The Graham Norton River Walk Bandon Co Cork

The Graham Norton River Walk was opened by Bandon’s favourite resident in Oct 2013. The BBC host was honoured with this wonderful walk which leads to a park with exercise equipment, and for the more enthusiastic a roller-skate area, there is also a car-park.

The Bandon man followed many other BBC heavyweight Irish talents such as Val Doonican, Terry Wogan and my favourite Dave Allen. The walk along the river is short but there is much more to check out in Bandon such as the churches of St Patrick and St Peters that face each other. Both have beautiful stained glass windows and are well worth a visit .The town itself has all, with lots of restaurants and coffee outlets to regenerate your mortal soul.

Much flood defence work has been undertaken in recent years.

Séan Hales

Erected by a grateful people in proud and loving memory of Brigadier-General Séan Hales T.D.

Volunteer, Soldier, Statesman and Patriot, and in recognition of his services to the cause of Irish Freedom.

Born at Ballinadee 30th March 1880, killed in Dublin 7th December 1922.

May the Lord have mercy on his soul.

Let him sleep in the breast of his dear land wrapped in sward from his own native dales.

For the fame of his valour shall garland.

With Glory, the tomb of Séan Hale

St Peters

St Patricks

Bandon

From above

Bandon, the touring centre for West Cork is an old historic town. It was founded after the 1588 Plantation of Munster when Elizabeth 1st granted 14,000 acres of the O’Mahony forfeited lands including the family seat at Castlemahon to Phance Beecher. He undertook to colonise the settlement on the southern side of the river Bandon with English families, mostly Puritan. The northern side of the river was settled by another undertaker, Hugh Worth. Who also received a grant of 14,000 acres. By 1608, the flat lands on both banks of the river were built over and the street pattern began to emerge. In 1617, Richard Boyle the first Earl of Cork became the sole owner of Bandon Bridge. He was responsible for the development of the town and completion of the town walls which enclosed 27 acres. It is interesting to note that many of the families invited by Boyle to settle in Bandon Bridge as it was then known were identical with the names of Bandon’s new inhabitants.

Christchurch Bandon

Christchurch Bandon is now the West Cork Heritage Centre.

Bandon has several buildings of historical interest, the most prominent being Christchurch on the north side-the first church built in Ireland in 1610 for Protestant worship. It is now the West Cork Heritage Centre and has an active Historical Society which conducts tours of the town during the tourist season . Bandon is an ideal base for touring West Cork and Kerry. The area is well serviced with hotels, guest houses, caravan and camping sites. The town’s fine shops ensure that the visitor has a wide variety of quality goods to chose at competitive prices. The Morris Minor Rally coincides with the final weekend at Bandon’s annual festival which guarantees fun and entertainment for all the family.