Fermoy
Template:Infobox Place Ireland
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1821 | 6,702 | — |
| 1831 | 6,976 | +4.1% |
| 1841 | 6,379 | −8.6% |
| 1851 | 5,846 | −8.4% |
| 1861 | 8,705 | +48.9% |
| 1871 | 7,388 | −15.1% |
| 1881 | 6,454 | −12.6% |
| 1891 | 6,469 | +0.2% |
| 1901 | 6,126 | −5.3% |
| 1911 | 6,863 | +12.0% |
| 1926 | 4,510 | −34.3% |
| 1936 | 4,123 | −8.6% |
| 1946 | 4,213 | +2.2% |
| 1951 | 4,017 | −4.7% |
| 1956 | 3,674 | −8.5% |
| 1961 | 3,667 | −0.2% |
| 1966 | 3,721 | +1.5% |
| 1971 | 4,033 | +8.4% |
| 1981 | 4,888 | +21.2% |
| 1986 | 4,885 | −0.1% |
| 1991 | 4,462 | −8.7% |
| 1996 | 4,469 | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 4,804 | +7.5% |
| 2006 | 5,673 | +18.1% |
| [1][2][3][4][5] | ||
Fermoy (Irish: Mainistir Fhear Maí, meaning 'Monastery of the Men of the Plain') in County Cork, Ireland is a town of some 5,800 inhabitants, environs included (2006 census), situated on the River Blackwater in the south of Ireland.
The town's name comes from the Irish and refers to a Cistercian abbey founded in the 13th century. At the dissolution of the monasteries during the Tudor period, the abbey and its lands passed through the following dynasties: 'Sir Richard Grenville, Robert Boyle and William Forward. However, the site could hardly have been regarded as a town and, by the late 18th century, was little more than a few cabins and an inn.
The Christian Brothers and the Presentation and Loreto Sisters maintain a presence in the town.
Fermoy is twinned with the French commune Ploemeur in Brittany.
History
In 1791, the lands around Fermoy were bought by a Scotsman, John Anderson. He was an entrepreneur who developed the roads and started the mail coach system in Ireland. He designed the town and the streets remain much the same as they were originally built. His descendants, now living in Australia, have named a wine after the town which he established.[6] A plaque and bust in his honour were unveiled by the town park in 2001. Fermoy was the site of a major British Army barracks, which is now a picture framing shop, when Ireland was under imperial rule. By the 1830s this was the largest military establishment on the island of Ireland. In 1797, when the army was looking to establish a new and permanent base, Anderson gifted them the land as an inducement to locate in Fermoy. Anderson and the town received considerable economic benefit from the arrangement. In 1806 the first permanent barracks, the East Barracks, were built. They were located on 16½ acres of land and provided accommodation for 112 officers and 1478 men of infantry, and 24 officers, 120 men, and 112 horses of cavalry. A general military hospital of 130 beds was also built. In 1809 West Barracks was built. This also had a 42 bed hospital. When both barracks were complete there was accommodation for 14 field officers, 169 officers, 2,816 men, and 152 horses. The town of Fermoy expanded around these facilities and retained its British military facilities until 1922, when the Irish Free State was first established. During the War of Independence, Fermoy was the scene of the first attack for arms by the IRA against British troops, during which Private Jones was killed. This resulted in several reprisals, most notably when British troops looted and burned part of the town centre. One of those who led the raid, IRA Commandant Michael Fitzgerald, was subsequently captured but never tried for the offence. He later became the first IRA man to die on hunger strike during the War of Independence.
Economy
Industries in and around the town include chemical production (by Micro Bio), ice-cream manufacturing (by Silver Pail), and power product manufacturing (by Anderson Power). The town's industry also includes electronics manufacturing - with companies like Sanmina-SCI Corporation and FCI Connectors. However in recent years FCI Connectors announced it would be ceasing manufacturing in their Fermoy Plant.[7]
Moorepark Research Institute, near Fermoy, is one of the Irish Government's agricultural and food research institutes.
Education
St. Colman's College is one of the best-known local secondary schools. Loreto Convent, Coláiste an Chraobhín and Gaelscoil de hÍde are also located in the town.
Tourism
The Blackwater river is one the town's major attractions and is very popular for its salmon and coarse fishing. The scenic river-side walk at Barnane is considered to be one of the town's most attractive amenities. The town's two annual regattas- usually in early May and early September- are hosted by Fermoy Rowing Club and serve to attract over a thousand visitors each day. Fermoy Rowing Club celebrates its 125th Anniversary in 2009 and Fermoy Regatta, by coincidence, celebrates its 70th Anniversary in the same year.
Fermoy Weir Controversy
Since 2006, members of Fermoy Rowing Club and members of several of the local Angling clubs have been involved in an on-going campaign against the Irish Government's controversial plan to radically alter the town's historic weir.
Transport
For many years the main N8 Cork–Dublin road ran through Fermoy, and the town's bridge was a major bottle neck on the route. However, the M8 motorway bypass, which included a new bridge over the Munster Blackwater to the east of the town was opened in late 2006. The former N8 through the town is now a regional road, the R639, and Fermoy's traffic problems have been greatly eased. The town used to be connected to the Irish railway system, on a line from Mallow to Waterford, with a junction to nearby Mitchelstown (see Irish railway history). Fermoy railway station opened on 17 May 1860, and finally closed on 27 March 1967.[8] The nearest airport is Cork Airport
People
- Fermoy is home to US born Irish dancer Michael Flatley.
- The 1st Baron Fermoy was Lord Lieutenant of County Cork but was not from Fermoy. The current Baron Fermoy is a first cousin of the late Princess Diana.
- Patrick Andrew Collins (1844–1905), a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts and mayor of Boston, was born near Fermoy.
- JohnStanislaus Joyce, father of James Joyce, writer of Ulysses, was born in Fermoy.
- John Magnier, owner of Coolmore Stud.
- Peter Stapleton is a quality Rugger player who enjoys a few beverages on a Friday night. Peter or Pete as he is commonly known is an avid Munster Fan and enjoys nothing more than a good game of Asteroid 16 on his playstation. Blast em up is his thing
Books written about Fermoy and surroundings
- Fermoy on the Blackwater, by Bill Power, 2009 (Brigown Press, 410 pages, 240 colour illustrations throughout).
- Fermoy: A local history by Niall Brunicardi (First Published 1975)
- John Anderson of Fermoy, the forgotten benefactor by Niall Brunicardi (First Published 1983)
- To die by inches: An account of the Fermoy Poor Law Union during the Great Famine, 1845-1850 by Edward Garner (First Published 1986)
- Crichad an Chaoilli: Being the Topography of Ancient Fermoy by Patrick Power (First Published 1932) (University College Cork)
- A sketch of the Blackwater, from Youghal to Fermoy by Samuel Hayman (First Published 1860)
- Fermoy, 1841 to 1890: A local history by Niall Brunicardi (First Published 1978)
- The diary of Wilfrid Saxby Barham, captain "The Buffs," during the great war 1914-1915: Fermoy-Dover-Armentieres-Ypres by Wilfrid Saxby Barham (First Published 1918)
- A sense of Fermoy by J.J. Bunyan (First Published 1983)
See also
References
- ^ Census for post 1821 figures.
- ^ http://www.histpop.org
- ^ http://www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk/census
- ^ Lee, JJ (1981). "On the accuracy of the Pre-famine Irish censuses". In Goldstrom, J. M.; Clarkson, L. A. (eds.). Irish Population, Economy, and Society: Essays in Honour of the Late K. H. Connell. Oxford, England: Clarendon Press.
- ^ Mokyr, Joel; O Grada, Cormac (November), "New Developments in Irish Population History, 1700-1850", The Economic History Review, Volume 37 (Issue 4): 473–488, doi:10.1111/j.1468-0289.1984.tb00344.x
{{citation}}:|issue=has extra text (help);|volume=has extra text (help); Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help) - ^ Fermoy Estate
- ^ Further jobs blow for Fermoy - BreakingNews.ie
- ^ "Fermoy station" (PDF). Railscot - Irish Railways. Retrieved 2007-10-14.