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Midleton is a town in south-eastern County Cork, in the Ireland. The town is situated 22km from the City of Cork on the N25 between Cork and Rosslare and on the Owenacurra River. As it is a satellite town of Cork City, it is officially located in Metropolitan Cork.
The Town
Midleton has a growing population, employed locally in retail, light manufacturing, food production, tourism and distilling. At nearby Whitegate is the state’s first gas-fired power station as well as Ireland’s only oil refinery. Many Midleton residents also commute to jobs in Cork and Carrigtohill.
Included in Ireland’s National Development Plan is the re-opening by 2008 of the former railway to Cork which was closed in the 1970s. Iarnród Éireann is currently undertaking surveys of the route in advance of an application for a Railway Order.
Geography
The town is located in a fertile valley below hills to the north with Cork Harbour and the coast to the south. In times past, the channel from the Harbour to nearby Ballinacurra (Irish: Baile na Cora, meaning “Town at the Weir”), was navigable by barges up to 300 tonnes.
History
In the 1180’s advancing Normans led by Barry FitzGerald established an abbey at a weir on the river to be populated by Cistercian Monks from Burgundy. The abbey became known as “Chore Abbey” and “Castrum Chor”, taking its name from cora or weir in Irish, although some say that “Chor” comes from “Choir” or “Choral”. The abbey is commemorated in the Irish name for Midleton, Mainistir na Corann, or “Monastery at the Weir”, and of the local river Owenacurra or Abhainn na Cora meaning "River of the Weirs". St John the Baptist’s Church, belonging to the Church of Ireland was erected in 1825 and today still stands on the site of the abbey.
Captain, and later Sir, Walter Raleigh had an association with Midleton living for periods in nearby Youghal between and 1585 and 1602. His presence was due to a distribution of land in reward for helping suppress the 2nd Desmond Rebellion of 1579-1583. As part of this suppression he was ordered to seize Barry’s Castle at nearby Cahermore. The Seneschal, or steward of Imokilly, on being expelled from the castle, took refuge in the Abbey, but was again forced to flee by Raleigh.
Raleigh is credited with planting the first potatoes in Europe, also at Youghal.
The town, now named Midleton or “Middle Town” because of its stop-off status between Cork and Youghal was incorporated as a market town and postal depot in 1670, receiving its charter from Charles II, as the “borough and town of Midleton”. Later it would become a post town of the Great Southern and Western Railway.
Alan Brodrick, speaker of the Irish House of Commons and Lord Chancellor of Ireland was made the first Baron and Viscount Midleton in 1715 and 1717, respectively. He is commemorated by Broderick St in the town.
A private school named as Midleton College was founded by Elizabeth Villiers, former mistress of William of Orange in 1696. The school, traditionally associated with the Church of Ireland, names Isaac Butt, founder of the Home Rule League and John Philpot Curran, lawyer and father of Sarah Curran amongst its past pupils. Rachael Kohler, an Irish International field hockey player, was also educated there.
The town is the site of Cork Distilleries, formed in 1825, merged into Irish Distillers in 1967, and now owned by French spirits group Pernod Ricard. Distilling of whiskey, vodka and gin now takes place at a newer plant opened in 1975, containing the world’s largest pot still – a copper vessel with a capacity of 140,000 litres. The Old Midleton Distillery has been restored as a visitor centre and hosts a number of attractions including Ireland’s largest working water wheel at a diameter of 7m. Paddy Whiskey, produced in the town, takes its name from Patrick J Flaherty, a salesman for Cork Distilleries in the 1920s. The world-famous Jameson Whiskey is produced in the town.
At the top of the main street stands a monument to 14 Irish Republican Army men killed in January of 1921 during the War of Independence. Of the 14, 12 were killed in fighting with members of the British Army at nearby Clonmult while two survivors were later executed.
References
- Shepherd, S, et al (1992) Illustrated guide to Ireland, Reader's Digest Association , London
- Illustrated road book of Ireland, Second Edition, Automobile Association , London (1970)
External links
- Tourist guide to Midleton
- Midleton Urban District Council
- Midleton and Area Chamber of Commerce
- Irish Distillers
See also
"Midleton"