 September 2023}}
Tourism
File:Ballybunion Ladies Beach 41.jpg
Ballybunion has two main beaches, divided by the ruins of Ballybunion Castle on the cliff top overlooking the sandy beaches. The Ladies Beach is to the right and the Men's Beach to the left – names arising from the fact that both sexes previously swam on separate beaches.{{cite web|url = https://www.ballybunion.ie/things-to-do/attractions/ballybunion-beaches.html | website= ballybunion.ie | title = Ballybunion Beaches | accessdate = 19 September 2023 }} Further to the left of the Men's Beach lies the Long Strand, a 3.2 km stretch of sand, overlooked by the sand dunes of Ballybunion Golf Club.
In the summer, Ballybunion attracts tourists, and the beaches near Ballybunion are a common surfing site, with a dedicated surf school on the Men's Beach. Other traditions include seaweed baths, featuring sea water with serrated wrack. The town itself has a number of restaurants, pubs and cafes, and schools.
Sport
=Golf=
File:Ballybunion Golf Club - 10th hole.jpg
Ballybunion Golf Club was founded in 1893 and was previously ranked at number seven in Golf Digest{{'}}s "100 Best Courses Outside the USA".{{cite web |url=http://www.pgatour.com/2009/tourlife/travel/11/17/cow/index.html |title=Ballybunion: A name that thrills every golf aficionado |publisher=PGA Tour |first=David |last=Brice |work=Golf International Inc. |date=20 November 2009 |accessdate=4 July 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629091455/http://www.pgatour.com/2009/tourlife/travel/11/17/cow/index.html |archivedate=29 June 2011 |url-status=live }} There are 2 courses, the Old Course and the Cashen Course, both situated beside the beach. The club hosted the Murphy's Irish Open in 2000 and the Palmer Cup in 2004.{{cite web|url = https://www.ballybuniongolfclub.com/the-club/milestones/ | website = ballybuniongolfclub.com | title = Milstones | accessdate = 19 September 2023 }}Located on Sandhill Road, the club has the largest, most formidable sand dunes in Ireland.{{cite web |title=Ballybunion Golf Club (Old) |url=https://www.top100golfcourses.com/golf-course/ballybunion-old |website=top100golfcourses.com |access-date=2 April 2025}} Notable holes on the Old Course include the par-3 7th hole known as “Watson’s,” named after Tom Watson, who famously played the course during the 1981 Irish Open. Other notable professional golfers who have played the Old Course include Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Ian Baker-Finch. There have been other notable guests that have played there including in 2001 the late astronaut Neil Armstrong.{{cite web |title=Image from MacMonagle |url=https://www.macmonagle.com/image/I0000GkPaT5BMvRo |website=macmonagle.com |access-date=2 April 2025}}{{cite web |title=Southwest Ireland: Storied Links Allure Presidents, Celebrities and Droves of Golf Fanatics |url=https://www.golfpass.com/travel-advisor/articles/southwest-ireland-storied-links-allure-presidents-celebrities-and-droves-of-golf-fanatics |website=GolfPass |access-date=2 April 2025}}{{cite web |title=1969 First Man on the Moon Neil Armstrong Autograph at Ballybunion 1997 |url=https://bid.whytes.ie/lots/view/1-5V6Z80/1969-first-man-on-the-moon-neil-armstrong-autograph-at-ballybunion-1997 |website=Whyte's |access-date=2 April 2025}} File:Bill Clinton Statue in Ballybunion.JPGA statue in the town commemorates a golfing visit, in 1998, by then US President Bill Clinton.{{cite web|url = https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/clinton-ballybunion-trip-swung-after-300m-golf-wager-with-tanaiste-dick-spring/41193394.html | newspaper = Irish Independent | title = Clinton Ballybunion trip swung after €300m golf wager with Tánaiste Dick Spring | date = 30 December 2021 | accessdate = 19 September 2023 }}
=Gaelic football=
The local Gaelic football team, Beale GAA club, is named for a small townland a couple of miles up the coast from Ballybunion. Founded in 1972, the club's colours are green and red.{{cite web|url = https://www.ballybunion.ie/services-amenities/sports-clubs/beale-gaa-club.html | publisher = | website = ballybunion.ie | title = Sports Clubs - Beale GAA Club | date = | accessdate = 31 July 2021 }} It fields teams in competitions organised by the North Kerry Football Board.{{cite web|url = http://northkerryfootball.com/clubNotes/30265/b_e_a_l_e | publisher = North Kerry Football Board | website = northkerryfootball.com | title = Club Notes - Beale | accessdate = 31 July 2021 }}
The club's grounds, at Stack Park, are situated off Sandhill Road.{{cite web|url = https://www.kerryppn.ie/communities/beale-gaa-club/ | website = kerryppn.ie | publisher = Kerry Public Participation Network | title = Beale GAA Club | accessdate = 19 September 2023 }} This floodlight pitch provides training and matches for several divisions of players (incl under 8s, 10s, junior, and senior) as well as ladies football.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}}
=Health and leisure=
Ballybunion Health & Leisure Centre opened in 2007 and is situated on Kit Ahern Road.[http://www.ballybunionleisure.com Health & Leisure Centre] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080819145105/http://www.ballybunionleisure.com/ |date=2008-08-19 }}
Notable people
{{See also|Category:People from Ballybunion}}
- Patrick Joseph James Keane (1872–1928), Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento in California{{cite web|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bkeanep.html|title=Bishop Patrick Joseph James Keane|publisher=www.catholic-hierarchy.org|access-date=3 June 2023}}
- Denis "Ogie" Moran (b. 1956), Gaelic footballer
- Eoin Liston (b. 1957), Gaelic footballer
- Richard Wall (b.{{birth based on age as of date|30|2007|5|10|noage=1}}) film and TV actor{{cite web|url = https://www.independent.ie/regionals/kerry/news/under-the-moustache-theres-a-winning-smile/27357924.html | work = The Kerryman | publisher = Independent News & Media | title = Under the moustache there's a winning smile | date = 10 May 2007 | accessdate = 3 June 2023 | quote = Ballybunion native Richard Wall [..] 30-year-old actor }}
See also
Further reading
- {{cite book | title = Ballybunion: An Illustrated History | first = Danny | last = Houlihan | date = 2011 | isbn = 9781845889999 | publisher = History Press }}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{County Kerry}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Towns and villages in County Kerry