Ballyporeen

History

Evidence of ancient settlement in the area, as recorded in the Record of Monuments and Places, include a number of enclosure, ringfort, fulacht fiadh and castle sites in the townlands of Ballyporeen, Carrigavisteal, Dangan, Moher and Newcastle. In the 18th century, Ballyporeen was on the main coach road between Cork and Dublin, and it was developed as a linear settlement, in a planned fashion, along what is now the R665 road and the village's main street. In addition to the economic growth afforded by boarding houses and inns for travellers, a mill at lower Main Street also provided local employment opportunities. Known as Kingston's Mills, this mill was operational until at least 1811. One of the factors which impacted the development and expansion of the village was the involvement of the King family, the Earls of Kingston, who were the main landlords in the area. They owned the market rights on the estate and, by at least 1810, three open air markets were being held in the village three times a year. The fact the mill also bore their name indicates that they may also have been involved in its creation. Robert King, the 2nd Earl of Kingston, may have been responsible for the village's planned street design. He initiated an extensive building programme across the family's estate in the late 18th century. Ground rents were kept low in the village to attract shopkeepers and tradespeople. The first edition Ordnance Survey maps (circa 1840) show the basic layout of the village as it is today encompassing the wide straight main street. Samuel Lewis' Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (published in 1837) describes the village as being located in the barony of Iffa and Offa West and containing 113 houses and 513 inhabitants. A number of public buildings and…