Castletown Kinneigh Community Park Association

Castletown Kinneigh Community Association is operated and managed by a non-profit voluntary group.

The Community Association was established in 1993 and has contributed in a meaningful and focused manner to community inclusion, integration and support to all its inhabitants. It has promoted physical education, sporting and skills development, outdoor recreation, social gatherings, inclusion events for all ages, all disabilities, outreach support to the vulnerable and elderly and a centre of knowledge / information on a wide range of subjects from knitting to farming to start your own business. The greatest strength of our community is the willingness of everyone to give of their time freely to work for the community. Our greatest weakness is the availability of funding to realize the projects. What the community has achieved to date is a tribute to so many who have contributed so meaningfully.

Objectives of the association are:

  1. To promote, support, assist, and facilitate efforts toward social inclusion, integration, and community development.

  2. To maintain, preserve, and enhance the value of our natural and historical environment, as well as our local services and facilities.

  3. To increase awareness and knowledge about key social, economic, environmental, and energy-related issues.

  4. To strengthen and promote the social, physical, and psychological well-being of all community members.

Community Park

The Castletown Kinneigh Community Park serves as a vital hub for the residents of Castletown Kinneigh, Coppeen, Enniskeane, Ballineen, Dunmanway, Macroom, Crookstown, and Bandon. Furthermore, our membership extends beyond regional borders, drawing participants from across Ireland through associations like the National Autograss Association, National Bird Fanciers, and Bowling Associations. An outdoor community park is designed to cater to soccer, football, hurling, camogie, rugby, bowling, physical skills development, and walking soccer. Our offerings also extend to autograss racing, cycling, cricket, pigeon liberation, family sports days, local produce fairs, athletics, walking, kite flying, and car and motorbike driving instruction.

Location

Castletown Kinneigh is a small rural west cork village situated between Coppeen / Kilmichael to the North, Enniskeane and Ballineen to the South, Beal na Blath to the East and Gloun to the West. While isolated and rural in many respects, Castletown is only 30 km from Cork City and airport. The village itself has a community hall, church, primary school, crèche, public house, indoor table tennis facility, outdoor community activity centre (soccer, football, hurling, rugby, bowling, autograss racing, cycling, cricket, pidgeon liberation, family sport days, local produce fairs, athletics, walking, kite flying, car and motor bike driving tuition) and a GAA pitch. To the east of the village there is a dedicated underage (up to age 14) pitch with flood lights for soccer, football, hurling, rugby and physical skills development and walking soccer for the over 55s. Within the area are deciduous woodlands, salmon breeding rivers, equestrian centres and horse breeding, areas of scientific and biodiversity interest and areas of historical and archaeological importance. 

Social and Cultural Profile

Farming is the main activity, with intensive dairying largely to the east of the village and mixed farming to the west where land quality is less productive. Carbery Milk products, Grainger Sawmills and Keohane concrete are the main employers. Bandon Co-op and Dairy Gold also important sources of employment. Other enterprises include: a grain mill, concrete products manufacturing, steel fabrication and shed building, organic horticulture production, several artisan food producers including the nationally recognized Gloun Dairy for its award winning milk, cream and butter products.  There are two large transport companies within the area. Within the community area, there are clothes washing and drying facilities, two service stations (one recently closed), second public house, road side catering services, car and truck repair centres, electrical contractors, plumbing contractors, builders, agriculture and plant contractors.

Castletown Kinneigh’s proximity to Cork City, rich biodiversity and environmentally friendly area has become an important attraction for new builds and population growth. It has also become an important source of skills and technical know-how growth within the community. 

The age profile is split with over half the population over the age of 50. Rural poverty and isolation is high. 70% of farmers are over the age of 70. There is a depopulation amongst the 16 + category which is evidenced by insufficient numbers to make up soccer, football and hurling teams. Over 80% of houses in the community are BER rated D or less. Due to increase in housing there is a growing younger population which can be evidenced by the increase in primary school numbers and growth in crèches.

Historical Profile

Records date Casteltown Kinneigh back to 617 AD where the Monastery of St. Bartholomew stood. This was destroyed by Norse raiders. During the 11th Century the unique Round Tower of Kinneigh was built.  Today there are only two such towers in Cork with Kinneigh being among of the most unique nationally due to its hexagonal base and foundation. The Tower was refurbished in the late nineties and closed to the public. Castletown Kinneigh has a rich archaeological area with numerous ring forts and standing stones still evident.