Ballinhassig


Ballinhassig is a village in County Cork, Ireland, situated 10.6 km south of Cork City just off the N71 Bandon road and near the source of the River Owenabue.
Traditionally an agricultural area, Ballinhassig has seen economic growth due to commuting, being within easy reach of Cork City and the many multinational chemical and industrial facilities located in the surrounding areas. This growth was matched by the construction of many new houses at the height of the Irish construction boom.

History

There are a number of prehistoric ringforts around Ballinhassig.
Mountjoy, the Lord Deputy of Ireland, camped locally with his army of 4,000 troops on the night before the Battle of Kinsale in 1601.
On 30 June 1845, 11 people were reportedly killed by the Royal Irish Constabulary during a riot in the village.
During the War of Independence there were a number of actions in the area, including on 3 February 1921, when the 3rd Cork Brigade of the Irish Republican Army ambushed and killed three British Soldiers on the Tulligbeg side of the village in what was known as the Toureen Ambush. Two soldiers of the Essex Regiment died there; Lt Dixon and Pte Charles Reid, Sergeant Thomas Bennet died of wounds the next day. That night the British Soldiers retaliated by burning much of the village and homes in the Ballinaboy area, and arresting and imprisoning a number of local citizens.

Amenities

There are three primary schools in Ballinhassig, several public houses, a number of shops, three churches, the recently renovated Marian Hall, and a co-op.
A steam rally club is situated in Halfway, 2.5 km from Ballinhassig village, a village so named as it is halfway between Cork and Bandon.
Ballinhassig GAA has a Premier Intermediate hurling team and was founded in 1886.
The Marian Hall is used as the primary training venue for Warrior Martial Arts Ballinhassig, the local taekwondo club.
There is also a soccer club in Ballinhassig called Ballinhassig AFC.

Transport

The Gogginshill Tunnel at Ballinhassig, opened in 1851, is now the longest abandoned railway tunnel in the Republic of Ireland. It was a part of the Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway. Ballinhassig railway station itself was opened on 1 August 1849, but finally closed on 1 April 1961.