Innishannon

Inishannon village is located at and developed around an important crossing-point on the River Bandon.[4] Formerly controlled by the de Barry family, the area was used as a ferry point on the river from at least the early medieval period.[5] Inishannon received a market and fair grant in 1256,[5] and was given a royal charter in 1412.[4] Writing in the mid-18th century, the antiquarian Charles Smith described Inishannon as "formerly walled and a place of some note".[6] Innishannon Tower, the remains of a mid-18th century church, are built on the site the much earlier medieval parish church of Inishannon.[7]

In 1837, Inishannon village had a population of approximately 650 people.[8] By the 2016 census of Ireland, Innishannon had a population of 907,[1] a near threefold increase in the 25 years since the 1991 census, when the village had 319 inhabitants.[9]

Innishannon Steam and Vintage Rally is held in Innishannon annually in June. This event continues on from the old Upton Steam Rally that was held on the old St. Patricks School grounds. The Innishannon Steam and Vintage Rally was formed in 1998, and attracts upwards of 1,000 entries and approximately 60,000 visitors every year. Since 1998, the rally's organisers have raised over one million euro for the Irish Cancer Society.

The area was previously served by the Cork and Bandon Railway.[10] Upton and Innishannon railway station opened in August 1849 and closed in April 1961.[11]

The village lies on the N71 secondary road between Cork and Bandon.[10]

St Mary's Roman Catholic church was built in 1829

Christ Church, Innishannon, an Anglican church, was built in 1856

The parish of Innishannon stretches from the nearby Dromkeen to close to Aherla and over to Kilmacsimon in the east. The parish includes the village of Crossbarry. It also includes John Coleman's house in Togher Upper. The parish has four schools; Scoil Eoin in the village of Innishannon itself, Knockavilla to the north of the parish opposite St. Patrick's Church - the second church of the parish, Gurrane National School (sometimes called Gurranes) near Crossbarry,[12] and Castleack National School near the parish's boundary with Bandon.

The village has two food stores, a doctor's surgery, a dentist, a pharmacy, a butcher, a hairdresser, a café, a credit union, a fast food restaurant, a Chinese restaurant, a car sales garage and three public houses.

Innishannon's Gaelic Athletic Association pitch, home to Valley Rovers GAA club, is sometimes flooded because of its proximity to the river.[13][14] The local soccer club is Innishvilla AFC.[15]

Innishannon is home of the author Alice Taylor who wrote the bestselling To School Through the Fields, and Quench the Lamp, as well as many other novels and collections of poetry.[16]

Valley Rovers GAA club has provided the national Gaelic Athletic Association organisation with two presidents, Seán McCarthy and Con Murphy.[17]

• List of towns and villages in Ireland
• Market Houses in Ireland