Midleton

In the 1180s advancing Normans led by Barry Fitz Gerald 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 the Irish word cora (weir), 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.[3]

Captain Walter Raleigh (later Sir Walter) had an association with Midleton, living for periods in nearby Youghal between 1585 and 1602. His presence came about due to a distribution of land in reward for helping suppress the Second Desmond Rebellion of 1579–1583. As part of this suppression he was ordered to seize Barry's Castle at nearby Cahermore. The Desmond FitzGerald 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 gained the name Midleton or "Middle Town" as the main midway town, 10 miles between Cork and Youghal. It 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.

The town is home to the Old Midleton Distillery which was established by James Murphy in 1825.[4] The distillery operated independently until 1868, when it became part of the Cork Distilleries Company, which was later amalgamated into Irish Distillers in 1967.[4] In 1988, Irish Distillers was the subject of a friendly takeover by the French drinks conglomerate Pernod Ricard.[4] The Old Midleton Distillery, which boasts the world's largest pot still – a copper vessel with a capacity of 140,000 litres, was in operation until 1975 when production was transferred to a new purpose built facility, the New Midleton Distillery.[4] The New Midleton Distillery produces a number of Irish whiskeys, including Jameson Whiskey, Redbreast, and Paddy. It also produces vodka and gin. In 1992, the old distillery was restored and reopened as a visitor centre.[5] Known as the Jameson Experience, the visitor centre hosts a number of attractions, including Ireland's largest working water-wheel (with a diameter of 7m).[6]

Midleton in the early 20th century

At the top of the main street stands a monument to 16 Irish Republican Army men killed on 20 February 1921 during the Irish War of Independence. Twelve of the IRA men were killed in fighting with members of the British Army at the nearby Clonmult Ambush, while four more were captured and later executed. The incident was the biggest single loss of life for the IRA during the war. 'Captain' Sean O'Shea led the Clonmult gang and is buried as head of the Republican Plot at Midleton cemetery. Nearby stands a monument marking the 200th anniversary of the Irish Rebellion of 1798.

Two houses designed by Augustus Pugin, later the architect of the Houses of Parliament in London, stand at the bottom of Main Street. They now form one building and house a public bar.[7]

In 2015, a large steel sculpture called Kindred Spirits was installed in Bailick Park. This sculpture commemorates a famine relief donation, made in 1847 by Native American Choctaw people, during the Great Famine.

Church of the Holy Rosary

Elizabeth Villiers, former mistress of William of Orange, founded the private school named Midleton College in 1696. The school is traditionally associated with the Church of Ireland. Past pupils include Isaac Butt, founder of the Home Rule League, Reginald Dyer, perpetrator of the Amritsar Massacre and John Philpot Curran, lawyer and father of Sarah Curran.

Local employers include retail, light manufacturing, food production, tourism and whiskey distilling industries. 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 the Cork city, Carrigtwohill or Little Island.

Traditionally the main commercial and retail area of the town was on the Main Street and this continues to provide shopping - primarily with local ownership. The commercial part of Midleton has also expanded to the old site of Midleton Mart, now called Market Green. A number of multinational retailers have outlets in Midleton, including Tesco, Lidl, Boots, and Aldi. The Market Green shopping centre is located at the northern end of the town. This includes a five-screen cinema, Tesco and other stores and the Midleton Park Hotel is just across the road. A locally owned supermarket, Hurley's Super-Valu, is also located at the northern end of the town opposite the so-called 'Gooses Acre'. On Saturdays the park next to SuperValu is the site for the Midleton Farmers' Market. Lidl, Aldi and McDonald's are located in a new shopping and residential area alongside the river.

Midleton is also the home of the Old Midleton Distillery, a tourist attraction which includes the largest pot-still in the world.

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. Due to silting over the years, the channel is now extremely shallow.

In the 20 years between the 1996 and 2016 census, the population of the Midleton area effectively doubled, from 6,209 to 12,496 people.[8]

As of the 2016 census, of Midleton's 12,496 inhabitants, 72% were white Irish, less than 1% white Irish travellers, 17% other white ethnicities, 4% black, 1% Asian, 1% other ethnicities, and 4% did not state their ethnicity. In terms of religion the area was 77% Catholic, 9% other stated religions, 11% with no religion, and 3% not stated.[9]

Midleton GAA is the local Gaelic Athletic Association club, and Midleton RFC the local rugby club. Martial arts groups include the Midleton Aikido Club [which has been teaching Aikido in East Cork since 2006] and Midleton Taekwondo Club. Midleton F.C. is the local soccer team, and there is also a cricket club.

• Richard Bettesworth – lawyer and politician
• Edward Bransfield – reputed (disputed) discoverer of Antarctica, was born in Ballinacurra near Midleton[11]
• Alan Brodrick – lawyer and politician[12]
• Tom Horan – Australian cricketer[13]
• James Martin – Australian politician and judge[14]
• Shane O'Neill – professional soccer player[15]
• Nora Twomey – Academy Award nominated director and animator[16]
• Elizabeth Villiers – English-born courtier who founded Midleton College[17]

• Middletown, County Armagh
• List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Cork)
• List of towns and villages in Ireland
• Market Houses in Ireland
• Midleton (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
• Midleton Very Rare

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Midleton.

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Midleton.

• Midleton Chamber of Commerce website