Republic of Ireland, Clonakilty

Clonakilty is a small town in west County Cork, Republic of Ireland, approximately 45 minutes away by road to the west of Cork City. The town is on the southern coast of the island, and is surrounded by hilly country devoted primarily to dairy farming, the region having an impressive dairy yield. It has approximately 5,000 permanent inhabitants.

The centre of the town is considered particularly attractive,[attribution needed] with the store fronts of the shops and restaurants painted in bright colours. Many tourists, particularly from the United Kingdom and the United States, are attracted to Clonakilty during the summer months, and the population of the town can swell by as many as 3,000 visitors at this time, with many staying in nearby Inchydoney.

History

Michael Collins, who was leader of the IRA and later the Free State movement, which campaigned for independence from Britain 1920-21 period, lived in Clonakilty. He is widely regarded as one of Ireland's leading historical figures.

Culture

Clonakilty's position as a centre of music, both traditional and contemporary, has helped this small town to become a thriving melting pot of musicians. Clonakilty's bars host live music nights throughout the year and it is possible to find quality live music on most nights.

Clonakilty is also known for its world famous black pudding, which is fried or grilled pig's offal in intestines.There is a butcher's shop (Twomey's) in Pearse Street which many tourists are fooled into believing is the place where the puddings are actually made.

Fair Trade

Clonakilty is Ireland's first Fair Trade town, the second is Kinsale in County Cork. Fair Trade products can be found in all of Clonakilty's supermarkets including EUROSPAR, SuperValu, Dunnes Stores, Centra and Londis.

Transport

The nearest airport to the town is Cork Airport.

Bus Éireann provides coach links from Clonakilty to Cork and Skibbereen, once an hour in each direction.

Clonakilty was one of the destinations on the West Cork Railway, an Irish mainline railway from Cork City to various parts of West Cork, shut down in 1961. See Irish railway history. Clonakilty railway station opened on 28 August 1886, but finally closed on 1 April 1961.