Ringaskiddy

Ringaskiddy (Irish: Rinn an Scidígh, meaning "Skiddy's Headland")[2] is a village in County Cork, Ireland. It is located on the western side of Cork Harbour, south of Cobh, and is 15 kilometres from Cork city, to which it is connected by the N28 road. The village is a port with passenger ferry services to France. A ferry service to Swansea in Wales closed in 2012.[3][4]

Ringaskiddy

Rinn an Scidígh
Village
A former Swansea–Ringaskiddy ferry in Ringaskiddy Harbour
Ringaskiddy
Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 51°49′49″N 8°19′09″W
CountryIreland
ProvinceMunster
CountyCork
Population
 (2016)[1]
580
Time zoneUTC+0 (WET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-1 (IST (WEST))
Irish Grid ReferenceW774642

During the 20th century, Ringaskiddy changed from a fishing village to a centre of transport and industrial activity. It is now one of the largest employment hubs in the pharmaceuticals sector in the region.[5] The village is close to a number of tourist areas, including Crosshaven, Currabinny and Monkstown.

Places of interest

A Martello tower exists on the hilltop at Ringaskiddy, with other forts and towers in the harbour.[6] This tower can be reached from the Loughbeg road and overlooks Cork Harbour.

Economy

Industry

Ringaskiddy is an important industrial centre, particularly for pharmaceutical companies such as Centocor, GlaxoSmithKline, Hovione, Novartis, Pfizer, and Recordati. Most of the world's supply of the erection-treatment drug Viagra is manufactured there.[7] The Port of Cork facilities at Ringaskiddy handle much of the vehicle imports for the southern part of Ireland, with 34,000 trade vehicles imported through Cork in 2017.[8]

Incinerator plans

An application to locate a domestic waste incinerator in Ringaskiddy was rejected by An Bord Pleanála in 2011.[9] The incinerator's proponents, Indaver Ireland, claimed the facility would have relieved pressure on the country's landfill programme. However, locals and environmentalists feared the incinerator would have had a grave impact on health and the environment in the harbour area. Indaver Ireland said that they had not abandoned their plans,[10] and in 2018 were granted planning permission for the plany.[11] This decision however was subject to a legal challenge, and (as of July 2018), it was reported that a High Court appeal would be heard during 2019.[12]

Beaufort laboratory (maritime and energy research building) on the National Maritime College campus at Ringaskiddy

The National Maritime College of Ireland was officially opened in Ringaskiddy in 2006, and has drawn a student population to the village.[13] The college provides the only training in Ireland of Merchant Navy personnel, and the Irish Naval Service also carry out their non-military training there.[14] The Irish Naval Service base at Haulbowline is 3 kilometres from Ringaskiddy on the L2545 local road.

See also

References
  1. "Small Area Population Statistics (SAPMAP Area) - Settlements - Ringaskiddy-Loughbeg". Census 2016. Central Statistics Office. 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  2. "Ringaskiddy / Rinn an Scidígh". logainm.ie. Placenames Database of Ireland. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  3. "Ferry prepares for Irish Sea link". bbc.co.uk. BBC News. 2 February 2010.
  4. "Swansea-Cork ferry: Fastnet Line to close service with loss of 78 jobs". bbc.co.uk. BBC News. 2 February 2012.
  5. "Cork is playing a major role in the pharma industry". eveningecho.ie. Evening Echo. 25 September 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  6. "Ringaskiddy Martello Tower, Ringaskiddy, County Cork". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  7. "The rise and rise of Generation Viagra". independent.ie. Irish Independent. 22 June 2013.
  8. "Port Of Cork Company & Bantry Bay Port Trade Traffic Up 8.6% In 2017". afloat.ie. Afloat Magazine. 22 January 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  9. "Permission refused for Cork incinerator". rte.ie. RTÉ News. 10 June 2011.
  10. "Ringaskiddy set to get waste incinerator". rte.ie. RTÉ News. 22 January 2010.
  11. "Ringaskiddy incinerator: Coveney disappointed at decision". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. 31 May 2018.
  12. "Challenge to €160m Ringaskiddy incinerator will not be heard until 2019". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. 30 July 2018.
  13. "NMCI Student Accommodation". nmci.ie. National Maritime College of Ireland. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  14. "Irish Naval Service Course Details". nmci.ie. National Maritime College of Ireland. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
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