Rathbarry, Co. Cork

Ráth an Bharraigh, Co Chorcaí

Rathbarry Church

The ruins of a Roman Catholic church, Rathbarry, Co. Cork. The old church and graveyard stand across from Castlefreke Castle

(c) Annette Kelly

Rathbarry Church
(c) Annette Kelly

Rathbarry Church

The ruins of a Roman Catholic church, Rathbarry, Co. Cork. The old church and graveyard stand across from Castlefreke Castle

(c) Annette Kelly

Enlarge image

Rathbarry, Co. Cork is a scenic village located between Clonakilty and Rosscarbery and was once the home of Lord Carbery. Rathbarry has been the recipient of several environmental awards and has won regional Tidy Town competitions. Activities in the area include touring historical sites as well as pitch and putt, boating, fishing and horse riding.

 

Celtic Cross, Rathbarry, Co. Cork

This CelticCross was erected by Lady Carbury in 1902 to the memory of her husband.

(c) Annette Kelly

Celtic Cross, Rathbarry, Co. Cork
(c) Annette Kelly

Celtic Cross, Rathbarry, Co. Cork

This CelticCross was erected by Lady Carbury in 1902 to the memory of her husband.

(c) Annette Kelly

Enlarge image

A walking tour takes in numerous historic buildings in the area. These include the ruins of an old Roman Catholic church and graveyard which stand across from Rathbarry Castle and Castlefreke Lodge serving Castlefreke Castle .

The visitors can walk the paths through Castlefreke Wood which has many native species of trees. The Roman Catholic church dates from 1825 while Rathbarry Castle was the scene of a long 17^th century siege.

A notable landmark is a Celtic Cross of limestone marble erected in 1902. It is a memorial to Algernon William George, the ninth Lord Carbery by his wife, Lady Carbery and is the largest memorial cross of its type in Ireland with a height of 30 feet and weighs 14 tons.

Long Strand near Castlefreke Co. Cork and approximately 8 miles from Clonakilty, is a long curved sandy beach about 2km long overlooked by high dunes and is  frequented by holiday makers and surfing enthusiasts. One end of the beach is marked as unsafe for swimming due to dangerous currents. Mussels and whelk can be found on the sand and birds such as oystercatchers, lapwing and curlews can also be spotted.

A local landmark is the Galley Head lighthouse on a headland which overlooks the length of the shore. Kilkern Lake and Castlefreke Wood can be found behind the dunes a short distance from the sea.

More information about Rathbarry can be found at homepage.eircom.net/~rathbarry