Blackrock, County Cork
Encyclopedia
Blackrock is a village
and suburb contained within Cork City, Ireland
. It began as a small fishing village about five kilometres from Cork City but the growth of the city has meant the village became incorporated into the city. Blackrock has a rich GAA
tradition and is famous for producing some of the association's most recognisable names .
. There has been a castle on the site since medieval times but the present castle was built in the mid 19th century in mock-baronial style. It now houses an observatory and planetarium
.
The Marina, a picturesque, tree lined avenue (not strictly a marina
) runs along the southern bank of the River Lee
from Blackrock Village past Páirc Uí Chaoimh
and is a popular spot for recreational activities such as walking and cycling. The Atlantic Pond, in the shadow of Páirc Uí Chaoimh is also a popular area for walkers and is populated by wildlife, mainly ducks and swans.
Dundanion Castle, overlooking the Marina but difficult to access, is the ruins of a 16th century castle. It is from this spot that William Penn
sailed on his first voyage to America in 1682 before founding the state of Pennsylvania.
Blackrock Village hosts a farmer's market every Sunday morning in the village square.
. The railway station opened on 8 June 1850, but finally closed on 12 September 1932. the old railway line is now used by walkers as an amenity.
The Number 2, Number 10, and Number 10a bus routes link Blackrock to the city. The Number 19 bus route links Blackrock to Bishopstown via Douglas on a southern orbital route that avoids the city centre.
titles, 4 All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship
s and a number of notable inter-county hurlers over the yearsGaelic Football is played at St. Michaels's Gaelic Football Club (nicknamed The Dazzlers) which has its playing pitches in Mahon.
The Beaumont area of Blackrock is home to the underage section of Avondale United Football Club, who play in the Munster Senior League. Blackrock is also home to Blackrock Karate club and St. Michaels Tennis Club. There is also a lawn bowls club next to the tennis club's grounds on Church Road. Blackrock has long been a centre of rowing
and is home to Cork Boat Club, Lee Rowing Club and Shandon Rowing Club.
, inventor of Boolean algebra (the basis of modern computer arithmetic) lived in Blackrock during his time as Professor of Mathematics at University College Cork. Boole is buried in the grounds of St.Michael's Church of Ireland on Church Road. James Finbarre McMullen, architect of the Honan Chapel
at UCC, lived at number 9 Coppingerstang, Blackrock.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
and suburb contained within Cork City, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. It began as a small fishing village about five kilometres from Cork City but the growth of the city has meant the village became incorporated into the city. Blackrock has a rich GAA
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
tradition and is famous for producing some of the association's most recognisable names .
Places of interest
A short distance from the village is Blackrock CastleBlackrock Castle
Blackrock Castle, formerly Mahon Castle, is a 16th century castle located about 2km from the heart of Cork city on the banks of the River Lee. The "Cosmos at the Castle" project is a centre for scientific research, outreach and communication. The project is a joint venture between , and a private...
. There has been a castle on the site since medieval times but the present castle was built in the mid 19th century in mock-baronial style. It now houses an observatory and planetarium
Planetarium
A planetarium is a theatre built primarily for presenting educational and entertaining shows about astronomy and the night sky, or for training in celestial navigation...
.
The Marina, a picturesque, tree lined avenue (not strictly a marina
Marina
A marina is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships or cargo from freighters....
) runs along the southern bank of the River Lee
River Lee (Ireland)
The Lee is a river in Ireland. It rises in the Shehy Mountains on the western border of County Cork and flows eastwards through Cork City, where it splits in two for a short distance, creating an island on which Cork's city centre is built, and empties into the Celtic Sea at Cork Harbour on the...
from Blackrock Village past Páirc Uí Chaoimh
Páirc Uí Chaoimh
Páirc Uí Chaoimh is a Gaelic Athletic Association stadium in the Ballintemple area of Cork in Ireland, where major hurling and Gaelic football matches are played. It is the home of Cork GAA...
and is a popular spot for recreational activities such as walking and cycling. The Atlantic Pond, in the shadow of Páirc Uí Chaoimh is also a popular area for walkers and is populated by wildlife, mainly ducks and swans.
Dundanion Castle, overlooking the Marina but difficult to access, is the ruins of a 16th century castle. It is from this spot that William Penn
William Penn
William Penn was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was an early champion of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful...
sailed on his first voyage to America in 1682 before founding the state of Pennsylvania.
Blackrock Village hosts a farmer's market every Sunday morning in the village square.
Transport
Blackrock was formerly served by the narrow gauge Cork, Blackrock and Passage RailwayCork, Blackrock and Passage Railway
The Cork, Blackrock and Passage Railway was a narrow gauge railway in County Cork, Ireland. It was originally opened in 1850 as a broad gauge railway between Cork and Passage West, but was converted to 3' gauge in 1902. An extension southwards from Passage West to Crosshaven opened in 1904...
. The railway station opened on 8 June 1850, but finally closed on 12 September 1932. the old railway line is now used by walkers as an amenity.
The Number 2, Number 10, and Number 10a bus routes link Blackrock to the city. The Number 19 bus route links Blackrock to Bishopstown via Douglas on a southern orbital route that avoids the city centre.
Sport
Blackrock is home to Blackrock National Hurling Club (nicknamed The Rockies) which is located on Church Road. The latter is one of Ireland's most successful clubs, with 32 Senior Hurling ChampionshipCork Senior Hurling Championship
The Evening Echo Cork County Senior Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in the county of Cork in Ireland....
titles, 4 All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship
All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship is an annual hurling tournament played between hundreds of senior hurling clubs in Ireland. The Tommy Moore Cup is awarded to the winners. The current champions are Clarinbridge...
s and a number of notable inter-county hurlers over the yearsGaelic Football is played at St. Michaels's Gaelic Football Club (nicknamed The Dazzlers) which has its playing pitches in Mahon.
The Beaumont area of Blackrock is home to the underage section of Avondale United Football Club, who play in the Munster Senior League. Blackrock is also home to Blackrock Karate club and St. Michaels Tennis Club. There is also a lawn bowls club next to the tennis club's grounds on Church Road. Blackrock has long been a centre of rowing
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
and is home to Cork Boat Club, Lee Rowing Club and Shandon Rowing Club.
Notable residents
George BooleGeorge Boole
George Boole was an English mathematician and philosopher.As the inventor of Boolean logic—the basis of modern digital computer logic—Boole is regarded in hindsight as a founder of the field of computer science. Boole said,...
, inventor of Boolean algebra (the basis of modern computer arithmetic) lived in Blackrock during his time as Professor of Mathematics at University College Cork. Boole is buried in the grounds of St.Michael's Church of Ireland on Church Road. James Finbarre McMullen, architect of the Honan Chapel
Honan Chapel
The Honan Chapel is located on the grounds of University College Cork in Cork city, Ireland.-Irish Arts & Crafts movement :The chapel, and its liturgical collection, was produced during the late phase of the Irish Arts and Crafts movement . Both the building and furnishings were designed and...
at UCC, lived at number 9 Coppingerstang, Blackrock.