The Town of Fermoy

Fermoy is a small town (population approx. 5,000) situated in the centre of the lush Blackwater Valley. It is on the crossroads between the Rosslare/Killarney and Dublin/Cork routes. Renowned for inland fishing it is an attractive base to explore the history and amenities of North and East Co. Cork.

The town has its roots in two main traditions: Religious and Military. A Cistercian Abbey was founded in 1170 and around this abbey the town developed. At the dissolution of the monasteries during the Tudor period the abbey and its lands passed through the following dynasties: Viscount Roche of Fermoy, Sir Richard Grenville, Robert Boyle, Scientist (“Boyles Law”) and William Forward. Fermoy today still retains the religious tradition and three orders are currently educating the young population – St. Colmans, Presentation and Loreto, The town is famous for attracting future professionals and scholars who spend their formative years in Fermoy.

In 1791 the lands were bought by a Scotsman, John Anderson. He was an entrepreneur who developed the roads and started the mail coach system in Ireland. He designed the town and the streets remain much the same as they were originally built. In the early 19th Century he offered cheap sites to the military and the town fast became a manufacturing and services base for the British army until 1922.

In later years Fermoy has been renowned for its attraction as an inland fishing centre and has an international appeal for trout, salmon and coarse fishing. The Blackwater and Funcheon rivers being the main waters.