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Ballincollig is a growing town with a population of about 20,000 in
2006. The town is approximately eight kilometres to the west of Cork
City, just off the Ballincollig By-Pass.
Ballincollig Castle
Ballincollig Castle, set on a rocky limestone outcrop to the south west
of the town, dates from at least the fifteenth century. Its curtain wall
runs around the edge of the rock on which it stands, and inside is a
slender central keep or tower. The castle, albeit a ruin, makes for a
scenic view from the Ballincollig By-Pass. However, the castle is on
private land.
 The
Barretts purchased Ballincollig Castle from a Robert Coll, a knight, in
the fifteenth century. It is thought that Ballincollig got its name from
the Irish "Baile an Chollaigh" (Coll’s town). The castle became the
principal Barrett stronghold until the early seventeenth century and
during that time, saw much fighting and was extensively damaged. The
castle was garrisoned both by Cromwell and James II. It later belonged
to William Wise. In fact, the Wise family repaired the tower in 1857 and
a stone crest was inserted in the east wall of the tower with the letter
"W" and the year "1857" on it.
Regional
Park
This large
area of scenic leisurely walks was opened by Cork County Council to the
public. The land was originally part of the
Ballincollig Gunpowder Mills.
The Regional Park is accessed from the west end of the town at the
picturesque eighteenth century, Inniscarra Bridge and
there is adequate parking. This green area by the River Lee, is a
wonderful
asset to the people of Ballincollig and the many others who come to the
area for a stroll by the river, near the old canals of the Gunpowder
Mills. The eastern end of the park is the area once occupied by the
Gunpowder Mills and this end is where the many ruins of the old
Gunpowder Factory are still visible. The eastern end of the park is
accessed at the GAA Club (follow the sign for the GAA Club from the Main
Street) but it is possible to go from one end of the park to the other
on foot.
Shopping
centre
The new
Shopping Centre in the heart of the village of Ballincollig is embraced
by the historic walls of the old Military Barracks. Visitors to the
shopping centre might wonder at these massive limestone fortifications
and associated buildings and hopefully they will reflect on the past
when they do so. An old limestone Coach House, beautifully preserved,
built in the late nineteenth century, is in the foreground of the new
Shopping Centre area. There are other buildings such as the Officer’s
Mess in the locality and also a Military Graveyard. These were once part
of the Military barracks set up in the early nineteenth century to
protect the gunpowder. Later, the Irish Army took over the Barracks and
named it the Murphy Barracks.
In
general, the main street of Ballincollig, was the old village and it
still retains some of the charm of bygone days.
In recent years Ballincollig has seen a number of new shopping centres
and cinema being built so there is lots to do doing the day if you are
looking for retail outlets. You can also take in a great walk in
Ballincollig's Regional Park
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