Macroom Castle Gateway - County Cork - Ireland

by Bruce Friedman

Title

Macroom Castle Gateway - County Cork - Ireland

Artist

Bruce Friedman

Medium

Photograph - Digital Photograph

Description

The town of Macroom is home to a centuries-old traditional market, as well as the remains of Macroom castle. The gateway is all that remains of the castle, but the town is alive and well. Visit on Tuesdays to experience the market, with fresh produce, nuts, cheese, bread, and numerous other locally-produced foods.

More from wikipedia:
Macroom (Irish: Maigh Chromtha) is an Irish market town in a valley of the River Sullane, about halfway between Cork and Killarney. The name in Irish Gaelic may mean "meeting place of followers of the god Crom" or "crooked oak", the latter derived from a large oak tree said to have grown at one time in the town-square, which was first marked out during the reign of John I.

In folklore the town began as a meeting place for the Druids of Munster, and historically is first mentioned in 6th century records. It was the site of a major battle involving Brian Boru around 1014, and in the following centuries suffered a series of invasions by warring families, including the Murcheatach Uí Briain and Richard de Cogan clans. In the 17th century the MacCarthy family took control and led Macroom towards prosperity through milling, markets and fairs. This fortune was short lived and followed by the Williamite wars of the 1690s when authority over the town castle waxed and waned between the Irish MacCarthys and a number of ambitious English families. Later Macroom became a centre point of conflict in the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland.

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May 4th, 2014

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