Film marks village’s historic status

A NEW film steps back in time to celebrate a West Cork village’s historic status as the sole gateway to the region.

Innishannon was once both bigger and busier than either Bandon or Kinsale — and all because, in the days before bridges, it provided the only way across the Bandon River and into West Cork.

A new DVD by local photographer Finbar Crean, to be launched on Friday, tells the story of the first river-crossing into West Cork — the historic Bothairin an Atha, the ford at Innishannon, believed to date from the sixth century and to which the only access was by a dirt track.

“Innishannon was the only gateway to West Cork before the Bandon Bridge in 1594 and the Innishannon Bridge in 1695,” says local resident and best-selling author Alice Taylor.

“The river-crossing there was the only access to West Cork. There is a little laneway or dirt track at the end of the village down to the Bandon River.

“When the tide is out people could go diagonally across the river-bed, because the River Bandon is tidal as far as Innishannon. They either walked or went by horse — these were big horses which carried heavy loads. Essentially, access to West Cork was dictated by the tides. It’s hard to imagine that now. It was very much a different time.”

Later, she says, a ferry was constructed, with a toll house near where the eye-catching Blacksmith’s statue now stands, at the Bandon side of the village.

The DVD shows a rider crossing at the ford, which is still there to this day. The film also celebrates the unveiling last July by 101-year-old Innishannon resident Joan O’Sullivan, of the Don Cronin bronze sculpture of a horse and rider. The creation of the sculpture, which has 54 different pieces, is also shown in detail.

On the same night, the village will launch the 28th edition of Candlelight will this year include a Village Chronicle of the last 100 years of village living.

“One of the reasons we started Candlelight was because the oral and social history of Innishannon was disappearing — and every old person who died was taking another little bit with them. We started the magazine so that people could write their memories as well as historical facts.”