MACROOM

North east of Bantry in the Shehy Mountains is Ballingeary (Beal Atha Ghaorthaidh), strong in the Irish mother tongue Gaeltacht area; further east, in the River Sullane valley is Macroom. An important regional town characterised by a local saying that "Macroom never reared a fool", which is a backhanded compliment to to the business acumen of its inhabitants.

The town has a wide market street with a large variety of interesting stores and as you move away from the town centre those attractive splashes of colour adorn the houses along the roadside.

In the town is Macroom Castle (13 c.) built by the O'Flynn's, seat of the McCarthys, granted to Sir William Penn (whose son, also William, later founded Pennsylvania). The attractive Riverside Park is accessed through the castle gates.