The village and creek of Bantry were noted in the log of a French trading vessel around 1253 C.E. Some say that the name itself refers to a local chieftain called Beant but very few towns in Ireland were named after an Irish chieftain. The name Bantry, therefore, most likely evolved from the Irish ‘Beann Traighe’ or the ‘White Strand’. Bantry Bay has extensive deposits of coral sand and from the early centuries many boats dredged up the sand and transported it to the north side of Bantry creek. Here it was offloaded and left to dry in the sun before being taken away by the local farmers as a fertiliser for their lands. This small industry lasted up to the 1950s.

Really relaxed and lovely little town, I spent two days there and I just loved it even though one of those two days it was pissing rain so I couldn't do much. Place to go to to unwind, have an afternoon hike in the hills are following the shore and than have a lovely dinner. It's been a while but there was a great restaurant on the mainstreet that specialises in seafood. Best mussels I had in ages.

a relaxing and beautiful place to unwind,