Historic town

The National Monuments Service's description

On both sides of Blackwater River (see 14806), on main Cork-Dublin road. Not listed as one of Cork's market towns in 1299 (O'Brien 1993, 94); site then occupied by Cistercian abbey (14384). No evidence of town here until 17th century when Richard Boyle established an English settlement which in 1637 consisted of about thirty households (MacCarthy-Morrogh 1986, 258). In 1685, Cox (Johnson 1902, 356) described it as 'a small market town' and in mid-18th century, Smith (1750, vol. 1, 348) called it 'a small village'. Purchased by John Anderson in 1791 and flourished under his patronage in early 19th century (Brunicardi 1980; Zajac 1995, 37); in 1837 consisted of 'a spacious square of handsome houses...and of several principal streets' (Lewis 1837, vol. 1, 623).

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 4: North Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2000). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

References

Smith, C. 1750 (New Edition 1815) The ancient and present state of the County and City of Cork, 2 vols. Cork. Guy and Co. Ltd.

Zajac, S., Cronin, J. and Kiely, J. 1995 Urban archaeological survey - county Cork (2 vols.). Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.

MacCarthy-Morrogh, M. 1986 The Munster plantation. Oxford. Clarendon Press.

Lewis, S. 1837 A topographical dictionary of Ireland, 2 vols. London. Lewis and Co.

Johnson, S.P. 1902 On a manuscript description of the city and county of Cork, cir. 1685, Written by Sir Richard Cox. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 32, 353-76.

Brunicardi, N. 1980 John Anderson of Fermoy. Fermoy. Éigse na Mainistreach. Publications.