Fermoy

Infobox Irish Place
name = Fermoy
gaeilge = Mainistir Fhear Maigh
crest

motto = "Seasaigí Go Buan"
Let us stand forever
map

pin coords = left: 142px; top: 34px
north coord = 52.142022
west coord = 8.276138
irish grid = W808987
area =
elevation = 72 m (236 ft)
province = Munster
county = Cork
town pop = 2,275
rural pop = 3,598
census yr = 2006
web = www.fermoytowncouncil.ie

Fermoy (Irish place name|Mainistir Fhear Maí|Monastery of the Welcome Plain) in County Cork, Ireland is a town of some 5,800 inhabitants, environs included (2006 census), situated on the River Blackwater in the south of Ireland. The name of the town comes from the Irish and refers to a Cistercian

History

In 1791, the lands were bought by a Scotsman, John Anderson. He was an entrepreneur who developed the roads and started the mail coach system in Ireland. He designed the town and the streets remain much the same as they were originally built. His descendants, now living in Australia, have named a wine after the town which he established. [ [http://www.fermoy.com.au Fermoy Estate] ] A plaque and bust in his honour were unveiled by the town park in 2001.

Fermoy was the site of a major British Army barracks when Ireland was under imperial rule. By the 1830s this was the largest military establishment on the island of Ireland. In 1791 John Anderson purchased two thirds of the manor. In 1797, when the army was looking to establish a new and permanent base, Anderson gifted them the land as an inducement to locate in Fermoy. Anderson and the whole town received considerable economic benefit from that gift. In 1806 the first permanent barracks, the East Barracks, were built. They were located on 16½ acres of land and provided accommodation for 112 officers and 1478 men of infantry, and 24 officers, 120 men, and 112 horses of cavalry. A general military hospital of 130 beds was also built. In 1809 the smaller West Barracks were built which also included a 42 bed hospital. When both barracks were complete there was accommodation for 14 field officers, 169 officers, 2816 men, and 152 horses. The town of Fermoy expanded around these facilities and retained its British military facilities until 1922, when the Irish Free State was first established.

During the War of Independence, Fermoy was the scene of the first of the British government reprisals, when soldiers of the East Kent Regiment and members of the Royal Flying Corps looted and then burnt the main shops of the town, after one soldier had been killed and his companions relieved of their weapons (on their way to church) by the local IRA the day before under the command of local IRA Commandant Michael Fitzgerald

Economy

* Industries in Fermoy include electronics manufacturing- companies include Sanmina-SCI Corporation & FCI Connectors.
* Other local industries include Silver Pail, an ice-cream manufacturing plant and Micro Bio, a chemical producer.
* Moorepark is one of the Irish Government's Agricultural research institutes, which is also located in Fermoy, as is Power Product manufacturer Anderson Power.
* BUPA Ireland has its call centre in Fermoy, but this was due to close as part of BUPA's withdrawal from the Irish Health Insurance market. [ [http://www.firstportit.com/news_item.aspx?id=4856 BUPA Fermoy ceases trading] - First Port] However, on January 31 2007, Sean Quinn announced he would take over BUPA's Irish Healthcare Business and has since renamed the business Quinn Healthcare. [ [http://rte.ie/business/2007/0131/BUPA.html Sean Quinn emerges as BUPA buyer] - RTÉ News]
* On January 23 2007, FCI Connectors announced it would be ceasing manufacturing in their Fermoy Plant. [ [http://www.breakingnews.ie/archives/story.asp?j=141155552&p=y4yy56x3y&n=141156051&archive=23/01/2007 Further jobs blow for Fermoy] - BreakingNews.ie]

Education

The town has a long history as a centre for education in the region. St. Colman's College, Fermoy is, perhaps, the most well-known secondary school in the town. Loreto Convent and Coláiste an Chraobhín are also located in the town.

Tourism

Fermoy is in a very scenic location, in the Blackwater valley, nestled at the foot of the Galtee Mountains. The Blackwater river is the town's major tourist attraction, attracting fishermen, mainly from England. The river is abundant with salmon, which can be seen leaping up the salmon steps on the weir.

Transport

* The town was located on the main N8 Cork–Dublin road. The bridge in the town was a major bottle neck on the Cork–Dublin route, but work is now finished on the M8 motorway bypass including a new bridge to the east of the town. The former main road through the town is now designated the R639 regional road.
* The town used to be connected to the Irish railway system, on a line from Mallow to Waterford, with a junction to nearby Mitchelstown (see Irish railway history). Fermoy railway station opened on 17 May 1860, and finally closed on 27 March 1967. [cite web | title=Fermoy station | work=Railscot - Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | accessdate=2007-10-14|format=PDF]
* Nearest airport Cork International Airport

People

* Fermoy is home to famous US born Irish dancer Michael Flatley.
* The 1st Baron Fermoy was Lord Lieutenant of County Cork and hailed from Fermoy. The current Baron Fermoy is a first cousin of the late Princess Diana.
*Patrick Andrew Collins (1844-1905), a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts and mayor of Boston, was born near Fermoy.

Books written about Fermoy and surroundings

*To die by inches: An account of the Fermoy Poor Law Union during the Great Famine, 1845-1850 "by Edward Garner" (First Published 1986)
*Crichad an Chaoilli: Being the Topography of Ancient Fermoy "by Patrick Power" (First Published 1932) (University College Cork)
*Fermoy: A local history "by Niall Brunicardi" (First Published 1975)
*John Anderson of Fermoy, the forgotten benefactor "by Niall Brunicardi" (First Published 1983)
*A sketch of the Blackwater, from Youghal to Fermoy "by Samuel Hayman" (First Published 1860)
*Fermoy, 1841 to 1890: A local history "by Niall Brunicardi" (First Published 1978)
*The diary of Wilfrid Saxby Barham, captain "The Buffs," during the great war 1914-1915: Fermoy-Dover-Armentieres-Ypres "by Wilfrid Saxby Barham" (First Published 1918)
*A sense of Fermoy "by J.J. Bunyan" (First Published 1983)

ee also

* List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Cork)
* List of towns and villages in Ireland.

References

External links

* [http://www.mariadowling.net/ Artist Maria Dowling's Website]
* [http://www.fermoy.ie/ Fermoy Website]
* [http://www.fermoyinfo.ie/ Harbor Computing's Fermoy Website]
* [http://www.fermoyireland.50megs.com/ Paudie McGrath's Fermoy Website]
* [http://www.fermoybusinessassociation.com Fermoy Business Association]
* [http://www.fermoytoastmasters.com Fermoy Toastmasters]
* [http://www.fermoycc.com/ Fermoy Cycling Club Website]
* [http://www.fermoygaa.com/ Fermoy GAA Website]
* [http://www.scoutingfermoy.com/ Fermoy Scouts Website]
*coord|52.138809|-8.282962|region:IE_scale:5000_type:city_source:wikimapia|display=title
* [http://www.rivers2c.com/ Author Richard Mc Sweeney’s website]