Passage West to Church Bay #160

For a short distance the road around Monkstown in Cork runs by the sea, before heading inland to Shanbally. I made for Ringaskiddy where I stopped for lunch at the Ferry Boat Inn. Nearby is Haulbowline Island where the Irish Naval Service is based and I went out for a look. I entered a car park unsure that I would be allowed to get close to the base. I didn't know that we (the Irish) had so many navy ships - there were six tied up at dock. I took a few photos and headed back to the car park only to find the gate closed. I definitely shouldn't have been there! Luckily I was soon let out by a somebody coming into the car park. 

Part of the Naval Docks in Haulbowline.

My next stop was at Carrigaline - I didn't go into the town, but at the eastern edge there are two interesting features at the Corsshaven Road. Once there was a railway here and there is a mural of a Dragon Fly and a Kingfisher on the remains of the old "Black Bridge". On the other side of the wall the outline of a train can be made out. The old railway line from Carrigaline to Crosshaven is now a cycle/walk way.

Mural on the "Black Bridge".

Locomotive ion the Crosshaven Road.

Approaching Crosshaven the road runs along the estuary of the Owenabue River. There are lots of boat moored in the estuary making for lovely reflections in places like Drake's Pool below. The pool is named after Sir Francis Drake who hid his ships here in 1589 when being pursued by a Spanish fleet. 

Drake's Pool.

The village of Crosshaven is set in a lovely sheltered location. It has always been a place for Corkonians to go, and it was a very busy place while I was there. Not really knowing where I was going I toured around the coast lanes and came across Fort Meagher, which is is recognized internationally to be one of the world's finest examples of a classical coast artillery fort. Is is closed now, but there are plans for a military heritage centre here.

Crosshaven.

Fort Meagher.

My final stop of the day was at Church Bay - this is directly opposite Roche's Point on the other side of Cork Harbour. Over the hill with the tower in the photo below is the Trabolgan Holiday Park - this was previously the Irish speaking Scoil na nÓg which I attended as a boarder from September 1971 to June 1972. The school closed in 1973. We had occasional visits to the weather station at Roche's Point which involved walking over the hill. We would look at the shipping going in and out of the harbour and of course look across the harbour to the point where I took the photo below. Little did I know it would take me 44 years to actually get to the other side!

Roche's Point Lighthouse.