Ballybunion

Ballybunion
Baile an Bhuinneánaigh
Town

Ballybunion Main Street South
Ballybunion

Location in Ireland

Coordinates: 52°30′36″N 9°40′19″W / 52.510°N 9.672°W / 52.510; -9.672Coordinates: 52°30′36″N 9°40′19″W / 52.510°N 9.672°W / 52.510; -9.672
Country Ireland
Province Munster
County County Kerry
Elevation 30 m (100 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
  Total 1,354
Irish Grid Reference Q862415

Ballybunion or Ballybunnion[2] (Irish: Baile an Bhuinneánaigh) is a coastal town and seaside resort in County Kerry, Ireland, 15 km (9.3 mi) from the town of Listowel. There are castle ruins near the town, although all that remains is a single wall, and two golf courses in the area including the famous Ballybunion Golf Club, a top class Links course founded in 1893 and host course to the Murphys Irish Open in 2000 and Palmer Cup in 2004. According to the Central Statistics Office, Ballybunion had a population of 1329 in 2002.

In the summer, Ballybunion attracts many families and young people to enjoy the sandy beach, warm Atlantic waters and the pubs along the high street. Nearby cliffs offer excellent scenery. Sometimes dolphins may be seen in the waters. The beaches near Ballybunion are a popular surfing site. Other traditions include the beachside Seaweed Baths, featuring sea water with kelp. In the summertime cooked periwinkles are salted and served in small paper bags along with a pin to extract the small sea snails. The village itself contains mostly pubs and amusement arcades, fast food restaurants, children's playground, a supermarket, Garda Station and a statue commemorating the golfing visit of Bill Clinton. This was the first statue of Bill Clinton on public display in the world; it is located on the corner of Main Street and Church Road.

Local events

Bill Clinton statue in Ballybunion.

Places of interest

Beach of Ballybunion

The Listowel and Ballybunion Railway was a highly unusual form of transport. It was built to the Lartigue monorail system. Ballybunion railway station opened on 6 March 1888, but finally closed on 14 October 1924.[4]

Tinteán Theatre

The Tinteán Theatre,[5] off Church Road, is a 500+ seat theatre opened in 2006. It regularly hosts plays, pantos, Irish dancing, comedy show (e.g. Jon Kenny, Brendan Grace) and music concert (Brendan Shine, Nyle Wolfe). In July 2007 the Tinteán hosted a live RTÉ draw for the FAI.

Atlantic 21 being launched into surf

Ballybunion Sea Rescue (manned by volunteers) [6] is situated on the Ladies Beach and was founded in 1986. The unit, equipped with a D class inflatable boat and an Atlantic 75 boat (purchased in 2010, replacing the old Atlantic 21), covers the coast and Shannon Estuary from Ballyheigue, Co Kerry to Foynes, Co. Limerick, and inland to Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick. As well as providing 24x7 Sea & Cliff Rescue, the volunteers also provide First Aid and Ambulance assistance at a handful of horse races around the Ballybunion area. The volunteers are very well trained in all aspects of rescue work.

The cliffs around Ballybunion are most notable for their rock formations, sea stacks, erosion, and many other geological features. The view of the strata from the Ladies Beach is excellent. There is sea stack called The Devils Castle, a blowhole called the Nine Daughters Hole, and an island / arch on the Nuns Beach called the Virgins Rock.

Health & Leisure

Leisure Centre

This Health & Leisure Centre [7] opened in 2007 and is situated on Kit Ahern Road. It has a heated 20m pool, sauna, jacuzzi, gym and exercise rooms. The existence of a swimming pool in Ballybunion has been sought for decades. The complex is open all year round and offers yearly and part-time membership. The leisure centre was forced to close in 2012 due to difficulties paying energy bills, but was reopened shortly after.[8]

Sport

The Ballybunion Golf Club was founded in 1893 and is home to arguably one of the best links courses in the world. There are 2 courses, the Old Course and the Cashen Course, both situated beside the beach.

Stack Park is situated off Sandhill Road, and has an unofficial walk-in entrance off Central Park (mobile home part off Kit Ahern Road). This floodlight pitch provides training & matches for many divisions of players (incl under 8's, 10's, Junior, & Senior) as well as Ladies football.

The Ballybunion team are called the Beale team, named for a small townland a couple of miles up the coast from Ballybunion. The Beale colours are green with a red stripe. Some of the Beale legends include, not limited to, Oige Moran, Bomber Liston, Brian Horgan

Ballybunion has two soccer clubs, both of which play in the Kerry District League. LB Rovers (formerly known as Lisselton Rovers) relocated to Ballybunion in the autumn of 2012 and got promoted from Division 1B in their first season. Prior to the move, Lisselton had been one of the most successful sides in the Kerry District League.

Shannon Wanderers, Ballybunion's other club, played in Division 1A for the 2012/13 season, which ended in them getting relegated.

Both clubs play in the Irish College pitch in the south of the town.

See also

References

  1. "Census 2006 – Volume 1 – Population Classified by Area" (PDF). Central Statistics Office Census 2006 Reports. Central Statistics Office Ireland. April 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  2. Placenames Database of Ireland
  3. Joint Search And Rescue
  4. "Ballybunion station" (PDF). Railscot - Irish Railways. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-10.
  5. The Tinteán Theatre
  6. Ballybunion Sea Rescue
  7. Health & Leisure Centre
  8. The Irish Examiner, November 12th 2012
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