Millstreet

Summary

Millstreet (Irish: Sráid an Mhuilinn)[2] is a town in north County Cork, Ireland. As of the 2022 census, it had a population of 1,722.[1]

Millstreet
Sráid an Mhuilinn (Irish)
Town
Millstreet's National Monument, on front of McCarthy's Bar, in the town's main square
Millstreet's National Monument, on front of McCarthy's Bar, in the town's main square
Millstreet is located in Ireland
Millstreet
Millstreet
Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 52°03′37″N 9°03′51″W / 52.0604°N 9.06415°W / 52.0604; -9.06415
CountryIreland
ProvinceMunster
CountyCork
CouncilCork County Council
Dáil constituencyCork North-Westl
European ParliamentSouth
Population
 • Total1,722
Time zoneUTC+0 (WET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (IST (WEST))
Websitewww.millstreet.ie

Millstreet is within the civil parish of Drishane, and within a Poor Law Union also called Millstreet. The Millstreet Union encompasses the civil parishes of Drishane and Kilcorney.

Geography edit

The town is at the foot of Clara Mountain, part of the Derrynasaggart range.

The townlands within Millstreet Poor Law Union were part of the barony of West Muskerry. Aubane was an area within Millstreet Poor Law Union, in the townlands of Tooreenbane and Tullig, and is outside the town itself.

History edit

Evidence of ancient settlement within the town include a ringfort and souterrain site within Coomlogane townland.[3] A number of lintel stones, with Ogham inscriptions, were uncovered on the site in the 1980s.[3][4] The ruins of Dromsicane Castle, dating to at least the 16th century, are located nearby.[5]

A tower, dating to c. 1810, is within the enclosure of Millstreet's former Church of Ireland church.[6] This church, built in the 1790s and dedicated to Saint Anna, was demolished (apart from the tower) in 1959.[7]

The town's present Roman Catholic church was built in 1833 in a neo-classical style, and is dedicated to Saint Patrick.[8] The building was enlarged and modified between 1931 and 1932, with the side walls moved out and the front moved closer to the entrance gate and given a new facade. A presbytery and the Presentation convent, which opened on 28 May 1840, were also built on the site.[9]

Culture edit

The Green Glens Arena, an entertainment complex and large equestrian centre, is located in Millstreet. It has hosted a number of major events, including the Eurovision Song Contest 1993, with Millstreet being the smallest town to host the competition.[10] After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the arena was agreed to be used for temporary accommodation for Ukrainian refugees.[11][12]

Since 1961, Millstreet Town Park has been used for a 'Christmas meeting' of a local coursing club. In 2021, the controversial practice of live hare coursing was subject to protest by local residents. [13]

Since 1985, the town has been twinned with Pommerit-le-Vicomte in Brittany, France.[14]

Transport edit

The town is on the MallowKillarneyTralee line of the Irish railway network. Millstreet railway station, which opened in 1853 and closed for some goods traffic in 1976,[15][16] was refurbished in 1993 and remains open for passenger train services.[17]

Bus Éireann provides bus service via the Macroom - Killarney route.[18]

People edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Interactive Data Visualisations: Towns: Millstreet". Census 2022. Central Statistics Office. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Sráid an Mhuilinn/Millstreet". Placenames Database of Ireland (logainm.ie). Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  3. ^ a b Power, D.; Byrne, E.; Egan, U.; Lane, S.; Sleeman, M., eds. (1997), Archaeological Inventory of County Cork vol. 3: Mid Cork, Dublin: Government Stationery Office
  4. ^ "Millstreet Ogham Stone". megalithicmonumentsofireland.com. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  5. ^ "Dromsicane Castle". millstreet.ie. 21 August 2009. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Saint Anna's Church (Drishane), Church Street, Liscahane, Millstreet, Cork". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  7. ^ Costello, Michael; O'Maidin, Padraig (2001). Notes on the History of Millstreet. Aubane Historical Society. p. 5. ISBN 1903497043 – via aubanehistoricalsociety.com.
  8. ^ "Saint Patrick's Church, Coomlogane Street, Millstreet, County Cork". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  9. ^ Tucker, Seán (c. 2006). "Origin and development of the Parish of Millstreet" (PDF). Aubane Historical Society. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  10. ^ "RTÉ Archives - Eurovision The Hottest Ticket In Town (1993)". rte.ie. RTÉ. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020. Millstreet, County Cork [is] the smallest town to ever host the Eurovision
  11. ^ "Ukrainian refugees being accommodated at Millstreet Arena". The Irish Times. 20 April 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  12. ^ Kelleher, Olivia (21 April 2022). "Ukrainians in Millstreet 'in great form' as town welcomes refugees fleeing war". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  13. ^ "Protest over hare coursing in Co Cork park which is town's 'lifeline'". Examiner. 31 December 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  14. ^ "Twinning group celebrates 30th". The Corkman. Independent News & Media. 12 November 2015. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  15. ^ "Millstreet Railway Station, Dooneens, County Cork". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  16. ^ "Millstreet station" (PDF). Railscot - Irish Railways. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 31 August 2007.
  17. ^ "Millstreet Railway Station – Upgrade Works in 1993". millstreet.ie. 11 May 2020. Archived from the original on 19 May 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  18. ^ "Bus Éireann Route 40, Tralee - Rosslare Europort". Bus Éireann. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  19. ^ "Tipasa in Mauretania (Titular See) [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Archived from the original on 8 October 2018. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  20. ^ "Ellis blazes trail for Millstreet". irishexaminer.com. Irish Examiner. 24 May 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  21. ^ "Joanne is young person of the year". The Corkman. Independent News & Media. 23 September 2012. Archived from the original on 19 December 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2020.

External links edit

  • Millstreet Town Website
  • Aubane Historical Society