Cobh & Crosshaven

Cobh

The village, on the island, was known as “Ballyvoloon”, a transliteration of the Irish “Baile Ui-Mhaoileoin” (en: “O’Malone’s place”),^[2] while the Royal Navy port, established in the 1750’s, became known as “The Cove of Cork” or “Cove”. The combined conurbation was renamed to “Queenstown”, in 1849, during a visit by Queen Victoria. The name was changed to Cobh, during the Irish War of Independence, following the passing of a motion by the local administrative council on 2 July 1920.^[3][4] Cobh is a Gaelicisation of the English name Cove, and it shares the same pronunciation.^[5] It has no meaning in the Irish language.^[6]

In ancient times the area was known as Cuan an Neimheadh (the Harbour of Neimheidh), a figure in medieval Irish legend. Great Island was called Oileán Ard Neimheidh (the high or important island of Neimheidh).^[7]

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Crosshaven

The modern Irish name for Crosshaven village is Bun an Tábhairne.^[2] While some sources link the word tábhairne to the English word “tavern”, other sources suggest that it is a corruption of “tSabhairne” a grammatical form of the word “Sabhrann” the name of a local river. Bun refers to “river mouth” when in reference to placenames. Therefore, the name is potentially translated to “The Mouth of the River Sabhrann”.^{[citation needed]} The old Irish name for the east side of the village was Cros tSeáin or “John’s Cross”, from which the English name derives.^[2] John’s Cross refers to the Norman castle built around Castle point.^{[citation needed]}

History

Crosshaven was originally a Viking settlement, part of what was known as the ‘Ostman’s Tancred’, after Cork city became a fortified English stronghold.^[5]

According to local folklore, Sir Francis Drake sailed up the River Owenabue, while taking refuge from the Spanish Armada. A point in the river where he is alleged to have hidden is known as Drake’s Pool.^[6]

The local secondary school, Coláiste Mhuire, was founded by an aunt of James Joyce,^[5] and the town is mentioned twice in Joyce’s novel Ulysses.^[7][8]

Nearby coastal artillery and military forts, Fort Templebreedy and Camden Fort Meagher, were British outposts until the Treaty Ports installations were relinquished in 1938. Camden is located on the headland of Rams Head and is occasionally open to the public.^[9]

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