About Carrigtwohill
Carrigtwohill is strategically located in Munster in Southern Ireland and eleven kilometers east of Cork city. With the great advantage of its close proximity to Cork city and all that the metropolis has to offer, Carrigtwohill is set to become one of the most dynamic towns in the County. It is also situated in the heart of a rural setting that has a wealth of historical legacy, attractions and activities for all the family.
Until recently, a small rural village with a population of approximately 1,000 people, the town will become one of the largest and best developed towns in East Cork by the year 2020. Carrigtwohill will soon have a 15 minute direct rail link to Cork city with a railway station located at Castlelake. Integrating state of the art residential and business development into a real community, Castlelake is very much part of the new Carrigtwohill, and works closely with the Community Council in helping to build a stronger community spirit throughout the whole Carrigtwohill area.
The strong Irish traditions and cultural legacy of Carrigtwohill walk hand in hand with new ideas and developments. Carrigtwohill is renowned for its strong community spirit and sporting traditions in Gaelic Games. Its rich historical legacy dates back many years with Barryscourt Castle playing a major role. The origins of the Medieval Festival can be traced back to a charter, given by Henry 111 in 1234, to Sir David de Barra and his heirs, giving them the right to hold a fair day once a year. Carrigtwohill can now boast the Oldest Fair Day in Ireland.
The landmark of Carrigtwohill, Barryscourt Castle, is open to the public during the summer months and has been magnificently restored. It houses an exhibition on the ancient arts in Ireland and also has a newly developed replica of a medieval garden. Barryscourt was the main seat of the Barry family, one of the principal Norman families in Ireland. The castle was originally built in 1206 by Philip de Barra, nephew of Robert Fitzstephen. De Barra, who had come to Ireland with Strongbow, was granted a large portion of territory by Henry11 and this included Barryscourt. Gradually, the Barry’s adapted themselves to the habits of their adopted country, becoming almost more Irish than the Irish! The Barrymore’s lived in relative peace until the great Desmond rebellion in the 16th century.
The area is surrounded by natural unspoilt countryside and is also close to the sea. The eastern end of Carrigtwohill encompasses the original village with its church, schools, Main Street, pubs and various amenities. The area is dominated by the magnificent Castle of Barryscourt. Carrigtwohill is mentioned in written documents as far back as 1234. The name is derived from Tuathail meaning left-handed, or North. It is so called because, whereas most of the rocks in that part of the country run east-west, the rocks at Carrigtwohill run north-south. The huge rock from which Carrigtwohill derives its name is about half a mile north-eastwards of the village itself. The rock is honeycombed with large caves, with beautiful stalactites, which extends for miles underground. Tradition has it that a goat once entered one of these caves, emerging in the townland of Ballintubrid, a few miles southwards. The cave where the goat emerged is called Poll an Ghabhair, meaning The Goat’s Hole.
The many other attractions close at hand include the magnificently restored Fota House and world renowned arboretum and gardens as well as Fota Wildlife Park. Here, you can come face to face with over 90 species of wildlife. Other attractions nearby include two award winning heritage centres, the Queenstown Story, located in the Heritage town of Cobh and the Old Midleton Distillery. Churches, museums, galleries and craft shops are also in close proximity. Walking tours are available around the historic town of Youghal and on the Titanic Trail in Cobh. In addition, there are miles of Blue Flag beaches and many beautiful coastal and woodland walks between Youghal and the wooded valley of Glanmire. Other activities near Carrigtwohill include several excellent golf courses, adventure sports, guided hikes, horseback riding (Carrigtwohill has its very own Point to Point race held in February), karting or quad biking, tennis and greyhound racing in nearby Youghal. Water sports include world renowned sailing, surfing, kayaking and windsurfing. You can also take a trip out to sea for some whale and dolphin watching or enjoy a guided harbour cruise to see the old forts in Cork Harbour. For the angler, there is a choice of freshwater, deep-sea and shore angling. An added and unique feature in the area is the East Cork Bird Trail; this is a finger posted bird watching trail, which offers the opportunity to view a large cross section of Ireland’s indigenous and migratory bird life.