West Cork

File:Clonakility Town Hall, Kent Street - geograph.org.uk - 2193089.jpg

The area's pre-history is evident in the many Iron Age burial monuments, including a large number of megalithic tombs, dolmens, standing stones and stone circles.{{sfn|O'Halloran|1916}}

West Cork has had a distinct identity from at least the ancient Dáirine kingdom of Corcu Loígde which once covered much of the area.{{sfn|O'Halloran|1916|loc=XIX (Lords of the Soil of West Cork)|ps=: "The whole [West Cork] territory lying between the Bandon River and the Kenmare River was formerly called Corca Laidhe"}} The historic baronies of Carbery, the largest barony in Ireland down to the nineteenth-century, Bantry, and Bear, or Bere, on Beara Peninsula, existed down from the Middle Ages. A series of coastal islands, on the coast of the baronies of Carbery West and Carbery East, are known as Carbery's Hundred Isles.

A Spanish expedition made landfall on the coast in October 1601 attempting to link up with Irish rebels. This ended with the Battle of Kinsale - described as "one of the decisive battles of the world's history. If the Irish had won that battle—and they could have won it—...England's power was shattered".{{sfn|O'Halloran|1916}} In the early 17th century, the townland of Leamcon (near Schull{{sfn|Senior|1976|pages=41, 68}} was a pirate stronghold, and pirates traded easily in Baltimore and Whiddy Island.{{sfn|Senior|1976|pages=54–57}}

During the mid-19th century, parts of West Cork were severely impacted by the Great Famine.{{sfn|Hickey|2002}}

Within the Catholic Church in Ireland and the Church of Ireland (Anglican) traditions, the coastal area from Ballydehob to Timoleague was formerly contained within the Dioceses of Ross. These dioceses no longer exist separately, and now form part of the larger Roman Catholic Diocese of Cork and Ross and the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross respectively.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

As of the 21st century, West Cork is a municipal district within the administrative area of Cork County Council. The district is represented by 9 councillors, and the West Cork Municipal District Office is in Clonakilty.{{cite web|url = https://www.corkcoco.ie/en/your-county-council/how-your-council-works | publisher = Cork County Council | website = corkcoco.ie | title = How your Council Works | quote = West Cork Municipal District Office [..] Location of Municipal District Office:, Clonakilty |accessdate = 2 July 2021 }}

File:Beara Way - geograph.org.uk - 263663.jpg

The region's western terrain was formed between 360 and 374 million years ago, as part of the rising of the MacGillycuddy's Reeks and Caha Mountains mountains ranges. This occurred during the Devonian period when Ireland was part of a larger continental landmass and located south of the equator.{{sfn|Bourke|Hayden|Lynch|O'Sullivan|2011|p=3}} There are three main peninsulas on this side of the region: Beara, Sheep's Head and Mizen Head.

Towns in West Cork include Ballydehob, Bandon, Bantry, Castletownbere, Clonakilty, Dunmanway, Rosscarbery, Schull, and Skibbereen.{{cite web|url = http://explorewestcork.ie/towns/ | publisher = West Cork People | website = explorewestcork.ie | title = Towns in West Cork | access-date = 20 June 2019}}

The area was linked in 1849 by the Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway, sometimes known as the West Cork Railway.{{cite web|url = https://modelvillage.ie/our-history/history-of-the-west-cork-railway-line/ | publisher = West Cork Model Railway Village | website = modelvillage.ie | title = History of the West Cork Railway Line | accessdate = 3 July 2021 }} This railway line began in Cork City, travelled across the county and had branches to Clonakilty (junction at Gaggin) and Skibbereen (junction at Drimoleague), before terminating at Bantry. It closed in 1961. The narrow-gauge Schull and Skibbereen Railway opened in 1886 and closed in 1947.{{cite web|url = http://eiretrains.com/Photo_Gallery/Railway%20Stations%20S/Schull/IrishRailwayStations.html | publisher = Eiretrains Irish Railways | website = eiretrains.com | title = Schull station - Terminus of Schull & Skibbereen 3ft gauge tramway | access-date = 20 June 2019 }}

The main infrastructural backbone is provided by the N71 and R586 routes.

Traditionally a tourist destination, the West Cork area is marketed to tourists for its remote peninsulas (such as the Beara Peninsula, Sheep's Head and Mizen Head peninsulas), beaches such as Inchydoney, Owenahincha and Barleycove, and towns and villages such as Skibbereen, Clonakilty, Kinsale and Rosscarbery.{{cite web|url = https://www.discoverireland.ie/Places-To-Go/West-Cork/More-Info/Features/West-Cork | publisher = Fáilte Ireland | website = discoverireland.ie | title = West Cork Highlights | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20190620125501/https://www.discoverireland.ie/Places-To-Go/West-Cork/More-Info/Features/West-Cork | archivedate = 20 June 2019 }} For tourism purposes, the area of West Cork is not strictly defined, but at its broadest definition it includes all parts of County Cork south and west of the River Lee with the exception of Cork city and suburbs. Road signs may be found around Cork city and elsewhere directing traffic for "The West" or "West Cork".{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

The Wild Atlantic Way tourist route spans much of the West Cork coast, including the Old Head of Kinsale, Dursey Island and Mizen Head.{{cite web|url = https://www.corkcoco.ie/en/visiting-cork/wild-atlantic-way | publisher = Cork County Council | website = corkcoco.ie | title = Wild Atlantic Way | accessdate = 3 July 2021 | quote = The Wild Atlantic Way’s southern starting point is the coastal town of Kinsale [..] There are 3 Signature Discovery Points located in West Cork. These are Dursey Island, Mizen Head and the Old Head of Kinsale }}

File:View From The Hilltop at Lough Hyne - Ed Fitzgerald.jpg|Lough Hyne, outside Skibbereen

File:Mizen Head.JPG|Mizen Head, the most southwesterly point of Ireland

File:Altar wedge tomb2.jpg|Altar Wedge Tomb, (c. 3000–2000 BC), Toormore Bay, outside Schull

File:County Cork - Drombeg stone circle - 20150328102444.jpg|Drombeg stone circle, near Glandore. Active c. 1100 - 800 BC

File:Gougane Barra Church - geograph.org.uk - 1532599.jpg|Gougane Barra, 6th century Christian monastery site near the source of the River Lee

File:Timoleague Friary.jpg|Timoleague Friary, founded in the 13th century{{cite web | url = http://monastic.ie/history/timoleague-franciscan-friary/ | website = monastic.ie | publisher = The Discovery Programme | title = Timoleague Franciscan Friary | accessdate = 3 November 2022 }}

File:Ilnacullin garden.jpg|Garden on Garnish Island

File:Colourful premises, Kinsale - Town Plots Townland - geograph.org.uk - 1981344.jpg|Street in Kinsale

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• {{cite book|last1=Bourke |first1= Edward|last2= Hayden|first2= Alan|last3= Lynch|first3= Ann|last4= O'Sullivan |first4= Michael | title=Skellig Michael, Co. Kerry: The Monastery and South Peak: Archaeological Stratigraphic Report: Excavations 1986–2010 |oclc= 795846647|location=Dublin |publisher= Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht | date = 2011 }}
• {{cite book | title = Famine in West Cork: The Mizen Peninsula Land and People 1800-1852 | date = 2002 | last = Hickey | first = Patrick | publisher = Mercier Press | isbn = 9781856353885 }}
• {{cite book | last = O'Halloran | first = W | url = https://www.libraryireland.com/WestCorkHistory/Preface.php | title = Early Irish History and Antiquities, and the History of West Cork | publisher = Sealy, Bryers and Walker | date = 1916}}
• {{cite book |last=Senior |first=Clive M. |date=1976 |title=A Nation of Pirates |url=https://archive.org/details/a-nation-of-pirates-clive-senior |location=Newton Abbot |publisher=David & Charles |isbn=0-7153-7264-5}}

{{refend}}

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Category:Geography of County Cork

Category:Tourist attractions in County Cork